The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-13
On the Small PostOffices of the
Country.
BRISTOW'S REPORT.
1t Shows Saving of 81 1885 in
Postmasters' Salaries.
Postoffiees in u. 8. June 80
Numbered 76,945.

| tow has submitted the annual report OF
| his department of which the following
| is an abstract:
The work of the bureau has increased
| proportionately with the enormous In
| crease in the postal business of the
! country Additional help is needed In
| the various divisions, especially that or
| postoffice inspectors and mail depreda-
| lions. The work of the division of appoint
| ments is voluminous and exacting- Inc
| work of the division of bonds and COM
| missions is up to date. a condition
/ which has not existed heretofore for
! many years and the enormous amount
| of work devolving upon the inspectors
| division because of the vast increase in
| the postal business of the country can
| be appreciated only by those immedi-
ately acquainted with the detail work
| which is daily referred to that division
| for prompt attention
APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTERS-
| The number of appointments during
| the fiscal year was 1851, as against 49,
| 142 made during the preceding year;
| gain of 515. OF the total number of ap-
pointments 15,068 were fourth class
postmasters and $50 presidential post
masters.
| ESTABLISHMENT OF POSTOFFTCES
/ There were 1924 postoffices establish
ed during the year, decrease as COM
pared with the previous year of s05
The record of establishments during
the last five fiscal years is as follows:
1897, 1901; 1898. S,601; 1899. 1895; 1900,
$500; 1901, 1924
DISCONTINUANCE OFPOSTOFFICES
There were 3.O37 postoffices discontin-
ued during the year, being LIPS more
than during the preceding year.
The principal causes for the large in
crease in the number of postOffices dis
continued have been the extension of
the rural free delivery service and the
establishment of rural free delivery sta
lions in lieu of fourth class pOstOfficeS,
the extension of city delivery service so
as to include postoffices adjacent to
large presidential Offices and the inn
provement of the public highways.
The extension of rural free delivery
has resulted in the discontinuance of
1925 postofflces during the year, the
salaries of postmasters of said offices
aggregating $79.336.
PRIVATE 'POSTOFFICES.
Increased diligence has been exer-
cised in the suppression of private post
Offices Wherever it is found that
postoffice is conducted for the sole bene-
fit of some corporation, factory. nursery
company, patent medicine firm. or other
private business institution. 1t is discon-
tinued. To permit such offices to exist
not only greatly reduces the revenues
of the department, but may be fruitful
of fraud. Many such offices have been
discontinued during the year and the
esta blishment of others refused
DEATHS AND RESERVATIONS.
During the year there were 4s resig
nations of presidential postmasters, and
SO deaths, an increase OF one In the
number of designations, and eight in
the number of deaths, as compared with
the preceding year There were S95
deaths of fourth class postmasters, and
S,791 designations, a decrease of "a in
the number of deaths and an increase
of 77S in the number of designations, as
compared with the preceding fiscal
year
The material nrosnerjtv Of the conn
try has doubtless contributed to the
large increase in the number of resig-
nations of postmasters. Men have found
it more profitable to devote their time
to private enterprise tnan to the public
service, especially in the smaller offices.
NUMBER OF POSTOFFICES-
On June 80, 1901, at the close of the
fiscal year. there were 76945 postoffices,
divided as follows:
First class. 20S: second class, $40;
third class, 3,31s; fourth class, 72.479
The aggregate amount of the penal
ties of all postmasters' bonds now in
force is about $117 $685. 772.
The penalties of the bonds which were
approved during the fiscal year amount
ed to $29,715.246.
POSTOFFICE INSPECTORS.
During the year 1854 cases have
been referred to the inspectors division
Investigated was 179,0S4, but there were
left over from the fiscal year 1900, 81 1897
d
The number of offices inspected dur
ing the year ended June 80 1901, was
29,032, while the number of money order
offices in existence June 80, 1901 was
80, 529. 1t will thus be seen that 7,497
money order offices were not inspected.
The offices not visited are naturally the
smaller ones and those more difficult of
access; and while the revenue from
these offices would not be great many
of the postmasters have con-
tinued to employ, wrong methods
and in order that they might be given |
instructions which would insure the |
correction of irregularities 1t is neces- |
sary that these offices be visited at least |
once year by an inspector. The an |
nual inspections, even without consider |
ing the protection to the revenues, have |
been highly beneficial. and the inter
ests of the service require at least one |
inspection a year of every money order
office.
"a" CASES.
The total number of complaints of this
Of Which 7es7 reiated to letters wa and 4os
to packages. OF these cases 1894 were
was sustained in only si4 cases. being IS
per cent of the cases Investigated. This
Der Of Complaints GUS Would i indicate s'i
total of 466 cases in which actual loss
pieces handled by the department during
the year was q. sl4 sol, making an s sverage
OF registered mail handled.
The total number of arrests during the
fiscal year, as shown by exhibit T. was
er 40 We're rnis Jul were s
clerks in postoffices, 10 were railway
postal clerks, % We're letter carriers, 43 |
were mail carriers, and 10 were employed
in minor positions in the postal service
The total number of pOstoffice burglars
arrested 327. and the remainder of
9z9 were persons in nowise connected with
the postal service.
OF the total number arrested GID,
/ ,0S2 were disposed OF In United States