The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-01-16

; Mr.. Creswell was an earnest cham
pion OF the free delivery service,
which, in its early days, when it was
confined to comparatively few offices
met with an opposition in Legislative
circles which seems hardly credible
at this time. He succeeded, how
ever, in 1873, in inducing Congress
to reduce the limit of population Of
cities 10 which the system might be
extended from 10000 to 10000.
The number of cities having the free
delivery system was increased from
forty-eight, in 1866, to eighty seven
in 1874. In 1879, five years later,
there were only lightweight free
delivery offices. The number of
carriers in 1869 was I ,246. In 1874
the nnmber had grown to 2,o49, an
increase of more than 81 per cent,
and in 1879 the number was 1850,
being an increase of little more than
IS per cent, during the previous
five years. The number OF mail
matter handled by letter-carries in
1874 was little over 500, 1000, ,ooo,
and this was about 40 per cent. more
than the number of pieces handled by
carriers in 1869 From 1874 to 1879
the increase in the number of pieces
handled was only about 90 per cent.
the ratio of increase being consider
ably less than one halt as great as
that shown during the preceding
five years.
A radical measure in connection
with the free delivery service was
the establishment by Mr.. Creswell
of station, or branch post offices in
the large cities, a measure which
greatly promoted the public con-
venience and facilitated the workings
| OF the post OlllCe.
The money order system was
carefully tostered and enlarged dur
ing Mr.. Creswell's administration. a
reduction, of the fee from 10 to :
cents having been made on money
orders not exceeding $40 in amount.
The system w5s also extended to a
number of branch offices in large
cities The number of money order
offices IN operation on June 80, 1869
was I,46S, and this number had
been augmented in 1874 to 3,4o4,
or an increase of about I3I per
cent. The number of money order
offices in 1879 was 1872 an increase
| during the previous five wears of
only about 81 per cent. The value
of money orders issued in 1869 was
S24, 84S,O5S. In 1874 the money
orders issued aggregated the value of
S74, 424,S54, about tire lie the amount
issued in 1869, the number of orders
having nearly quadrupled during
this time. In 1879 the value of
money orders issued was S8S, 253,65I
being an increase of only about IS
per cent. over the value of orders
issued in 1874.
1t was during Mr.. Creswell's ad-
ministration of the Post office
Department that the international
money order business, now forming
so important a part OF our postal
system, was put into operation by
the negotiation of a convention with
Switzerland. This convention went
into effect September I, 1869. Ne.
gOtlatlOnS were at once entered
upon for similar arrangement with
Great Britain, resulting in a conven-
ton with that government, which
took effect October I, 1871. The
international system was also estab-
lished between this country and
Germany, going into operation on
October I, 1872.
The registry system came in for its
share of attention, the registration
fee having beeA reduced from Is to
8 cents on the Ist Of January, 1874.
1t was, however, increased to 10
cents in October, 1875, after Mr..
Creswell had left the Postoffice
Department. Furthermore, prelm-
mary steps were taken during his
administration for the introduction
of the through registered pouch
system, by which the great masses
of registered mail matter are trans
ported between the leading cities,
with gain of celerity and security.
The system of distribution of mail
matter in postal cars, which was almost
in its infancy at the beginning of Mr..
Creswell's administration, was carefully
nurtured and developed by him. The
statistics show that the number of lines
upon which it was in operation in 1860
was 81, in 1874 it was 6, and In 1879 it
was only So. The length of lines on
which the service was in operation was
1901 miles IN 1869, I6,4I4 miles in
i 1874, and 1880 miles in 1879. The
number of postal clerks employed was
524 in 1869, $50 in 1874, and 1901 in
1879.
"The number of post-offices in
operation in 1874 was 54.294, showing
an increase of 1888 offices, or about
26 per cent. over the number in opera
ton i'll 1869, From 1874 to 1879
there was an increase of 6,56I offices,
or about 70 per cent.
"The number OF miles of mail ser
vice performed IN 1874 was 12S.627,
40, and this was an increase of about
al per cent. over the number of miles
of service performed i'll 1869 From
: 1874 to 1879 the increase was at the