Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-11-08

this was the first year in which
stamped envelopes were issued, and
the sales amounted to s., Oo2, 600. Let
tiers were first registered on July /,
1855. and the first newspaper wrap
pers were issued in 1861. Special re-
quest envelopes were first put into
use in 1865, and postal cards had
their birth in June, 1873. In 1856 we
find that the gross expenditures of
the postoffice for the first time ex-
ceeded s10.000,O0O a year, while in
1899 the expenditures reached S10l.-
632, 16O. In 1912 this had increased to
S24S, 624, $40. In 1899 there were issued
IS, 692, TVS, SIS in postage stamps, and
in 1912 the amount was nearly three
times as great, having climbed to 49,
$50. SOS, 7e5. The sale of postal cards
jumped from S91 900 in 1874 to $685.
All ,O45 in 1912. This of course, did
not take into account the private and
picture postal cards. In the year 1912
we find that there were so, 729 post
offices in the United States producing
a gross revenue of s246, 744, 0I5 with
There were $500, 49S letters regis
tered during the year. The free
delivery service was first established
on July 1861 During the year 1864
there were sixty-six postoffices enjoy
ing this privilege, and 665 carriers
were employed, with an annual cost
for the service amounting to S317, 063.
In 1912 there were 1921 free delivery
offices throughout the country. en-
ploying 29,962 carriers at an annual
cost for the service amounting to
1874, Isl, SIT. The rural delivery SER
vice was inaugurated as an expert
ment on October l, 1896, simultane-
ously on three routes from Charles
town, Uvilla and Halluown, West
Virginia. 1t has grown to such pro-
portions that for the year 1912 there
were 42,0S1 covering mileage of L.
OF, 492 miles at an annual cost of S4O,-
655, 740. The postal savings bank and
the parcels post are mere infants
in the postal; family, yet each has
proven a success. 1t is the greatest
reform, as used at present, ever I'M
Gertaken in connection with the in
ternal affairs of the United States,
and in six months it has grown so
much that it has become tax on
the business capacity of the postal
officials to hold it within proper
bounds.
RURAL CREDITS NEXT WINTER
When the regular session of Con-
gress convenes in December. and as
Stunning that the currency legislation
will by that time take its place on
the statute books alongside of the
tariff law, one of the great problems
of Congress will be legislation to bet
ter the condition of the American
farmer. Senator Gore of Oklahoma
has been back to his state, and has
spoken specifically concerning this
question on number of occasions. 1t
will be recollected that during the
past two years there have been many
excursions to many European coun-
tries, where they have gone for the
purpose of investigating conditions
respecting farm loans, with view to
more modern methods of handling
credits in the United States. Some
how or another Congress and the Adj
ministration seem to feel that it is
much more difficult for farmers to
obtain loans than anyone else, and
propose to take up the subject.
: WOOD PAVING BLOCKS
According to the forest service wood
block paving, tried and discarded in
many cities of the United States
thirty years ago, is now getting back
in the American favor, due TO new
methods of handling blocks.