Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-12-11

Estimated revenue for 1903.... 1882, S14 81
Add per cent for estimated
increase year ending June 80,
1894 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. H. ,293
Estimated revenue for 1904. 144, 1857, 664
Estimated expenditure for 1904. 153, 010, $50
Estimated deficit for 1904. ....$ 8,242, $50
This estimate is based upon the or
binary business Of the service, and
without considering the effect of espe-
cial measures, the results of which are
not yet determined.
In 1860, three years before city free
delivery was established, the gross total
receipts were $8,51S,067, and the ex-
penditures SO $40, leaving deficit
of $40, 1852, SAB. The magnitude of postal
development is indicated by the fact
that for the fiscal year 1902 the postal
receipts were $121 ,848, 047, and the in
crease of receipts during the past fiscal
year over the year preceding was ST.
698, 7S6 greater than the gross receipts
for the year 1860.
Expenditures and Deficits.
The increase in postal revenues not
only attests the wonderful prosperity
of the people and the activity Of bust
ness interests throughout the country
but also indicates that the extension
of postal facilities carefully directed re-
suits sooner or later in increased re-
ceipts and diminished deficits. With
phenomenal growth of population and
other favoring conditions, the mail mat
ter poured into the postofficeS has rap
idly helped to lessen the percentage Of
deficiencies. Despite largely increased
expenditures, the revenues gradually
approximate the expenses after each
added outlay has marked a new stand
ard.
In 1872 the receipts of the postoff1ce
department were in round numbers
$22 900 900, against an expenditure Of
$26, 500, 000 a deficiency of 81 500, 900,
or 20.45 per cent of the revenue. In
1882 the receipts were $4,000, 900,
against an expenditure of SAL 100000
showing a surplus Of $1,O00,000. In 1892
the receipts had increased to ST. ,000,-
900, against an expenditure of SIT ,000,-
900, leaving a deficiency Of 100000,
or 8.45 per cent of the revenue. In
1902 the receipts were about $122 ,000,-
600, with an expenditure of nearly
S125, 900 900, reducing the deficiency to
about SO, 100000, or 2.46 per cent Of the
revenue.
Postal Reductions Follow.
Deficits in the postal service are not
to be viewed with apprehension. 1t
is the policy, whenever the postal re-
ceipts exceed or come near the expendi-
lures, to extend postal facilities and
cheaper the cost of the service to the
/ public.
The receipts in 1882 indicated such a
healthy condition of the postal revenues
and expenditures as to induce congress
to distribute the benefits of the sur
plus among the people in the reduction
half ounce to two cents per ounce. In
asmuch as the revenue received from
first-class matter at the old rate of three
cents per half ounce was about $16,-
900 900, the reduction of postage to
those writing letters was in the neigh
borhood of 100000.
Rural Free Delivery.
Rural free delivery service has be-
come an established fact. 1t is no long
er in the experimental stage and I'M
doubtedly congress will continue to in
crease the appropriation for this ser
vice until all the people of the country
are reached, where it is thickly enough
settled to warrant 1t.
With the carriers salary fixed at $500
per annum the annual gross cost of the
completed rural free delivery service
will approximate $4,000, 900. After the
service has been completed this in
crease ought not to exceed annually
to 10 per cent, or in about the same
proportion as obtains in other branches
of the service. The people are demand
ing the service with impatient earnest
ness, and this demand is being vigor-
ously supported by their representa-
tives in congress.
The department is unable, even with
the liberal appropriation made by the
congress, to meet the pressing and
justifable demands for the service.
In fact, the appropriation for the
year ending June 80, 1903, will be so
far used by Jan. L next that no new
routes can be established after that
date, unless an additional appropria-
ton is made by the congress that will
be Immediately available
Progress Of Rural Free Delivery.
Five years of experiment in this ser
vice. 1dded to several months ex-