Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-20
PROSPERITY BAROMETER.
Increase in Postal Receipts for Year
Aggregate 100000.

Washington, Aug. 16.-"The total re-
ceipts of the postof1ice department,
barring the money-order busin SIS, will
reach at least one hundred and eleven
million dollars in round numbers for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1901.
This will be an increase over the re-
ceipts of the preceding year of nearly
nine million dollars"
This is the way in which Henry A.
Castle, auditor of the postoffice depart.
ment, sized up the business of the
year and gave what he considers one
of the strongest arguments as to the
prosperous conditions existing in the
United States during the past year.
He shares the belief of other econom.
lists that the business of the postofice
department is good barometer of
trade conditions in the country. Mr..
Castles statement made today was not
a mere estimate, but is based upon
actual returns to the department, with
only partial estimate of the receipts
lduring the last quarter of the fiscal
year. This is the way Mr.. Castle
reaches his conclusions:
In the first quarter of the fiscal
year the receipts were $24,473,625; in
the second quarter, $29, 405,035, and in
the third quarter they were $29, $685.
4S2. Comparing these figures with the
receipts for a like period during last
year, | find that the increase of the
first quarter of the fiscal year was ST.
401,73 the second quarter, $2,9U8,-
1884, and in the third quarter, $2,537,-
742. This makes total increase dur
ing the three-quarters from which we
had definite and final returns of S.
S4S,061. By simple calculation it is
shown that the percentage of increase
during the three-quarters in which re-
turns are in hand was per cent. 1t
is safe to say that this percentage of
| increase will be shown for the last
quarter, and this will bring the in
crease of receipts up to $2,0S29SS.
From the figures it will be seen that
the total increase for the year will be,
as have already stated, 100000 in
round numbers.
The growth of the postoffice bust
ness is indicated by the fact that the
total receipts in 1890 We're $50 1000, 900,
and the total receipts in the fiscal year
of 1900 were $102,354,579. There will
be proportionate increase in the re-
turns to the government from the mon
Ivy VI uCl uS iuCIGdSS Ill
this branch of the departments bust
ness has been such as to make it i'm.
possible for the auditors force of
clerks to keep up with the current
business. On the first of the present
calendar year the business in the mon
ey order department was nearly ten
months behind in being checked up by
the auditors force. In March last he
was given fifteen additional clerks
and last month he was given ten more
Employing these twenty-five extra
clerks he found that he will be able to
keep abreast of the volume of bust.
ness, but to do this he will constantly
remain six months behind current
business. This will be satisfactory
arrangement to the treasury depart
ment officials. The average life of a
money order has been found to be sew
en- days, and the law provides that
they are valid for but year. In spite
of these facts, some of the orders
which go to distant parts of the world
do not find their way to the auditors
Office for two or tire years from the
date of issue. The clerical force is
now handling orders which We're is
sued last January or February. In all
$50 clerks are employed in the bust
ness. Each order has to be handled
five times, and the extent of their task
is indicated by the fact that the de
partment officials expect the numbe,
of money orders issued this year tt
reach 50,000,00O.