The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-03
RURAL MAIL COST
EATS Up PROFITS
United States Postal System
Would Otherwise Be Self
Sustaining.

Washington, Dec. 3.An increased
previous year is shown by the financial
statement for the postal service, incor-
porated in the annual report Of p. g.
Madden, third assistant postmaster gen
eral, for the fiscal year ended June 80,
1904. The report shows, however, that
the increase in expenditures is on ac-
count of the rural free delivery serv-
expenditure, the postal service now
would be about self-sustaining.
The total receipts from all sources
for the fiscal year were $l43, 5S2,624 and
the total expenditures $152,362,ll6,
leaving a deficiency of $8,779,492. The
deficiency for the previous year was
81, SOC, O44. Mr.. Madden says:
1t is believed that as soon as the rural
free delivery service is fully established,
count Of that service each year will not be
more than the normal increase for other
items Of the service, and that within a
short time after such normal conditions
obtain the postal service will again be
self- supporting, condition which has not
existed since 1883.
Money taken from dead letters, for
which no owners could be found, and
that realized from the auction sale Of
unclaimed articles accumulated in the
dead letter office aggregated $22,2lo.
-, There now are 1919 fourth class post
offices in Minnesota, 73s in North Da-
kota, and 58S in South Dakota The
average compensation paid is $251 in
Minnesota, 1914 in North Dakota, and
$242 in South Dakota. Eighty-th
postoffices were established in Mime
i sofa during the year, and ia were dis
continued. In North Dakota 65 were
established and 80 discontinued, and in
South Dakota there were 10 estab-
l lished and 10 discontinued.
I. Bristow Reports.
Extension Of the rural free delivery
service has resulted in an increase OF
ll,l25 in the number of postoffces dis
| continued during the fiscal year ended
q June 30, 1904, according to the report
of J. L. Bristow, fourth assistant post
were 2,549 postoffces established ani
1857 discontinued. There was a de
crease of $50 in the number Of office!
esta blished.
The principal cause of the increas,
in discontinuances has been the ex
tension of the rural free delivery ser
vice. Disturbances effected a saw
:, eating Sill, 121. At the close Of tn
: fiscal year there were 71,16S postoffce
t in the United States-265 first class
l,2O4 second class, 1896 third class an,
65,766 fourth class. ~ =
Want Package Rate.
Operation Of rural mail delivery an
: the extension by private interests o
> rural telephone service has created
3 demand from patrons of rural route
for the delivery Of small packages 0
3 merchandise on an order to local mel
n chants hxy toll oo nd to1orhoro 10th
D erwise:: The value of such package
: is small and the present rate Of cen
: an ounce, the. report says, is practicall
J prohibitive. Mr.. Bristow recommend
E that congress fix a rate of 3 cents
q pound OF. }any fractional part. thereo
q mailed at the distributing postoffce Q
a any rural free delivery route. If thi
Il special rate were ablished, Mr.. Bril-
tow says, it would be a great CONVEX
!, fence to patrons and become SQUIRE
9 of revenue to the department.
!, More Money Needed.
:. It is estimated that 100000 will b
, needed by the department. to continu
q the establishment of rural routes &
!. fast as they are favorably reports
+ and approved for the remainder Of th
1900 routes will be reported with
n the next; two months, and at this rat
g the appropriation available will be .:
i hausted about Jan. Is, 1905.
% An appropriation of $3,O00,O00 f.
the establishment Of new routes Wi
be asked by the department for tt
!. fiscal year ending June 80 1906. The
le are now in operation 28,073 routes.
IS Appointments of postmasters for IL
le fiscal year numbered 1882 "a decrea'
lie Of l,249 as compared with the prece
er ing year. This was due to there ha
n ing been, smaller number Of expir
m tions Of = commissions Of PRESIDENT
postmasters and to the policy of tt
It, department in discouraging changes
IN fourth class postoffces except for caus
I'd Mr.. Bristow recommends to congre
at that the interstate commerce law 1
s. amended so as to prohibit common ca
20 riers from aiding or abetting in gree
OF goods or lottery swindles.
n, The report shows that during t
O. year 1908 postoffces were robbie
r. There were sixty depredations on ia
ne way postoffces, star routes, rural fr
ch delivery routes and screen Wagon
+; There were $40 robberies of street a!
m special delivery letter boxes. Fifty S
,ss postal cars were burned and we
ne wrecked and $50 postoffices we
al burned. There were 1897 mail pouch
IN lost, damaged or rifled.