Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-18
PATRONIZE THE MAILS
WHAT THE DISTRICT PAID FOR
POSTAGE LAST YEAR.
Higher Rate Per Capita Than Any
State or Territory in the
Union.

lumbia has carried off the honor of ex-
pending more money per capita in the use
of the mails than any other state, territory
or possession of the United States said
post office inspector to Star reporter this
morning, land during the past year the
figures show that her colors are still nailed
to the mast with such a good lead that IT
is questionable when any of her competi-
tors will overtake her. if ever.
ut seems that the people of the District
expended last year $40 per capita, which
means that according to the gross receipts
Of the post offices by states. the post Of
fees in the District took in s924,246, and,
according to our population, We individual
ly spent more money than the people of any
other community.
Thus the gross receipts of the post Of
fees of the state of New York amounted
to $40, SS1 1856 This state ranks second in
the expenditure per capita in the use of
the mails with s2.76, or 43 cents less per
individual than in the District.
1.-THE empire state of the Union and its
smallest territorial subdivision thus in
terestingly placed side by side regards
postal expenditures. and the showing is In
our favor. The preceding year we spent
per capita $2.67, and New York $3.50 the
District leading by cents per capita, while
the next preceding year the figures of the
District were s2.51 as against New York's
$40, an increase of II cents per capita
In favor of the District. The increase in
the District during the past year of 40
cents over the state of New Pork is lit
tie more than twice as much as was the
increase during both of the preceding years
combined. The increase in the District OF
the past year over the preceding year was
80 cents, about 31a times greater than the
increase over the preceding year. These
showings are really remarkable.
Unparalleled Increase in the District.
This very great increase in single year
in the District can be accounted for only
upon the unprecedented prosperity of her
people An increase of 30 cents, meaning
that every person in the District spent 81
cents more in patronizing the mails than
in the preceding year. ought to command
attention, and is matter of congratula-
ton. The increase for the year in New
York was but II cents, in Pennsylvania IL
cents in Massachusetts, cents, in Illinois
II cents and in Connecticut cents
But this is not all that may be said in
the Districts favor, and as she is entitled
to all that is coming to her in this matter
which tends to indicate her advancement,
prosperity and business and social inter-
ests, 1t should be stated that the o2-cent
increase per capita referred to for last year
was as great, and more in some instances
than the average per capita expenditure
for the entire year in the entire states and
territories of Alaska North Carolina, South
Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Porto
Rico, respectively.
Increase Over Maryland.
Furthermore, Maryland, it will be OBJ
served from the figures which follow, spent
81 40 per capita last year, as against $1.4
for the preceding year, or gain of but
cents. Virginia spent So cents, as against
50 cents, an increase of cents, and West
Virginia spent 81 cents, as against SO cents,
an increase Of cents. These figures show
that our surrounding communities did not
approach the District in the increase of
business Indicated
Passing from the extraordinary increase
in last year of the District of 81 cents to the
total amount expended in the District of
3d. 10, the people of the District, as shown
from the official figures which follow, spent
four times in excess over the people OF
Porto Rico South Carolina, North Carolina,
Alabama, Wisconsin,, Alaska, Arkansas
dian territory and Louisiana, respectively;
three times much as Texas Virginia,
West Virginia, New Mexico and Delaware
Indiana, Oklahoma. Kansas. Utah, South
Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Arizona
IDAHO Maryland, Michigan and Nebraska
respectively. This means that our people
are making money when they make the let
tiers and other pieces of mail fly all over
the world to the extent indicated.
"And it must be distinctly borne In mind
that franked matter does not enter into
these calculations. The thousands of tons
and the millions of pieces of franked mat
ter which annually go through the Wash
ington city post office free are not Included.
If postage at full rates were paid upon this
avalanche of free matter from the depart
ments, the Capitol, &c, the gross receipts
of the Washington city post office would be
enormous in proportion to the size of the
population which patroniZes 1t, and the
penditure per capita would be so large as
to defy ready belief"