The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-03
Contains Recommendation for a
Special Merchandise Stamp.
THREE CENTS A POUND
On Packages to Be Delivered
Along Rural Routes.
Weight of Articles to Be Limit
ed to Five Pounds.


The total number of appointments of
postmasters for the fiscal year was 49,
S12, a decrease of 1,249 as compared
with the preceding year. This decrease
was due to there having. been a smaller
number off, expirations of commissions
of presidential postmasters and to the
policy of the department in discourage
ing changes in fourth-c1ass postmasters
except for cause.
During the year there were 2,549 post
offices established and 5,587 discontin-
ued, showing a decrease of 15S in the
number of offices established and an
increase of 1,125 in the number of
offices discontinued. The principal
cause for the increase in the number of
pOStoffices discontinued has been the
extension of the rural free delivery ser
vice. The extension of this service dur
ing the year resulted in the discontin-
uance of $3.50 postofices, the salaries
of the pOStmaSterS at such offices ag
gregating $171,121.
At the close of the fiscal year there
were 71,131 postoffices in the United
States-265 first class, 1,204 second
class, 1886 third class and 65,766 fourth
class.
During the year there were 7,753
designations of postmasters, 1,091 re-
movals, and 791 deaths.
City free delivery service has been
year, as against SO in 1903. At the close
of the fiscal year there were LOO free
delivery offices.
One hundred and ninety-six carriers
have been appointed for service at new
free delivery offices, and 1,030 for offices
where the service has been extended.
The total number of carriers employed
on June 80, 1904, was 20,761, an increase
of 1,219 over the preceding year.
Revenues and Expenses.
ho at
offices during the fiscal year were $101,-
7OS,230-31, an increase of S.S2 per cent
over the preceding year. The cost of
the free delivery service was $40, SOL
POS 10, an increase of 683 per cent as
compared with the preceding year. The
expense of the free delivery service was
2O.22 per cent of the gross receipts of
free delivery offices as against 0.69 for
rier was $990.38, while for the previous
year it was 1888. Sc. Sos
Fees of 8 cents each on special de-
livery matter were claimed by postmas-
tiers last year to the total amount of
1871, 076. 81, showing that 9,SSS, 457 pieces
of mail of this character were handled.
The natural growth of the service
necessitates constant additions to the
carrier force, although careful inVesti-
cation in numerous cities during the
last IS months shows conclusively that
material increases in carrier force are
often not so much required as adequate
carriers already available.
The estimated cost of city free deliv-
cry for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1906, is $23, 765,S75.
Rural Free Delivery.
During the fiscal year there were es-
tabliShed 9,447 routes, making a total
of 24,566 routes in operation on June 80,
1904
On July 1, 1903, the number of petit
lions for rural service pending was H.
70 ~ n nOr j
on but had not been established at the
close of the fiscal year. There were
Z, S42 cases made up for investigation
during the past fiscal year, making H.
145 cases in all. During the year IL $50
cases were reported on, $3.50 favorably
and 1850 adversely, leaving 5,516 petit
lions pending on June 30, 1904. OF this
number there were 764 cases reported on
and awaiting action on that date.
The designations of 4,316 carriers were
accepted during the year, or about II
per cent of those employed, being a de-
crease of per cent over the number OF
designations received during the pre-
ceding fiscal year.
New Rate Needed.
With the establishment of rural mail
delivery, and the increasing extension
of rural telephone service by private
there has grown up a demand
by the patrons of the rural service for
the delivery of small packages of mer-
chandise such as food stuffs, tobacco,
dry goods, drugs, etc, on an order TO
the local merchant by postal card, tel
ephone, or otherwise. The value of
these packages of merchandise is US
ually small, and the present rate of
postage of 1 cent per ounce is practical
ly prohibitive. The patron or merchant
can not afford to pay 16 cents for the
of a pound of coffee or tobacco,
or similar article, but if a special rate
were established on such matter from
the distributing Office, for delivery to
any patron on the rural routes from
that office, it would be great convent
ence to the patrons and become a
source of revenue to the department
1t is, therefore, recommended that the
congress fix a rate of 8 cents per pound,
or any fractional part thereof, on pack
ages of books or merchandise not ex-
ceeding pounds, mailed at the dis
postoffiee of any rural free |
delivery route for delivery to a patron |
On said route. This rate should apply |
1nly to packages deposited at the local
oostoffice for delivery to patrons on
routes emanating from that office and
lot to mail transmitted from one office |
10 another. The rate of cents per
pound would be ample remuneration |
,or the department, because there is no |
expense for railway transportation, and |
he system by which these packages are
20 be delivered is already established, |
and such delivery would entail no addi- |
ional expense upon the department. A
special stamp could be provided for this
lass of mail matter.
The amount appropriated for the
compensation of rural carriers and
Jerks in charge of sub-stations dur
ng the current fiscal year is $20,1S0,-
700. OF this, approximately $17,532,-l
100 is required for carriers in the
ervice on June 80, 1904, and adding
o this 81. 900, which will be required
or the payment of clerks in charge of
ural sub-stations, there is left 3d.
i36,500 for the establishment of addi-
ional routes during the current fiscal
ear.
On July 1, 1904, there were pend
ng unreported on approximately 81