Evening star., 1939-06-11
Postal Service Held
Biggest Business
By Frederic J. HdSkin.

OF these three countries amount to ap-
proximately $500 100000 while the yearly
receipts of the United States postal
service are in excess of SIPS 900 900.
While the ordinary revenues of the
postal service of this country, which are
derived principally from the collection
OF postage, indicate business of colossal
size, the other financial transactions Of
the Post Office Department greatly ex-
ceed the revenue figures for postage
service
For example. the issuance and payment
OF money orders represent more than
50O,0OO000 transactions yearly, while the
total money handled each year exceeds
$4,000 900 600 The department also
transacts money order business with
foreign countries which involves the
transfer of vast sums. In settling in
debtedneSs to other nations for money
orders issued, foreign exchange amount
Ing TO more than $4,000 900 is pur-
chased annually. There is a profit of
more than 100000 on these transactions,
The postal savings system was started
in January. 1911 and has steadily in
creased. 1t is self-supporting and real
lzlng profit The total net profit for
the past five years amounted to approM-
mately s25, 100000. There are more than
1000 post Offices and branches accepting
deposits from approximately 27OOO0
depositors Depositors' money is invest
ed in Government securities, and also
deposited in some 5000 banks which hold
for the Government approximately sll5,-
600 900 subject to call
Since March l, 1885, the Post Ofice
Department has been selling United
States Savings Bonds, which are issued
by the United States Treasury and sold
in the post Offices for the convenience
OF the public. The maturity value of
these bonds sold is now near $1,000
600 O00
The great capacity of postal service
was well demonstrated in the payment of
the soldiers bonus through the post
offices from June Is. 1886, TO January Is,
1897 This undertaking, involving trans
actions with more than 5000 900 veter-
ans, and totaling bond payments Of
Sl,35OO00000 was handled with a mini
mum Of errors
The history of the Nation and its I'M
portant personalities is being depicted on
postage stamps. The collection of STAMPS
has special appeal TO millions of citi-
zens. For that reason the Post Office
department maintains philatelic
agency which specializes in the sale OF
stamps to those who desire stocks of
selected quality. In addition to current
issues extensive stocks of commemora.
tive stamps are carried in the agency,
which transacts business directly over
the counter with patrons who call at the
departments headquarters in Washing
ton, and which also handles mail orders
from all parts Of the world More than
100000 mail orders are filled annually,
sales of the agency averaging about
s2,00OOO0 each year.
A display car containing specimen
stamps of all issues from the introduce
ton Of adhesive stamps in lS47 to the
present time was placed on tour last
month. The car contains exhibits show.
ing the various processes of stamp manu-.
facture, and is sent to the smaller towns,
cities and to the consolidated schools in
rural communities where children have
not had much opportunity to become
interested in stamp collecting.
The registry service handles and
transports the bulk of the money of the
Nation. 1t is utilized by the Govern
ment by the Federal Reserve banks and
all other banks. brokerage houses. busi-
ness establishments and individual pa
irons.
When the Treasury Department re-
Gently decided to transfer huge deposits
OF gold from the mint at San Francisco
TO the Denver mint and from New York
and Philadelphia TO the Government
depository a Fort Knox, KY. the regis
try service was called upon to do the
job. The total value of the shipments
exceeded So 900 100000
The insured parcel post and the c. O.
ID. services are extensively patronized.
The combined volume of these two serv-
Ices exceeds 100000 900 shipments a year
and the revenue represents l8 per cent
OF the gross postal receipts.
The alrmall service has constantly in
creased in recent years The airlines
nave finer equipment, cover more terri
tory and fly more miles than at anv time
since the establishment of this ultra
modern transportation service. There
are now in operation more than 64 600
miles Of airmail routes, about equally
divided between the domestic and for
eign service.
The postal service is q good customer
OF the railroads. Aside from the millions
OF dollars spent for the transportation of
mail in storage cars. the distribution of
mail en- route on railroad lines requires
the use of $500 postal cars. These cars
travel total of more than 23O 600 600
miles year. There are more than II 900
star routes in operation delivering mail
to small towns and communities, and in
addition some $4,000 rural routes are IN
operation, serving approximately 260oo,-
900 patrons.
Government-owned motor vehicle
service was established in October, 1914.
These trucks are used in the collection of
mail from street letter boxes, in the citv
delivery service and for the transporta-
ton of mail between post Offices. post
Office stations and railway stations. Re-
pair shops are maintained at 80 centrally
located points for the purpose of making
repairs and overhauling trucks when