Bridgeton pioneer., 1906-02-08
GRAHAM'S BUSINESS
Is PRETTY GOOD


Cumberland county is admitted by
most people. 1t is absolutely shown,
proven, undisputedly settled by the
business of the past year in the post
office.
You may readily realize that a post
office is business concern that re-
fleets much of the Importance of a
community. II there is any business
being transacted the post office is in
the game and it's receipts show that
the people are engaged in something
beside pleasure.
Cumberland county has three post
offices in the second class. They are
in Bridgeton. Vineland and Millville.
II may be said that in the matter of
business. gross receipts, Bridgeton
does nearly as much as both Vineland
and MiiIville combined. The figures
are taken from the last annual report
of the U. S. Post Office Auditor.
To begin with explanations It may
be said that the Bridgeton Postmaster
is Henry Graham. and the salary of
his office is fixed at $4,000, based upon
the business he does. Over in Vine
land Frank Wanser is at the head of
the office, and the government allows
him to draw monthly checks at the
rate of $s400 year. Col. Thomas f.
Austin, the Millville Postmaster, is
allowed the same salary as Mr.. Wan
ser.
During the past year the gross re.
ceipts Of the Bridgeton post offioe ag-
gregated $23, 764. h4..
VineIand cashed in $15. 1888. &C. while
MilIyille gathered in the strong box
during the twelve months just $14, :
ia 81.
The special delivery service in
Bridgeton cost $l56.96. In vineland
it was $9S48, and over in Millville
s76.96. This represents what ia paid
he young man who hustles to you
with a special delivery letter. He is
allowed eight cents each. That means
during the last twelve months the
Bridgeton special delivery carrier took
out 1862 letters. which bore the IA
mlliar 10 cent blue stamp.
the clerk hire in Bridgeton annual.
ly amounts to $4. .OO4.16. In Vineland
it is $3,06l. 10. Over in MillviIle the
clerks aggregate $s. O41. &c. Bridgeton
pays for rent, light and fuel $3.50 each
year and the landlord gets his rent
promptly. The rent. fuel and light in
Vineland is 5000 annually, and in
Millville $325.
The Bridgeton free delivery carriers
earn and are paid by the government
~, 1872. SO. Over in Millville the car
rier service costs $5,274.36. In Vine
land it is $4,632 SO.
It..is thus shown that the post office
industry is not an unimportant one
Tor the three principal towns in Cum
berland. Salaries and rent paid out
TO bridgetonians during the past year
oy the post office department amounted
TO Sl6, 1884 O5. In Millville it added
70 the prosperity of the town to the
tune OF $l1, 1l7.98. while in Vineland
the income to the residents of the bor
ough was $40, 1894.
While discussing mail service it may
90 interesting to add some statistics
showing the growth Of the great sys
tenn in the United States.
In 1850 it cost the government S..
Sl2,953. 43 to administer the affairs of
lS,4l7 post Offices. In 1905 the business
nad grown to the extent that it cost
Si67, S99, 1928 to carry on the affairs
OF 6S.13S offices.
In 1880 there were in the United
States S,946 railway mail clerks and
she service cost, the department ST., /.
ao7, 1886. In 1905. just 20 years
ia'er, there were employed 10, 1884 rail.
way mail clerks and the service cost
Si5, 285, ,242. "a.
oity free delivery service was estab.
hshed in 1868 with 6S5 carriers in the
enlire country, the service costing
SSN, ". In 1905 the number of
oarfiers IN the country was 81, IT'S and
s .ne expense of the service aggregated
$40. 919. O7S. is. I
rural free delivery service was es.
'aDiished In 1897, there being "a car.
II aiers employed. In 1905 there we're
700 rural carriers, and the cost of
'ne service was $40. sl9, 944 SO.
l,.. 'ne meantime you can mail a
s'ser 70 california for 2 cent stamp
anu nave 1T delivered to the door of
'ne party to whom it is addressed.
=