Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-12-16
POsTOFFICE AFFAIRS.
Post master General "ananaker
Files His Annual Report.

Post master UcHcEAA " "s>~A
Files His Annual Report.
po-+nsstar- General Wanamaker summa.
-;x,e ,ha -sSnlts achieved by his department
as follows:
Five million dollars added TO the gross re-
vanua the deficit reduced nearly a million,
money order offices increased two-thirds or
from 10 GO to 10 CSC; eightv-tvo cities sup
piled with free delivery: 279O ne" ofnces es-
tablished, 263 Offices advanced 70 the fres-
idential grade 10. 775, 600 miles of additional
servica 1890 new mail routes established,
embracing $500 miles OF new service; ocean
mail service extended, and pneumatic tube
service introduced.
In the last four years 5051 new mail routes
have been established traversing -, $50
niles. the number OF Postoffices has grown
nv over 5000, the number OF money order
offices over $500, and the number OF free
delivery offices has almost doubled. The
new foreign mails service contracted for
applies to eleven lines, comprising, when
completed, forty-one ships necessary TO
make the service contracted for frequent
enough and quick enough to comply with
the terms agreed upon
OF his proposition to divide the country
into postal districts. Mr. WanauIaker says
its adoption can only be 4 question of time.
Each district would be put in charge Of a
postal supervisor or director, and the reg
ular inspectors of the department should
assist these supervisors, as they might be
needed. Then all detail matters relat-
ing 20 the establishment and discon-
tinuance Of postoftices, the establish
ment of stations, appointments and remov-
ais, the best utilization Of and changes
in routes, the putting on and the taking off
of service the right Interpretation of the
regulations irregularities, and il general
the whole business conduct of the service,
would be superintendent personally by the
district supervisors with the assistance of
the regular inspectors of all the pOStm6SterS
in the district, who would feel, as never be-
fore. that their efforts on behalf of adequate
facilities and economical and enterprising
management would find appreciation.
The district supervisors could act under
rules without reference to the department
at Washington, and without useless delay.
They would be the counselors of the de
partment. the general means of conmuni-
cation with it; and the First Assistant Post
master-General should be constituted the
Comptroller or Actuary, to whom the SUI
pervisors should report.
New buildings and a pneumatic or an
electrical service of some kind is Strenuously
advocated for New York and Chicago and
other large cities, and it is pointed out that
there can be no adequate relief without the
application of these methods. The postal
telegraph and postal telephone are, of
course, strenuously advocated as formerly.
On the one-cent postage question Mr..
Wanamaker says: The present letter rate
pays actually double the cost, and by this
overpay serves protective rate to the
department to cover the underpay from
doing an express business for periodicals
and books and carrying advertising sheets
at one cent per pound. that in point of feet
are nothing more than business circulars
that load the mails enormously. All such
mail is not only carried at q loss Of six cents
a pound but it iuterferes materially with
the business Of the express and railroad
companies, which properly carriers Of
heavy packages and freight.
Something to take the place of fractional
currency for the remittance Of small sums,
he says, is very desirable. He urges the
issue of money postal card OF denomina-
tions Of ten cents, twenty-five cents, fifty
cents and one dollar, and of the form of the
present small card and exactly similar to
the ordinary postal card on the address side,
and on the reverse side an order on the Post
master of the city addressed for a fixed
sum, payable on the signature of the payee
named il the address.