The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-30

their predecessors. and in order that
they might be given instructions which
would insure the correction of irregu-
larities 1t IS necessary that these off1ces
be visited at least once a year by an In
spector. TIE annual Inspections even
without considering the protection to the
revenues, have been highly beneficial,
and the interests of the service require
at least one inspection a year of every
money order Office.
CASES RELATING TO REGISTERED
MAIL
The total number of complaints of this
class received during the year was 81
TAI, of which 8 1872 related to letters and
565 to packages. Of these cases 5b5S
were investigated and closed. and actual
loss was sustained in only III cases.
being 3.03 per cent of the cases 1nves-
tigated- This same percentage applied
to the total number of complaints re-
ceived (S,747) would indicate a total OF
265 cases in which actual loss occurred.
The total number of registered pieces
handled by the department during tire
year was 22,S31, 400, making an average
loss of but one piece in every eS Lab
pieces of registered mail handled. The
records of the department for the last
six years on loss of registered mail IS
as follows:
The losses in 1897 were 10 per cent. of
the total number Of cases referred and
investigated, or an average of one piece
in every 22,S40 handled. In 1898 the loss
was 90 per cent or an average Of one
piece in every "a, sos pieces handled. The
| loss for 1899 was 81 per cent, or an av-
erage of one piece in every 1880 han
died. The loss in 1900 was ~ per cent,
or an average of one piece in every 3d.,
/ 6S2 pieces handled. The loss in 1901 was
/ So per cent, or an average of one piece
/ in every 1866 pieces handled. The loss
/ in 1902 was 3.03 per cent, or an average
1 Of one piece in every sc, 156 pieces nan
died
/ CASES RELATING TO ORDINARY
MAIL.
! There were 103, 257 complaints of this
class received during the year. OF which
4 80, eco referred to letters and 1851 re-
terred to packages. The above total
shows an increase Of 1902, or s per cent,
as compared with the number OF cases
of this class received during the fiscal
year 1901 OF these cases 1855 We're
investigated during the year. as well as
3S,l04 cases Of the same class which
We're received in former years, making a
! total of $751; 100 cases disposed of during
the fiscal year 1902 1t was shown that
no loss occurred in about 25 per cent.
OF the cases investigated
During the fiscal year 1902 there were
LAS robberies of postofIices, as COM
pared with 1885 in 1901: there We're IL
robberies of mail trains. as compared
with 81 in 1901: 1e of mail messengers,
star route carriers and wagons, as COM
pared with in 1901: 465 of street and
rural free delivery letter boxes, as COM
pared with 1853 in 1901 This large in
crease is accounted for by the growth
of the rural free delivery service. 1t is
obvious that boxes placed along the
country highways are much more liable
to depredations than those along city
streets. The number of postal cars
burned and wrecked in 1902 was IA; in
1901, IL TIE number of postoffices burn
ed in 1902 was $50 in 1901, 643 The
number of mail pouches lost in 1902 was
1852; in 1901, CSC. The number of pouches
cut or stolen in 1902 was 742 one less
than in 1901