The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-12
SHOWS GROWTH
OF MAIL SERVICE
Extent Of Free Mail Delivery in
American Cities Reveals
Progress.
From tn. Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,

Sfo.n Inc journal Bureau, Colorado Building,
Washington.
Washington, July 12.-An interest
ing statement compiled by the superin-
ice was recently laid before Postmast-
er General Cortelyou, and under his
direction several things in connection
with it were made public.
Taking the service by states, New
York heads the list with 100 free de-
livery offices, which is more than there
were in the whole United States thirty
years ego. Pennsylvania comes next
with ninety-four offices; then Ohio with
enty; illinois with sixty -six; Indiana
with fifty EIGHT; New Jersey with
ffty-fve; Michigan with ffty-three
and Iowa with forty-fve.
The total number Of city free deliv-
cry officers Jan. /, 1905, was 1,1O4.
Bearing in mind that the requirements
Of free delivery are that the city shall
have at least 10000 population, or
$4,000 gross postal receipts, that its
streets must be paved and it's houses
numbered, this indicates how great has
been the development Of the country
since the service started in 1864, when
there were found only sixty-six cities
complying with these conditions.
Su4CdSO bI6 Largest.
In area served, Chicago, of course
takes first rank with 1872 square miles
Of territory, covered by l,571 carriers
New York with Brooklyn combined has
i32 square miles Of territory served
since January, 1904. Philadelphia
has exactly the same area as New York
and Brooklyn, but has fewer carriers
l,l47, an increase Of forty during the
past year.
Boston has ninety-fve square miles
ana 95l carriers, an increase Of thirty.
three. Cincinnati has sixty-fve square
miles, and 3Ol carriers, very slight
| increase
Baltimore has not increased it's car
rler service, probably on account of Its
area Of fifty-fve square miles.
The Twin Cities.
Washington Cor the District Of Col
umbial once known as the Getty Of
magnificent distances still has forty
nine square miles of territory covered
| by 259 carriers. This is only fon1
square miles less than New Orleans
when Nl5lc city, however, gets along with
| only 10 carriers. It has a greater
area than Minneapolis, which has thir
| ~
than st. Paul, forty-three square miles
ana l43 carriers; or than Buffalo, for
ty,two square miles, 246 carriers.
Micnlta, kan.,, has almost a .freal
service OF forty-three square miles anc
only twenty-five carriers, but its posta
tSe7c1e 81 ons measure up well, amounting tt
s salto' 81 en- making the percentage O.
Pennsylvania, the birthplace of on
postal system, has the distinction O.
cry offces-Nanticoke with four car
r1ers, whose pay amounts to 55.18 pc
cent OF the gross receipts, and Plym
outh, with six carriers, costing SAL
per cent OF the gross receipts. Eac]
OF these cities acquired the free-deliv
according to the last census Of 1000
or upwards. The gross postal receipt
IN both cases fell far below the $1,000,
mark
Michigan has both the cheapest an,
one OF the costliest services, Marshal
costing BAL per cent and Calumet cost
ing ~ per cent. Camden and Augusta
Me-, have each inexpensive service, tn
former costing 3.51 per cent and tn
latter 5.44 per cent. Muskogee, in tn
Indian Territory, now clamoring fo
statehood. shows up well with $25,72
gross receipts and percentage of cos
OF carriers or only OIL per cent.
| The percentage of cost of the carrie
service. in six Of the chief cities o
the union is as follows: New York
1881; Chicago, 1853; Philadelphia
2405i Boston. 21:86; Baltimore, 25.2e
and Cincinnati, l7.91.
Minnesota Free Delivery.
The total number of free-deliver,
offices. in Minnesota is twenty. Min
neapolis has 1875 carriers, and the cos
of the carrier service in 1904 was 1858
per cent of the gross receipts. At st
Paul, with 143 carriers. the carrier ser
vice cost 1887 per cent Of the receipts
North Dakota has four free deliver,
Offices, South Dakota eight and Wis
consin thirty five, all Of which appea
to be run economically, as the cost O.
the carrier service ranges between L
and Is per cent of the gross receipts.
pACT RFCKIIED