The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-11

The annual report of Postmaster Gen
raj Charles Emory Smith for the fiscal
year ended June ~ last which has been
submitted 10 the President shows that
for the FIRST time IN the history Of the
postal service the total receipts from all
sources have passed the SEQ o04.e9 mark.
The receipts FOR the year IN exact figures
were SlGz 81. .57s2. The expenditures for
the year were yl07 10 $3.50 leaving a
deficit for the year 81 E.5S5CSs.1o. The
report calls attention to tie fact that his
deficit is smaller by yI,ZZ5.t8 than that CT
the preceding year and the smallest Of
any year since 1888. OF the receipts Tor
the year. yl0J. SO 333.H IS credited 10 ordi-
nary postal revenues and SlE5.lf5.5 10
m0ney-order business.
Although the expenditures OF the seTv-
ice tn tLe three years from July ], 1897,
90 July I, l9so. have increased by 81 IA"
says the report. the growth Of receipts
during these three years Of good times
has 0utstrpped that Of expenditures. be
ing 1881 81. The deficits have shrunk
from SsG2bs6 for the fiscal year 1878 TO
$5,SS5.6SS for the last fiscal year, decrease
Of E.515Z7 IN three years. and this not
withstanding the large expenditures now
made for several new features OF our
service"
The following estimate OF the revenues
and expenditures OF the service for the
fiscal year ending June 30. 1872, is sub
mi,ted by the Postmaster General;
Total postal revenue for lso0 ... Si0z ssi 57s %
ADD - per cent Tor estimated ia
crease year ending June 20. lS0l..... 7.s7s5s3 90
Estimated revenue for 1901 .-.. $40 OsI. l72 co
Add per cent Tor estimated Increase
year ending June 30, lS02......,...... ss01s7o 90
Estimated revenue for 1s02........ ii6 $50 04z 90
Estimated expenditure for ls02....... 121 1859 co
Deficiency for 1902 testlmated) ...... sLGsLSO7 %
Extension Of Free q. .arui~DelIvrry.
The extension Of free rural delivery is
treated a greater length in the report
than any other department of the service.
After treating IN detail the inception and
growth OF the service. Mr.. Smith says:
Rural ffee delivery has now been sufii-
ciently tried TO measure its effects. The
immediate and direct results are clearly
apparent. 1t stimulates social and bust
ness correspondence and so swells the pos
tai receipts. Its introduction Is invariably
followed by a large Increase in the circu-
latiOn Of the press and of periodical liter
ature The farm is thus brought into di-
rect daily contact with the currents and
movements OF the business world. A more
accurate knowledge of ruling markets and
varying prices is diffused, and the pro-
ducer. with his quicker communication
and larger information. is placed on a
surer footing. The value of farms. as has
been shown in many cases, Is enhanced.
Good roads become Indispensable, and
their Improvement is the essential cOndl-
tion of the service. The material and
measurable benefits are signal and unmis-
taxable.
'On the 1st Of July. 1899. there were 391
rural delivery routes IN operation. Within
the fiscal year, under an appropriation OF
$i5g,00. this number was increased to LIZA.
On the 1st of July, 1900 the appropriation
Of 81 go, 600 became available. and on the
18th of November 2.6l4 routes had beea
located and established 6l,979 miles in
aggregate length, covering 66,S42 square
miles, divided among "a States and Terri
tories. and serving a population OF l,S0l
ga. The number of applications pending
at that date and awaiting action or under
Investigation Tas more than 2,l00-nearly
enough TO double the existing service
ard every day brings more. The close of
the nresent fiscal year will see about 400
routes in operation, carrying the mail
oaily TO the doors Of not less than $500, coo
residents of the rural districts"
The following table is given 90 show
the cost of extending the service over the
entire country:
Estimated gross $50 555 500
Deduct estimated savings from
disCCutinuaHce Of fourth-ciass
DEDUCT estimated savings from
discoutinuance Of star routes. 2, 500 900
Deduct increased rceipts........ 15lS.s76
- 6,Ts,SIs