The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-12-09
PosroFrIcE DEPARTMENT..
The Postmaster General Estimates Their
vii, Ra a, "a non oon p.f;.t,,.,

The Postmaster General Estimates There
Will Be an 100000 ceficl,ncy.
The report OF the postmaster general
contains detailed statement of the opera.
tions of the postotfice department during
the last fiscal year and much interesting
Information touching this important
branch of the public service, The bnsi-
ness of the mails indicates with absolute
certainty the condition of the business of
the country, and depression in financial
affairs inevitably and quickly reduces the
postal revenues. There was larger dis
crepancy than usual between the post.
Office receipts and expenditures, being the
expected and unavoidable result of the dis
tressing stringency which has prevailed
much of the time covered
by the postmaster generals report.
AT n date when better times were nntici-
pated it was estimated by his predecessor
that the deficiency on the 30th day Of
June, 1893, would be but n little over
sl,5oO,0OO. 1t Itamonnted, however, to more
that 5,GO0,0 900. AT the same time and under
the influence of like an,icipstions esti-
mates were made for the current fiscal
year ending June 80. 1894, which exhibited
surplus of revenue over expenditures of
<S72,2l6.T. But now,in view of the actual
receipts and expenditures during that
part of the current fiscal year already ex-
that Mt Its close instead of n surplus there
will be q deficiency of nearly 5000, 900.
The postotfice receipts for the last fiscal
year amounted to SIS. SOC, ,933l6 and its ex-
penditures to ss1,074, ,,c4.e0. This post
Office deficiency would disappear or be
carried free through the mails an Item
of which is upward of 200 tons of seeds
and grain from the agricultural depart
ment.
The total number of postoffices in the
United States on the Soth day of June, 1898,
was 6s,4o3, nn increase of 1894 over the
preceding year OF these, s, 800 were presi-
Forty-two free delivery Offices were
added during the year to those already
existing, making total of 610 cities and
towns provided with free delivery on
June 80, 1898. Ninety three other cities
under the law, but 1t has not been ac-
corded them on account of insufficient
funds to meet the expense OF its estab-
lishment. l am decidedly of the opinion
that the provisions of the present law per-
NIT us general an Introduction of this fea-
tnTe OF mail service as Is necessary or JUS
titiable and that 1t ought not to be ex-
tended to smaller communities than are
now designated.
The expense of free delivery for tho
fiscal year ending June 80, 1894, will be
more than Sll o 0,000, and under legisla-
tion now existing there must be con.
stant increase in this item OF expendi-
ture.
Money Order Offices.
There were 6, 10l additions to the domes-
tic money order offices during the last
fiscal year, being the largest increase in
any year since the inauguration of the
y,N 1,n~ ,f
Offices at the close Of the year was s,434
There were 13,3j9.I3 I35 money orders issued
from these Offices. being an increase over
the preceding year OF l,240, 90, and the
value of these orders amounted to Sl27,-
57B,43365 an increase of $500, 632 IS.
There were also issued during the year
postal notes amounting to $l2,y03, ,01675.
During the year 1895 international
money order offices were added to those
already provided, making total of 2.4t7
in operation on June 80 SOB The num-
ber of international money orders issued
during the year was l,055. 5.y99. an increase
over the preceding year OF 72,53a, and
of 81, ,22l ,5N6.3l. The number of orders paid
was S0j,9l7, an increase over the preced-
ing year OF 1903, and their value was
S5,2S3, 1870, an increase of SDi, ,O34 s3.
From the foregoing statements it appears
that the total issue of money orders and
postal notes for the year amounted to
sl56,S S2l,S4S24
The number of letters and packages
mailed during the year for special deiiv-
cry was 3, ,375,bS3 an increase over the pre-
ceding year of nearly 22 per cent. The
specinl delivery stamps used upon these
letters and packages amounted tc S337,.
5000 and the messengers fees paid for
their delivery amounted to s.56, ,59,.7I,
leaving profit to the government of $50.
1860.