Evening star., 1901-05-04
DISTRICT nLEADS
Pays Highest Sum Per Capita to the
Government.
Il >
NAILS PROVIDE ACCURATE GUIDE
rs7
Though Small ID Size, Its Business
}
Shown in Unique Way.
AHEAD TN OTTJED DEcnrC-pt,
lis PROVIDE ACCURATE GUIDE
AHEAD IN OTHER RESPECTS

! There is one matter affecting the bust
ness interests of the District of Columbia
which will establish its supremacy as a
business center from one point of view
said post office inspector to a Star re-
| porter today, "and it, Is the payment per
| capita it's residents make in the use of the
mails.
This is an, unfailing Indication Of the
business interests of the country by states
territories and sections, and is easily and
accurately computed and demonstrated.
THE District of Columbia though the
smallest in point of size of all of the subdi-
| visions of the Union, exceeds even New
York state in the use of the mails per
capita, and no better test of the puls. OF a
section can be devised.
We Are a Busy Community.
The District ranks fifty-first, or last. In
the number Of post offices as compared with
the other states and territories. but ranks
first in the expenditure of money per capita.
as shown by the total yearly receipts of it's
post offices, which last year were s7Oo, 900.
The average per capita expenditure was
sol, while that of New York, with ST.
415O00 receipts, was $40; Massachusetts s.
with 6,271,0O0, was 1921. and Illinois, with
S1O,O0oO00 receipts, was SOS, New York
ranking second in the number of post Of
fees, Massachusetts thirty second and IIli-
nos eleventh.
But two states exceed the District in
the average compensation paid to postmas S.
ters, and they are Massachusetts, with
1886, aud Rhode Island, with s341. The
average compensation of the postmasters
in the District is S29S.
These figures, with others I will give
you, prove where the business of the coun-
try is done. When the residents Of other
sections talk about Washington and hy
Washington they mean also the District
hpi n o. n1y q AMI tjl1 oft
accurate in their statements in not adding
that it is a lively business center beneath
it's quiet exterior. No other community can
show these figures but this, and the conciu-
sion here expressed is officially correct and
unaSSailabIe.
Further Interesting Illustrations.
For instance. the receipts of all Of the
post offices in the state of South Carolina
amount to $505 800, or 100000 less than
those of the District. and its per capita ex-
penditure is but 81 cents, as against 81. 81
here South Carolina is an agricultural
state, and these figures furnish a sure
gauge of It's business. Unless the District
had large and active business interests its
expenditure per capita would be moderate
or low in proportion to it's population The
great amount of official mail handled at the
Washington city post office goes free, and
does not enter at all intoahese calculations
Therefore the postmaSters of the District
receive Inc tOlTu I!SUeSl compensation, ana
It's people use the mails to greater extent
than any other territory or state in the
United States according to it's population.
Let us take some Of the states grouped
in sections to sustain further this point
The receipts of the post offices in the Dis
trict exceed those in Mississippi with $f29,-
800: Arkansas, st69, 100; Florida. $500 coo,
and approximate those of West Virginia. of
s715,350: Alabama, $S07. 75f, and North Car
olina ss76, 300. In Georgia the receipts were
s1.314, $50; Tennessee, s1,219,690; Louisiana.
s911 $50; Kentucky, 1,A19,63e; Texas, 81
160,3aG, and Virginia, 81 .423, 600, yet the ex-
peEdnure per capita in all of these states
ranged from Al cents in Mississippi to Il
cents in West Virginia.
THE lowest average compensation re-
cetved by postmasters Of the different
states Is In Tennessee, with only $9l: orth
Carolina, $93: Alabama, 500; Kentucky,
s1O1; Georgia, s1t3; South Carolina, s106,
and Virginia, s114. These states have in
proportion to their population more post
offices than Others but the offices are small
fourth-class offices yielding small revenues
Weather Vanes of Business.
"The latter states I have named are
mainly agricultural states, and the mails
are less patronized than in manufacturing
and business communities. is shown by
the fact that, while every man, woman
and child in the District spent $251 per per
son for transporting their mail, thus indi-
eating the volume of the Districts trade
Mississippi. for example, spent but Al cents
per person
Now for the other end, the business and
manufacturing sections Of the country, in
Guiding New York, Massachusetts and Iui-
nois, described above. Pennsylvania, which
has more post Offices than any other state,
spent sl.4O per capita. and the receipts
were S. SS35,5oD. In Ohio the figures were
s1.4o and sG,034O00; New Jersey. S1.o1 and
Mnip rf n
mont, 1.S0 and $G11 $50; Connecticut, sl.So
and s6l7 1850; Rhode Island, s1.56 and $685.
475. and New Hampshire, $50 and s6SS, 225.
These states are manufacturing and
business states, and the volume of mail
originating in them indicates their business
condition. In Maryland the receipts wer>
81, 600 400, and per capita expenditure, VIA
Maryland ranking the twenty-eighth in the
states to the expenditure and thirty-hfth
as to the number of it's post offices.
with this fine comparative showing the
residents Of the District can well afford to
rest Serenely on their oars and take it
good-naturedIy when less favored com
munities talk about Washington being
merely residential city
1.-The Star has published from time 10
time interesting statistics as to the sur
prising amount of business done in the
District, and with it ranking without a
peer as to the per capita expenditure IN
the use Of the mails attempted befittifnS
criticism falls harmlessly to the ground"
Y. NJ. c. A. Series Of Mems Meetings.
The mems meetings of the Young Mems
Christian Association during the month of
May will. it is understood, take the form
of series of studies and discussion of the
general topic What to Believe" The
first Of the series will be held tomorrow
afternoon at $3.50 o'clock, under the leader
ship of Rev. George n, Luccock, D. D..
pastor of the Metropolitan Presbyterian
Church. on the topic Belief in the Atone
ment." The points to be discussed are: lis
the atonement gospel or fact? Does the
atonement appease Gods wrath? Does the
atcnement annul the Consequences Of sin?
Does 1t have value for men?"
The opening song services for this series
Of meetings will be under the leadership of
Mr. E. o. Sellers, the gospel singer, who
has recently come to the. association in the
capacity Of membership secretary.
These meetings will be open to all men
who wish to attend. Special attention Is
called to the hour Of the services-3:30.