Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-10

nues and expenditures of the postal service,
which has been transmitted to the secretary
of the treasury, for the fiscal year ending
June 30. 1902:
Add ~ per cert for estimated
1901 ,,.........,.......... 76i6.593.O 90
Estimated revenue for 1901. .Sll0. .03l .l72.oO
Add q per cent for estimated in
crease year ending June 30, 1872 66l,SOOO
Estimated revenue for 1902. .s1l6 633, 90
Estimated expenditure for 1902. lH,2i6,As.OO
Deficiency, 1902, estimated...s 46S4, .0O
Rural Free Delivery.
The extraordinary extension of rural free
delivery during the last two years has
proved to be the most salient significant
and far-reaching feature OF postal develop
ment in recent times. We have had other
striking advances but they have been along
lines already well settled. The last mai
point, is only the logical uutgrowth OF the
constant struggle for the quickest dspatch.
The admirable railway postohce Is only the
time. obtain the straightest line and secure
the least handling. The frequent ana rapid
distribution In great cities nov Gdten 0u,, ,,,,,
the perfection of concentrated organization.
All these and the many other improve
ments OF method which keep pace with gen
eral modern progress are the natural de-
velopments of an established system.
Rural Iroe delivery has now been suth-
immediate ana direct results are clearly
apparent. 1t stimulates social and busi-
ness correspondence and so swells the
postal receipts. Its Introduction Is invari-
ably followed by u large Increase In the
'iterature' 'ge" a more NOR accurate rate knowledge of
ruling markets and varying prices Is
diffused and the producer. with hIs quicker
communication ana larger Information Is
placed on "A surer footing. The value OF
farms, as has been shown in many cases. is
enhanced. Good roads become indispens-
able and their Improvement Is the essen
tial condition OF the service. The materIal
and measurable benefits are signal and un-
mistakaDle.
We are now carrying the postoffice to the
door Of 31.@9,voo OF people massed IN towns
complicated work Of carrying the postofiice
to the door of about q 100000, scattered
'e on y;'f july i, 1859, there were ssi rural de-
livery routes in operation. Within the
fiscal year under lar an appropria ton OF @, ASY;,
July l. 1900, the appropriation OF sl,75o,c0
became available, and on November 10,
lshed. 6I.979 miles in aggregate length.
covering 66,S42 square miles. divided among
SE fatsn apd Ths s"a
of applications pending at that date and
awaiting action or under investigation was
more than 2l0D-nearly enough to double
the existing service-and every day brings
more. The close OF the present fiscal year
carrying the mail daily to the doors OF
not less than 3,5oO.OO0 residents of the rural
dis rlctS,
Is It taking a conservative exhibit. the
net result of the extension of rural free
delivery to 100000 square miles, or al
the eligible portion of the country, would
stand thus:
Estimated gross cost .$20, $50, 800
Deduct estimated savings
from discontnuance of
fourth-class offices of. So 9,400
Deduct estimated savings
from discontnuance of
star routes ............., 2OO,oW
Deduct receipts .......... l5l3,9'6
Net annual cost of ru-
raj free delivery ry...............1 .13 7S2, ,224
1t thus appears that rural free delivery
can be extended practically over the whole
country at an annual cost Of less than
600; As the appropriation for the
saFFs"t an sSR tSl oaay of PssrPSsS
less Unforeseen demands shoi,d come
would substantially take the mail every
day to every door In the land.
Cuban Postal Frauds.
After reviewing at length the frauds un-
earthed In Cuba postal affairs, and the
efforts of the department to check them,
the postmaster general goes on:
When the facts were brought to light
immediate action was taken to right the
wrong and arraign the wrongdoers The
ofrenge Of those implicated was more than
intidelty to the confidence reposed In them
and more than ordinary malfeasance In
ofiice, Its turpitude was enhanced by the
fact that. 1t was the betrayal Of a trust
held for n people who were our wards,
which carried peculiarly sacred obligations,
and It merits the severest condemnation,
The cases have passed to the custody OF
the courts and early trial is expected.
Money Order system.
The statistics of the busines transacted
By the people of the United States through
always Of interest, because they nuctuate
In harmony with the prevailing business
conditions. The Improvement OF the last
few years has been continued and even
enhanced, as Is shown by the fact that
while the increase in the money order bust
1893 amounted to $2O, O,S64,47S, the Increase
for the year 1900 over 1899 was $50 II | 1854.
S f4ea to nS ssa
In Cuba and Porto Rico called for the pay
mgnt respectively OF $S,OSls50 and sl,Si3a2.
3O,237 out Of 7e;eSS postonices in operation
last fiscal year, such facilities having been
extended tNn:iS to 2SG' Offices during the year
islands of Porto Rico, the Philippines and
Hawaii has been carefully supervised and |
furthered by this department, The Cuban
pendent of ours. the opera tions Of the |
money-order system Of that Island are un-
der the suPerEision OF the director general
During the fiscal ,se year sixty, Offices were
making the tota! number 795, at which Ia =
81 carriers were employed, an increase of |
SS t6o STsf cWs Of e Rrew9s sGa year The
5l2.l90
Mail Transportation.
Statistics given In the report of the sec |
end assistant postmaster general show that |
at the end OF the fiscal year the total num- |
ber OF inland mail routes WAS 35 1923, having |
length of 50O, $50 miles on which the an |
nual travel amounted to 459 ,205, 773 miles. As |
comrared with the preceding fiscal year an !
Increase Is shown of 1881 routes, 1910 miles |
in length of routes and l3,460,9.7 miles in |
annual travel The total cost of this serv- |
Ice was $55, ,l46,O5s76 an increase of s2,O69,- |
645 So.
During the year there was reletting of |
contracts for mail service on the star routes |
in the second contract section, including |
most of the southern states, which re- |
suited in a decrease of S69 sl2 4S in the an |
nual rate OF expenditure, Notwithstanding |
the fact that an addition of 377 per cent |
was made In the annual mileage.
Railway Mail Service.
At the close of the fiscal year there were |
/, ,26S lines of travelling postofilces In opera |
tion throughout the country, having n total |
length OF l76960 miles and requiring the |
services Of S,79i clerks. who, In crews, trav- |
- Al. DNn -O- rpl. a.