Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1886 — UNCLE SAM’S MAIL. [ARTICLE]

UNCLE SAM’S MAIL.

Report oT Mr. Vilas, Showing 11;? Year’s Operations of the Department. The Year’s Postal Chansrei— Kero than 22,000 Changes of Postmi t.'rs Daring the Year. Tlie report of Postmaster Geur.l Vilas for the fiscal year endod June 30. 1886, Bays iu immensity and extent of means, of expenditures, of performances and results, the postal machinery of the United States exceeds—in some points far exceeds that of any other nation on the globe. The entire length of all railways employed by the United States nearly equals the combined extent of those of all other countries of the world, while the other post routes more than quadruple the total of any single people besides; aud the mileage last year of our mail transportation exceeded by more than 125,000,000 miles the service rendered to any other government. Of postoflices no other nation has one-third our number. It is estimated that 100,000,000 more letters were mailed in the United States last year than in Great Britain, and nearly that number more thun were mailed in Germany, France, and Austria combined. The proportion to each inhabitant is estimated iu the United States at 66, Great Britain 57, Germany 19. At the close of the fiscal year tho total number of postoflices was 53,614, besides 497 branch offices. Of these 2,244 were Presidential offices, divided us follows: First class, 75; second class, 400; third class, 1,769. In the fourth class there were 51,370. Among all the offices 7,265 were money-order offices, besides 92 moneyorder stations. Concerning appointments the report says: “The appointments of Postmasters during the last fiscal year numbered altogether 22,747, of which 9,112 were made to till vacancies occasioned by resignations or oxEired commissions, 587 to vacancies caused y death, 3,482 on the establishment of new offices, aud 9,566 upon removals. Of the total number of appointments, 1,039 were made by yourself, the vacancies having occurred from the following causes, respectively—viz: By expiration of commission, 468; by resignations, 253; by deaths, 24; by removals or suspensions, 247; und to offices which had been assigned from the fourth to the third class, 47.” During the year the free-delivery service was extended to Aurora, Ill.; Duluth, Minn.; and Newport, Ky. Tho total number of carriers was 4,840, an increase of 483. The total cost of this branch of the service was $4,312,306, an increase of $326,354 over the previous year. The work performed by the carriers is summarized as follows:

“The number of pieces of mail matter, counting collections and deliveries, handled by tho carriers during tho year was 1,949,520,599, an increase over the previous year of 204,983,186, or 11.75 percent., while tho carriers increased but 11.08 per cent, in number.” The money-order system has been extended to 311 additional offices during tho year, while 10 were dropped from the list. “During the year there were issued 7,940,302 domestic orders, amounting to nearly $114,000,000; 5,999,428 postal notos, amounting to $11,718,000; and 493,423 international orders, aggregating $7,178,786.21; besides the payment of foreign orders reaching a total of almost $4,000,000. The entire amount of fees received was $1,214,506.38, less by $2,869.60 than the previous year.” The act establishing the special-delivery system limited its privileges to 555 postoffices. During the full year of its use—to Sept. 30, 1886 —1,118,820 letters were received for special delivery at these offices. Taking the full year, the total amount of fees received from this source was $84,782, leaving a gross profit to the Government of $27,097. From the enlarged system, extending the privileges of the act to all postoffices and all mailable matter, tho Postmaster General expects great results. Tho total revenues of the department for the year were $43,948,422, and the excess of cost over revenue $8,254,157. Of the total appropriations lor tbe year, amounting to $54,183,642.14, the entire outlay actually made and estimated to be made is but $50,839,340.46, leaving a balance to be eventually covered into tho Treasury of $3,344,301.68. Letter-sheet envelopes, the report says, have been long authorized, but no real attempt was made to introduce them until last October, when a contract was made with the owner of a patent, by which the department receives them without cost, and pays for only what it sells. So far the envelope appears to find popular favor, but the Postmaster General thinks longer experiment desirable before recommending the purchase of the patent and the manufacture by the Government. The dead-letter office during the year handled 5,023,745 pieces of mail matter, of which number 186,448 were delivered unopened to the proper parties, and 366,379 foreign pieces were returned to the country of origin. Of those opened about one-half were destroyed as undeliverable or valueless. Letters to the number of 12,138, containing money aggregating $21,732, besides 18,105 letters containing drafts, checks, or other instruments for the payment of money of the total face value of $1,121,154.74, were delivered to the owners. The revenue derived from dead letters which could not be restored to owners, and from auction sale of unclaimed parcels, amounted to $8,879.29. Postoflices were reported robbed to the number of 487, and 269 were burned; 76 postal cars were burned or wrecked, 27 mail stages and 7 mail messengers were robbed, 79 pouches were lost, and 127 reported stolen or injured. The records of the inspectors show the following facts; “For violation of postal laws 660 persons were arrested, of whom 243 were in the service and 417 were not; 110 were postmasters, assistants, or clerks, 14 railway postal clerks, 24 letter-carriers, 27 mailcarriers, and 11 of various employment. Seventy-nine burglars and 31 former postmasters are included among the arrests outside of the service. The State courts took jurisdiction of 54 oases and the Federal courts of 606. Of the latter convictions followed in 214, acquittals in 26, trial waits in 295, and the residue were dismissed or failed of indictment.”