Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-02-02
SOME COMPARISONS.
Lowell's Postotilca Businsss Compared
with Other Cities.
From the Lowell Courier.l


Messrs. Editors:-Having for many years
the earliest opportunity for comparing the
receipts of postodcos throughout the United
States l came to appreciate their import
snce in measuring the grolVth and duSi-
ness dcticity Of communities and sections.
know Of no statistics SO Gcdildbic and
raiuoJic for this purpose.
A business revival is first indicated at the
small offices in agricultural sections, is soon
felt at the near distributing town, aud final
" at the great eastern commercial and man
ufacturiug centres; and while business Is
booming in the East clearly defined Glow"
or falling off in postal receipts in farming
sections is the sure indication of "tighten-
ing times at the great Eastern centres. Ar
expert with the quarterly registers OF the
sixth auditors Office before him could as Ca
curately predict the approaching business
weather as can the experts of the meteoro-
| logical bureau predict 'conversation wealth
err"
With explanation of their value present
! the following, based on official returns just
received, showing the percentage Of increase
| in postal receipts during the fiscal year end
ed June 30, 1892, over those of the previous
year at all postoiices in New England where
the totals exceeded SO, 600 per annum.
| Special local conditions sometimes affect
the value Of sucn figures for comparison,
but at Lowell these conditions operate to re-
duce rather than increase the receipts Of the
office, as so many of our large corporations
have their business and selling offices IN the
| commercial centres: Lynn, !; Brockton, 3;
Haverhill, 8; uolyoke, 3; Taunton, /; Law
renee, o; New Bedford, 5; Norwich, Conn,
5; Manchester, n. II. 8; New Britain, Conn,
| q. Nav Ma
| z; Springfield, s; Boston, .; Fail River, 8;
Worcester, o; Bridgeport, Conn, 0; Hart
ford, Conn, 8; Merideu, Conn, o; Fitch
burg, 10; Portland, Me-, 10; Providence, r..
l., 10; New Haven, Conn, II; Pittsield,
| II; Waterbury, Conn, ~: Augusta, Me-,
II; Salem, II; Lowell, 30; Burling ton,
Vt., ~.
And for comparison with much adver-
tsed Western cities; st. Paul, Mimi, IL;
Chicago, H., II; Minneapolis, Mimi, IA
Duluth, Mimi, 49,
While the postmaster can do but little to
increase the receipts OF a postotiioe, the
economy with which 1t is run is mainly due
to his management and to the efficiency OF
his force. The records show that but three
offices Of the first class, namely, Jackson
vile, Florida, Peoria, Illinois, and Burlng
ton, VT, show as small percentage Of ex
penses TO receipts as Lowell, and Of these
two are in government buildings and ar,
not, therefore, charged with rent. Tn,
Lowell office paid the United STATES the last
fiscal year II profit of 22l per cent, or $l0J,
O03.7l
prepared these statistics for The bensfi
of the rapidly decreasing number of oul
citizens who occasionally invite my atten
ton to tho progress OF other cities even il
our own valley and inquire why we canno
do likewise" but offer them to the press a
OF general local interest.
JAMES 7. SMITH,
Secretary Lowell, Mass, Board of Trade
The First trial OF DR.. Woods Norway Pine
| syrup viii satisfy any one tAGtth lung heal
! ing virtue OF the pine tree has now been refine,
| into an effective aud convenient cough med
cine. sold by all dealers ca a guarantee 0
8 f.gf i..tt