The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-27
FREE DELIVERY SERVICE
1T HAS RESULTED IN LARGE IN
CREASE IN POSTAL REVENUES.
Policy of the POstOmce Department ns
to Rural ROutes-Henvy Sales
of Money Orders.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-First Assistant
Postmaster General Johnson, in his annual
report, says the yearly increase in the
postal revenues has resulted in the free de-
livery service becoming self-sustaining. OF
the gross postal revenues of the United
States for the past fiscal year, S74,295,594
came from sec free delivery cities. The re-
naming 5000 presidential postofices yielded
$3.50 ,252, while the p. 479 fourth-class post
offices produced SIS. SIG. Mr.. Johnson
says the fact that the postal service in the
largest cities is practically perfect is the
explanation of why the annual percentage
of increase in the revenues of the free de-
livery postofices should be three times
greater thar in the smaller cities and five
times as large as that of the fourth-class
offices.
AS rural free delivery reaches out into the
country, giving equal facilities without re-
gard to locality, he says it increases the
revenues at a rate at least equal to that
maintained in the free delivery cities,
where. during the past five years. Il has
averaged s per cent. At the end of the
present fiscal year $500 rural routes will be
in successful operation, 5000 being in effect
by Dec. ?. The latter figures reports just
80 per cent. of the applications for such
service fled since its Inauguration five
years ago. The infexible policy is an
nOunced hereafter Of avoiding maintenance
Of unnecessary postoffices and superfiuous
star routes contemporaneOusly with rural
free delivery routes. On July 1 last the
force Of 4,03l rural carriers was serving
$50, GA people at "A fraction over . vents
per capita, and on Dec. : next, 4pVo,VJ3 or
the rural population will be enjoying free
delivery. Every establishment OF a route,
steady increase In the volume OF mail DOth
delivered and collected.
The city free-delivery service now en-
braces $50 cities and towns. including four
i'm the new insular possessions, all these
employing an army Of 1888 uniformed car
riers who collect and carry the mails two
or more times each working day TO 32.O0.0o0
patrons. The total cost per annum TO the
department for this service Is 20 cents per
capita. The gross receipts OF the free de
livery pOstOffices were S4,Z50,oy5, an in
crease Of over IL per cent. for the year. The
total estimate for the next fiscal year for
this city free-delivery service is SlS.745.4 $50.
The average daily sales OF money orders
in the United States. fees included, are
1913, S14. The aggregate amount Of money
orders issued was s294,6ls,6Sl an Increase OF
$39, 100000 for the year. IN the nNe years
lust passed the number Of presidential post
offices has increased . per cent; salaries
of these postmasters increased is per cent;
allowances for clerks in the first and sec
ond-class offices, - per cent; the number OF
free delivery Offices, 80 per cent; the num-
Der of carriers, q per cent; the cost OF the
free delivery service, "A per cent: the in
crease of gross receipts at free delivery Of
fees, Al per cent, and m~oney-order BUSH
ness. SO per cent.
Among the Communications are: A re-
duction Of money order fees so as 10 make
the maximum % cents instead Of 30 cents,
Reconsideration Of clerks at first and sec
ond-class pOstofices, an appropriation of
100000 FOR postmasters' salaries, the APP
pointment OF a fourth assistant superin-
tendent Of city delivery service TO have
charge OF the Southern field. and that al all
the larger pOstofices a supervisor OF car
riers'' be appointed to have exclusive
charge Of the force OF letter-carriers.