The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-02-10
RURAL DELIVERY
COSTS GREAT SUM
USES MORE CARRIERS AND
MONEY THAN CITY
SERVICE.
Report of Third Asst. Lawshe
Traces Postal Business from
Time of Benjamin Franklin

Time OF Benjamin Franklin
In the twelve years of its ex-
lstence the rural mail division
OF the United States Postal de-
partment has grown SO rapidly
that at the close of 1909 more car
rlerS were employed in the rural
than in the city service. Distri-
button OF mail to residents OF the
rural districts costs more per an
mum than the delivery service OF
the cities according to the report.
The statistics were furnished
by Third Asst. Postmaster Gen
eral a. l.. Lawshe. of Indiana.
now on furlough in New Mex
leo. a copy of the report has
been received by Postmaster II.
B. Hanna. An historical report of
the postal business in this coun-
try and its growth indicates that
rural delivery cost the govern
ment S34, 100000 last wear and
that 81 carriers were employ
ed In the cities. the cost was but
S26,25S,O39.16 and orly 26.352
carriers were given employment.
Rural carriers covered routes the
total length OF which were SOL
432 miles. In 1897. SO carriers COW
cred 1913 miles and the depart
ment was maintained at a cost OF
Sl4,S40. City delivery service
started in 1864 with 60 offices.
6S5 carriers and total outlay the
first year OF S317 .O63. 20. New of
hceS, more carriers and larger
funds have followed year after
year in the city delivery service.
Special delivery service was
first adopted in this country "A
years ago and in that branch also
enormous growth has been noted.
In 1886 special delivery stamps
were sold only nine motnhs and
S96,334 parcels were handled.
Last year the total was 1904
$50.
Service 121 Years Old.
The United States postal serv-
ice was lnaugurated in 1889 IS
Offices were established the first
year, although the work began
September l. During the four re-
naming months of>1.S9 the gross
receipts OF the office were $500
and the gross expenditures were
1910 leaving a deficit of $50 and
and starting that shortage paid
having been used previous to OF
teh lives OF most postmasters gen
eral since that day The depart
ment was established in 1775 with
Benjamin Franklin as first post
master general under the contin-
entail congress, but active postal
operations were not begun until
II years later when Samuel Os-
good was in charge. The first
postage stamps were sold in New
York city, July /, 1917, stamp
marking the postage paid, having
been used previous to that time
Stamped enveloping came into
vogue in June 1853 and newspa-
per wrappers were first placed on
sale under act of February q.
1861. As the postal departments
grew in importance in the de-
velopment of the nation il broad
ened its scope year by year. Pos
tai cards were first issued May l,
1873; letters were first registered
July l, 1855; the money order
system went into operation No
vember /, 1864 and international
money orders were first issued in
1867.
This development continued
until in 1909, 61,15S postoffices
were established and post rou.s s
covered 45O,73S miles; the total
miles OF mail service operating
were 52S.43S,722 the gross re-
-ceipts of the department were
S191 .47S,663 while the gross ex-
penditures were S20S, 351 1856
postmasters received S25 500 .397
as compensation. The number Of
postage stamps issued was 7.651,-
4OO.4O5 with stamped envelopes
and wrappers numbering L, 260,
O02 $50; the sale of post cards haC
grown to 500. 1880.
Great Men in Office.
The office OF postmaster gener
al has been occupied by some o
the greatest men OF the country
From 1775 to 1909 the list o.
heads of the department were a:
follows: Benjamine Franklin
Richard Bache. Ebeneber Hazard
Samuel Osgood, Timothy Pick
tring, Joseph Habershab. Gideon
Granger. r.. J. Meigs jr. John Nc
Lean, VIM. T. Barry. Amos Ken
dali, John NJ. Niles. Franci:
Granger, Charles A. Wycliff. Ia
cob Collamer. Nathan K Hall
Samuel ID. Hubbard, Jane:
Campbell. Aaron V. Brown, JOS
eph Holt. James A Gary, Charlie
Emory Smith. Henry c. Payne
Frank 3. Hitchcock.
Days AIRS Almost Over.
Richmond. Va. Feb. I'm