The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-01-31
~sEcoND-cLAss MAIL MATTER
(By Wilmer Atkinson.)

The postage rate was A times greater
in 1860 than now.
Coming down IL years to 1872 the
total weight of second-class matter
was that year less than 65,000,000
pounds.
Now it is 81, 42S, 141 pounds, more
than IL times greater.
The postal rate was 4 times what it
is now.
Then the gross revenue was $21,915,-
426; now it is 1924, lbs, 625, more than
10 times as much.
Then there was no rural free deliv-
cry; now that system costs $36,923,-
1877.
Then there were no registered let
tiers; now there are 42,053.574 a year.
Then postmasters were paid s5,121.-
665; now they are paid $27 514,362, and
their clerks are paid $3s, 035,456.62.
Then city delivery cost but little;
now it costs $31 ,SO5, 4s5.28.
In 1872 there were issued of stamps,
stamped envelopes and wrappers less
than SIS, 100000 (there were no postal
cards); now there are issued, including
postal cards, 1902, 064, ss7 SO, more than
10 times as much.
Observe that the weight of second
class matter is 752,42s,141 pounds
greater than in 1872, costing there
fore (~aceording to some official mathe-
maticians), more than 9 cents a pound
for transportation, or a total Of $67,-
71S,532.69 IS. The deficit for 1910 is al
most identical with that of 1872.
1885-191O.
As late as 1885 the government in
come from the issue of stamps, stamp
ed envelopes and wrappers and postal
cards was $35, 1924, 1870.
In 1910 it was 5000, 064, 1897 .96, more
than 5 times as much.
The number of registered letters is
sued in 1885 was IL, 043, 256; in 1910 it
was 40,151,797.
The amount Of money orders issued
rose from $117, S58,921 in 1885, to
$49s 500, 637 in 1910.
The total postal receipts rose from
$42, $50, 1914 in 1885, to 1924, 12s,657 in
1910, an increase of 1s1, 1867, s13.
The postage rate on second class
matter in 1885 was double what it is
now.
During the intervening period the
weight Of second class matter had in
creased about 600, o0o, 900 pounds.
Now we shall get down a little closer
in this business and see what has hap
pened within the last five years.
1906 1910.
In 1906 there was a gain in weight
Of second class matter Of 1854, 086
pounds; in that year the deficit was
$10,516,999.
In 1907 there was a gain in weight
of 5~2,616,336 pounds-11,O00, 900
pounds more than in 1906; the deficit
was reduced to $6,653,2s3.
In 1908 there was a loss instead of
gain in weight of second class matter
of Is, 079,292 pounds; the deficit went
up to $16,S73,223, an increase over the
year before Of more than $40, O00, 900.
In 1909 there was only a slight gain
in weight of 1885,, 29s pounds; the
deficit went up to 81, ,719.
In 1910 there was a gain in weight
of 94,S65,8 84 pounds, the largest ever
known; and the deficit dropped to So
S4S, 566.SS.
From 1906 to 1910 there were 1885,
6 1887 pounds increase in the weight
of second class matter; the deficit was
$4,66S,432.12 less in 1910 than in 1900.
The impression is prevalent that the
amount paid for railway transportation
was cut down the past year, but the
truth is that the railroads were paid
$44,654,514.S7, the railway mail service
and the postofice car service cost $24,-
065,21S.S8, a total Of $685. l9, 1885,
which is more by a half million than
was paid in 1909, and over $7,00O,0 900
more than vas paid in 1906.
1t is claimed that there is no def
mite relation between deficits and sec
ond-class matter; very well, the fore
going are the official figures; let them
speak for themselves.
In the whole history Of the postofice
department, neither an increase or sec
ond-cass matter nor a reduction Of the
postage rate, has ever increased de-
f%icits, no matter what burdens have
been piled upon the service in the way
OF an extension of city delivery, the
establishment of rural free delivery,
the multiplication in number and in
crease of pay Of officials, increase of
government free matter, increase of
railroad and other transportation
charges, nor an increase in the obstruc-