Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1896 — ANNUAL POSTOFFICE REPORT. [ARTICLE]

ANNUAL POSTOFFICE REPORT.

Facts and Figures of the Department for the Year Just Past. The annual report of Frank H. Jones, First Assistant Postmaster General, gives a review of a large part of the year's postal business of the Government and makes numerous recommendations for the improvement of the service. It shows that during the last three fiscal years the aggregate savings in the divisions of salaries and allowances of postmasters were $545,994; in free delivery, 82,314,415, and postoflice supplies, $218,540; total, $3,278,980). For that period there was an aggregate reduction of 3,030,134 in the number of pieees of mail sent from postoffices to the dead letter office. The total number of presidential offices July 1 last was 8,051, of which 109 were first-class, 740 second-class and 2.730 third-class. The aggregate gross receipts at the first, second and third class offices were $05,282,305 and the total salaries $0,203,900. Since Nov. 2, 1894, there have been 2,459 positions in the postoffices added to the classified service. This leaves ns the only positions at firstclass postoffices that are now excepted front civil service examinations assistant postmasters and principal cashiers; at second-class offices, assistant postmasters. Attention is called to the fact that notwithstanding the increase in gross receipts the increase in the force was less than 50 per cent, of previous years. During the year twenty-nine stations and 120 substations were established, and one station and seven substations were discontinued, a net increase of 141 stations and substations. Fifty-five postoffices of the second, third and fourth classes were discontinued during the year, and fifty-four stations and substations were established to take their places. The experiment of free delivery in forty-five towns and villages cost the department $8,247. leaving an unexpended balance of $1,758. Investigation showed that in a majority of the offices the gross receipts had decreased since the establishment of the service, the department being compelled to send money to some offices for the payment of the letter carriers’ salaries. Congress did not appropriate for further permanent or experimental service, and the experiment was necessarily discontinued with the dose of the fiscal year. There are sixty-three offices which were entitled to the establishment of the free delivery service during the fiscal year ended June 30. IS9O, but the service could not be established at more than nineteen offices without entailing a greater expense upon the limited appropriations for the current year than the maintenance of the established service would permit. The rural free delivery experiment was in operation at points in thirty States by the Ist of this month, and the result of this test will be received in a special report to Congress in December. The aggregate number of domestic and international money orders issued during the year was 24,947.849, amounting to $185,953,254, and their payments and repayments were $24,140,848, amounting to $177,057,5G7. There was an increase of over 8 per cent, in the whole number of money orders issued, showing growth of the system and the total increase in revenue from both the domestic and international business was $74,14V. The total amount of bills of exchange resulting from exchange during the year was $8;291,799, and the balances received from abroad for the some purpose were $201.57a

In the dead letter office 6,253,363 piece* of original mail matter were receired, about $33,850 being inclosed, and 87 per cent, of the money restored. Letters also came containing drafts, checks, etc., of the apparent value of $955,095, about 92 per cent, of this being returned to owner*. For the fiscal year ending June 30, IX9S. the report asks for appropriations of $17,000,000 for compensation of postmasters; $11,000,000 for Clerk hire allowances; $1,000,000 to cover rent, fuel and light at first, second and third class offices; $150,000 for miscellaneous and incidental items, including furniture; $75,000 for canceling machines; $15,000 for advertising; $195,000 for postoffice supplies, and $13,320,500 for free delivery, including salaries of 12,950 regular carriers.