Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-12-07
POSTOFF|CE RECEIPTS
SHOW BUSINESS GAIN
Increase of 6.3I Per Cent in the
Revenues Indicates Healthy
Condition.
DECREASE IN MONEY ORDERS
A Washington Correspondent Says
Postal Statistics Clearly Set
Forth Country's Growth.


The postoffice returns furnish the
most accurate barometer we have of
the condition of business. If man
or firm is not doing anything they
do not use the mails, but when they
are busy they have to buy stamps and
a return is made of every one that IS
sold. Hence the sales of postage
stamps are an index of the condition
of business, and during the fiscal year
ending June 80. 1909, the receipts from
that source were 1884, 1867 ,S15,46, an in
crease of 81 ,593, 104.44 over 1908. The
second-class postage paid in money
amounted to s7,236,05S.70, an increase
of $2S5, 55195. Third and fourth class
postage paid in money was 1929,
741.35, an increase of $685., 1880, and
the revenue from box rents in the post
offices throughout the country was 3d.
946,25971, an increase of sl12,956.l6
over the previous year.
There was falling off in various
other sources of revenue, the most con
spicuous being that from the money
order business. During the last fiscal
year there was a decrease of SlSS,00O
in the amount of domestic money or
ders issued and a decrease of S12,310,-
759 in the amount of foreign money
orders issued. The revenue from this
source was $3,417, 6253S for the yeas,
showing a decrease of $3.50, 1906 from
1908.
The total revenues of the Postoffice
Department for the fiscal year 1903
were 5000, 562, 3S3.07, being an increase
from the previous year of $l20S3, ll9.-
Sc, or 6.31 per cent-a very healthful
sign of the restoration of business
from the panic of 1907, which was felt
even into the first and second quarters
of the recent fiscal year.
The only way to explain the falling
off in the money orders is on the
theory that the foreign-born element
in the United States had not sufficient
ly recovered from the hard times OF
1907 and 1905 to afford sending any
part of their savings to the old folks
in the countries from which they
came.
During the last ten years S49S, $685.
915 has been sent abroad in money or
ders alone, practically the entire
amount being the savings of the for
eign-born population in the United
States RENTED to their parents and
other relatives, or for investment.
The growth of the country is indi
Gated more accurately by the postal
statistics than by any other standard
of comparison, although there has been
a decided falling off in the total num-
Der of postoffices since the rural de-
livery was introduced. Highwater
mark was reached in 1901. when there
we're 76,945 postoffices, but those of the
fourth class on the country roads ana
at the four corners have gradually
been abolished and the mail of their
patrons has been delivered at the door
step of the farmers homes by carriers
The total number of postoff1ces in op
Grafton on the 30th of June last was
60,144, which was falling off of 49,
sol since 1901 and decrease of LOLA
during the previous twelve months.
The number of first and second class
offices increased considerably, however.
and the amount of money devoted to
postmasters salaries was $26,571,91
decided increase from the previous
year.
The revenue of the. Postofice Depart
ment is increasing rapidly. and
amounted to S20S, 563,343 last year, an
increase of S12 ,0S3,719, but it does not
yet equal or even keep pace with the
expenditures. which were 1921, 004, 102
during the fiscal year 1909-an in
crease of ST., 662.216 from the previous
year. There seems to be no way of
pulling down the expenses. notwith.
standing the efforts of the Postoffice
Department to economic and to rule
out of the mails cast quantities of Sec
old-class matter that was formerly car
ried free.
The deficit in the earnings last year
was larger than ever before in the
history of the government and
amounted to sl7,479,77O, Ten years
ago the deficit was $685.. ess, while in
1902 it was only s2,961,169. 1t is in
creasing so rapidly every year that
there is very little hope that the Post
Office Department will ever become
self supporting. as it is in nearly every
other country.