The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-31
EPORTONPOSTOFFICES
Government Carries Mail AT "A
Heavy Loss
$I7,4g7, 77O POSTAL DEFICIT
Postmaster General Hitchcock's Report
Shows That Second CIass Mail and
Rural Delivery Cause the Deficit.


Rural Delivery Cause the Deficit.
Washington, %. Confronted with
deficit Of $1747Y,7 ITO. the present adj
ministration of the postofiice depart
ment began its operations. This was
the largest deficit in the history OF
the postal service. So long as the de-
felt in the department aggregated
only few millions OF dollars annual
ly, little attention was paid to it;
but when, in the last years, 1t leaped
to upward OF $10,0O0,00O and finally,
in 1903, exceeded S17.O00,OOO, "ordi-
nary business prudence suggested
that the causes be definitely located"
These are statements In the annual
report Of Postmaster General Frank
II. Hitchcock made public concerning
the results of inquiries into the de-
felt. The postmaster general says;
Recent investigations have shown
that the two great sources OF loss to
the postal revenues are second-class
mail matter and rural delivery.
"The loss on second-class mail mat
ter has been increasing for many
years, until 1t now amounts to $64.
100000.
"The loss from rural delivery. q
service begun hardly q dozen years
ago and of unprecedented growth,
reaches as high as s28,OOO,00
TN these two items alone the pos
tai service now suffers an annual loss
Of more than the entire deficit of the
last fiscal year.
1T should be stated with emphasis.
however, that economy is not to be
enforced at the cost Of efficiency.
"The most striking fact disclosed
by recent investigations is the tre-
mendous loss on account OF second
class mail While this class of mail
provides a revenue of little more than
/ cent pound, the cost to the
government for its handling and
transportation averages g.2S cents a
pound The annual loss thus incurfs
ed, as already stated, is about $64.'
600, 900.
@The rural delivery service has de-
veloped in twelve years from an ex-
pertinent, requiring an appropriation
Of $4,000, to one OF the largest
branches of the postal establishment,
with an annual expenditure exceeding
35,000,0OO. The postage on matter
mailed on rural routes lis estimated
at about $7,000,0OO. The Importance
of this service to large number OF
people is fully appreciated. 1t brings
the farms and villages into closer
communication with commercial and
educational centers. 1t encourages
the improvement OF country roads.
BY making rural life more attractive
it stimulates agriculture. No doubt
in Is partly responsible for the In.
crease in farm values. Owing to the
marYeIously rapid growth OF this SER
vice, however, it is but natural that.
detects have developed. The cost OF
rural delivery is probably much great
or than it should be. Now is an APP
/ propriate time for considering care
fully the conditions under which 1t
is operated, for perfecting the exist
ing organization and for introducing
such economies as are consistent with
q proper conduct Of the service.
I'm one respect, the postal service
is susceptible of marked improve
ment. 1t needs more effective system
Of supervision. Over sixty thousand
offices scattered throughout the
length and breadth Of the land are
directly dependent on the department
at Washington for instructions, for
authority to make expenditures and
for supplies. 1t would seem to be an
excellent plan to make large city post
Offices the centers OF convenient pos
tai areas by giving city postmasters
supervisory authority over the small
Ter Offices of the neighborhood.
"The departments recommendation
for the establishment OF postal saw
ings banks is earnestly renewed.
"To provide for simple and cheap
means OF transmitting small sums
through the mails, and to lessen the
use Of coins, bills andpo stage stamps
for that purpose, it is recommended
that a form Of postal note or check
be adopted, similar to the present
money order, but issued for lower
fees without written application in
fixed denominations less than So"
Suggestions are made in the report
Of means by which the public could
facilitate the work Of the postofice
department. Among them are these:
The equipment Of every residence
with q private mail box in cities hav-
ing carrier service; posting heavy.
maiIings early In the day; instead OF
the evening; the general use OF re-
turn address on envelopes; the
prompt notification OF postmasters OF
all changes in addresses; and the ex-
ercise OF care In the proper address,
ing OF all mail matter.