Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-30

stimulates agriculture No doubt 1t Is
partly responsible for the increase In
farm values. Owing 70 the marvel
ously rapid growth Of this service,
however 1t is but natural that defects
have developed. The cost Of rural de-
livery is probably much greater than
It should be. Now il an appropriate
time for considering carefully the con-
ditions under which It is operated, for
perfecting the existing organization,
and for introducing such economies as
are consistent with proper conduct
Of the service.
I'm 70 far as the rates OF payment for
transportation OF the mails are fxed by
contracts based on competitive bidding,
there can he no doubt jas to their fair
ness The larger part ri this item, how
ever IL for payments to railways at rates
fixed by law. The charge for this serv-
ice during the past fiscal year was near
ly $6o.oOo.ooo
POSTOFFICE DISTRICTS.
I'm one respect, the postal service Is
| susceptible of marked improvement. 1t
needs more effective system OF super
vision. Over 5000 Offices scattered
throughout the length and breadth of the
land are directly dependent on the de-
partment at Washington for instructions.
for authority to make expenditures, and
FOR supplies IT would seem to be an ex-
cellent plan to make large city postoffices
the centers Of convenient postal areas by
giving city postmasters supervisory au-
thority over the smaller Offices OF the
ne'Chborhood.
THE Department. recommendation for
the establishment of postal savings banks
is earnestly renewed. As oS per cent Of
the savings Of the people are deposited
In the banks of II States. the neeG for
additional savings repositories for other
parts Of the country Is apparent These
portions of the United states now want
ing IN such facilities could he readily sup
piled through the fundamentally Of
postal savings system.
"Of the vessels carrying mails to the
Orient. more than 70 per cent. fly foreign
flags. while not single steamship now
carrying our mails to Australasia and to
South America except the north coast,
files the American flag. These parts OF
the world are of great commercial i'm
portance, and the maintenance Of fire.
quent. fast and regular mail service
would he the first step in establishing
closer trade relations with them Con-
tracts for service to these countries can
not be secured under tho present law.
More liberal remuneration IS necessary.
Legislation should be enacted granting
adequate mail pay to American steam
ships
POSTOFFICE CHECkS
ITO provide a simple and cheap means
of transmitting small sums through the
mails. and TO lessen the use of coins,
bills and postage stamps for that purpose,
1t Is recommended that n 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 $40"
Suggestions are made in the report OF
means by which the public could
facilitate the work of the postoffce de-
partment. Among them are these:
The equipment of every residence with
a private mail box in cities having carrier
service; posting heavy mailngs early in
the day. instead of the evening: the gen
eral use OF a return address on envelopes:
the prompt notification or pos,masters of
all changes In addresses; and the ex-
ercise of care in the proper addressing OF
all mail matter.
INTERESTING FIGURES.
Some idea Of the size of the postal
service of the United States and the
magnitude Of its business can he gained
from brief review OF the salient facts
disclosed by the latest annual statistics.
These figures show that the service now
has about 316, ono employees. and that these
employees handled during the last fiscal
year nearly fourteen billion pieces Of mail.
The number of postoffices in operation is
60,lH There are &c 652 domestic trans
portation routes. aggregating 1883 miles
in length. with an annual travel Of 542-
l5l,lH miles. A delivery service by carrier
is provided on OeeS rural routes and in
!. 40 cities ard towns Ordinary postage
stamps to the number Of S7l2 0T OSl were
sold during the year and domestic money
orders to the value OF s9l GA e44 were
issued. The total receipts for the fiscal
year 1909 We're s203, $50 $500, increase Of
631 per cent over the receipts Of the
previous year. The total expenditures
amounted TO s22l. oo4. 1902, 50. an increase Of
6O7 per cent"