Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-12-04
IS SELF-SUPPORTING
The Free Delivery Mail Service Ia
Now In a Position to Pay Its
Own Way.

Washington, Nov. N.-First Assistant
Postmaster General W. NJ. Johnson in his
annual report says the yearly increase in
the postal revenues has resulted in the
free delivery service becoming self-sus-
tanning. Of the gross postal revenues of
the United States for the past fiscal year
$74, 295, 1874 came from S66 free delivery
cities. The remaining $500 presidential post
offices yielded $16.063,252 while the 72.479
fourth-class post Offices produced $19 3d.
$40. Mr.. johnson says the fact that the
postal service in the largest cities is prac-
tically perfect Is the explanation of why
the annual percentage of increase in the
revenues of the free delivery post offices
should be three times greater than 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 regard to
locality, he says it increases the revenues
at rate at least equal to that maintained
In the free delivery cities, where during
the past five years it has averaged eight
per cent.
At the end of the present fiscal year
$500 rural routes will be in successful op-
Grafton, 5000 being in effect by December
The latter figure represents just 50 per
cent. of the applications for such service
Tiled since its inauguration five years ago.
The lnf1exible policy IS announced here
after of avoiding maintenance of unneces-
sary post Offices and superfuous star routes
contemporaneously with rural free deliv-
cry routes. On July last the force of 1901
rural carriers was serving 2,S4O, G44 people
at fraction over IS cents per capita, and
on December 2 next 100000 of the rural
population will be enjoying free delivery.
The city free delivery service now en-
braces S66 cities and towns, including four
IN the new insular possessions, all these
employing an army of 1888 uniformed car
r1ers. who collect and carry the mails two
or more times each working day to 80, OO0 =
600 patrons. The total cost per annum to
the department for this service is so cents
per capita. The gross receipts of the free
delivery post offices were $74,295 1896, an in
crease of over IL per cent. for the year.
Inc total estimate for the next fiscal year
for this city free delivery service is $751;
745, 49,
The average daily sales of money or
ders in the United States, fees included,
are $973,S14. The aggregate amount of
money orders issued was 1924, 61S, 6S1, an in
crease of $39, 100000 for the year.
IN the five years just passed the number
OF presidential post offices has increased g
per cent: salaries Of these postmasters in
creased IS per cent; allowances for clerks
In the first and second-class offices, 10 per
cent; the number of free delivery offices,
80 per cent; the number of carriers, % per
cent; the cost of the free delivery service,
per cent; the increase of gross receipts
at free delivery offices, Al per cent, and
money order business, Sc per cent.
Among the recommendations are: A re-
duct1on of money order fees so as to make
the maximum Is cents, instead of 80 cents;
Redistribution of clerks at first and Sec
ond-class post offices; an appropriation of
$2O, 000, 900 for postmasters' salaries; the ap-
pointment of a fourth assistant s,lper;n-
tendent Of city delivery service, to have
charge Of the southern field, and that at al
the larger post offices supervisor of car
riers" be appointed, to have exclusive
charge of the force Of letter Carriers