The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-07
Number of 2-Cent Stamps
Used Here Annually.
Sixty Thousand a Year Spent
on Stamped Envelopes.
The Stock of Stamps Always Kept
on Hand Is Valued at $780, 600.

The postoiiice department. OF this city re-
ceiyed an official communication from
Washington this morning giving notice
that the terms Of Elmwood Lodge, knights
of Pythias had bcen accepted and that
the sub station. at Elmwood would be
established in the new Knights of Pythias
building as soon as il is ready Tor occu-
pancy. IL Is expected that the work In
the part of the building To be used as "a
postoflico Will he completed by August
When that is assured the North End
Office will be Established Should more
time be necessary TO fit up the quarters at
Ellnwood then the opening of the office ut
the northern limits OF the city will be
delayed 80 that both sub-stations will
begin operations very nearly together.
That some relief of the present crampod
quarters of the central postoiiicc Is
necessary Will be apparent 10 any one
knowing that space Is prime requisite
for the successful conducting Of "A large
business and there are very few enter
prises of public or private character
that are doing bigger business at the
present time than the postoiiice. Its grand
total is about 1890 COO annually.
This morning clerks were busy storing
away IA large invoice OF stamped envelopes
which had been received from head
quarters Their value was about 5000
and they represented very little of the val
liable and useful stock on the promises.
People who peek into the little window
when purchasing stamps are not aware
that that room alone has about $40, 900
worth Of stamps and stamped goods in
various places. Purchasers who want
one stamp or any number of stamps never
had an idea Of the great quantity OF
stamps used in the Providence postofiice
alone. A million two-cent stamps are
bought ana sold every year and 900, 600
on e-cent stamps are sold It can readily
bo seen that good deal of capital is nee
essary In the stamp department. without
taking into consideration the various
other valuable things necessary in the
variations of a miscellaneous mail service.
Take the stamped envelopes alone.
The request orders, that is 60 say the en-
velopes ordered printed To meet special
demand for certain business houses,
amount To $50, 600 year. OF late there
has been IA slight falling off in the orders
for request envelopes and corresponding
increase in orders for stamps and stamped
goods. . This seems TO indicate n falling
OFF in the business of certain business
houses, which is in harmony with the
business depression which has prevailed
In this and all other communities.
A close estimate places the sale of
stamps and stamped paper at $4,000
year. The average cost OF the regular
stock of stamps Is about $50, 600. Besides
the one and two-cent stamps there are
three FIVE ten, thirty, and fifty-cent
stamps. The department at Washington
will discontinue, IL they have not done SO
already, the printing OF 30-cent stamps
The Providence office has a lot of these
stamps in stock and they are being
worked off as fast as possible and it is
said they will command premium in a
snort time. The Office has no 50-cent
stamps at the present time but as soon as
the 30 centers 90 few of the SOS will
be ordered.
A quarter Of million postal cards are
used in the local office every month max
ing the revenue from this source alone
$500. The revenue from the boxes in
the lobby is sl2, 900 annually. The price
charged for STAMPED envelopes of the first
quality Is S2l. SO per 1900 for two-cent
stamps and sll. 30 for the one cent stamps.
In 800 lots they arc worth 81. "a and =. 80
respectively.
They are furnished in different shapes
according TO order.
With this enormous business TO care
for ii is small wonder that Postmaster
Hayward asked for sub-stations, and Ii
seems peculiar that Uncle Sam should be
so slow tn SEQ the necessity for them.
There lis business for two more sub
stations in certain parts of the city but
those who have the conduct of the gov
ernment's business I'm this respect seem
To think otherwise and therefore Post
master Hayward will not get all he asked
for and all that is actually necessary.
Everything considered there is good rea-
son for Congressman Bulls bill in Con-
gress for IA now postoflice for Providence
According TO the report issued from the
department at Washington, Providence
has "A iirst-clasS Office with gross receipts
of SB2l, 754. 81. The salary list is $47, 34s. -
which includes the postmaster's salary of
S3100. The free delivery costs the govern
ment SG1, $40. DS. The total expense Of
maintaining the Office Is sl2l, sS9 This
leaves the very satisfying and comforting
balance of Slg9, sta. 52. The city's post
office is, therefore, profitable investment
for the government. Its per cont Of ex-
pense to gross receipts is 3S. This was
last year This year the showing will be-
better as bu siness has been increased
materially.