or 70.2 per cent., were letters arriving in the mails at the several offices from other places, and 41,914, or 29.7 per cent., were letters deposited for local delivery. Of the gross number of letters received, 129,812, or 92.1 per cent., were at the letter-carrier offices, and 11,008 were at the remaining offices. The gross value of the special stamps on letters received for immediate delivery during the month was $14,082, of which $12,981.20 is from the letter-carrier offices, and $1,100.80 is from the "others. The receipts from the sale of special delivery stamps at all the special-delivery offices were $6,400.90, or 45.4 per cent., in excess of the value of such stamps on all special-delivery letters actually mailed during the month. This is accounted for by purchases made in anticipation of future use.

Second. The average number of letters received for special delivery at 25 of the principal free delivery offices during the first two weeks in October was 122 per day, while the average number during the remaining portion of October was 124 per day. These figures must be accepted as an indication of growing confidence in the system, since it was only reasonable to expect that many special-delivery letters would be mailed at the start just for the novelty of the privilege.

Third. The total number of messengers employed is 1,731. The amount of compensation paid them is $11,253.68. Their average compensation for the month is, therefore, about $6.50. Excluding the freedelivery offices, the compensation of the messengers has been quite insignificant.

Fourth. The net income to the Government on the month's deliveries, assuming that there has been no other expense than the pay of messengers, is $2,828.32.

Fifth. The average time consumed in the delivery of letters after their receipt at the special-delivery offices has been about 17 minutes.

Sixth. The amount of special-delivery stamps sold at all the specialdelivery offices during the month is $20,482.90.

Seventh. The number of special-delivery letters mailed from all the special delivery offices during the month is 6,075.

Eighth. The average number of letters delivered on a trip by each messenger is a very small fraction over 1.

Ninth. The number of letters for local delivery deposited during the month at all the offices after the arrival of the last mails before midnight is a trifle over 500, nearly all of which were at the letter carrier offices.

The results for the month of October at each office separately will be found in Table No. 22, appended to this report.

From the above figures, and from other information derived from the separate reports of postmasters, the following deductions, even at this early stage of the special delivery business, may be made:

1. That at the larger post-offices, perhaps at most of the letter-carrier offices, the system has been reasonably successful, and with proper management the business is likely to increase.

2. That the system has been fairly started and efficiently managed by the postmasters; there has been shown in the delivery of letters particularly a very commendable promptness.

3. That at the smaller offices, say at all other than the letter-carrier offices, or at places having a population of less than 20,000, the system as now constituted by law has been, and probably will continue to be, of no great practical value.

4. That if the system is to continue at these smaller offices, the amount of the local business alone is not likely to be sufficient to justify the keeping open of the offices after the arrival of the last mail before mid

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night, or after the usual hours of business. This remark will perhaps also apply to most of the postal stations in all the cities where postal stations exist.

There have been some suggestions, too, from postmasters and others that would seem to indicate the propriety of so amending the law or the regulations governing the system as to permit of the allowance of car-fare to messengers in the larger cities where great distances have to be traveled; of the collection as well as the delivery of letters, par ticularly in answer to telegraphic or other calls, in the large cities; and of the possible establishment of a tariff of rates, graduated according to the distance to be traveled, for the service of messengers on local business; and this may involve some inquiry as to whether the local messenger companies now doing business in most of the large cities are not really trespassing, in the delivery of written messages, upon the right of the Government to the exclusive carriage of letters. The information, however, as to these several matters in the possession of the Department is not sufficiently comprehensive to justify any present recommendations concerning them.

I refrain from making more definite recommendation upon all the subjects presented, for the reasons, first, that the special-delivery system is only temporarily in charge of this office; and, second, that much time will intervene to further test the system before action can be taken by Congress with reference to any needed modifications of the system. It may be well, however, before leaving the subject, to explain the influence of the system upon the exhibits of revenue and expenditure of the postal service. The appropriation of a specific amount to pay the messengers does not seem to be needed, an indefinite amount being author ized by the language of the act, the expenditure being governed within certain limitations by the number of letters received for immediate delivery. While, therefore, the item need not be included in the ap propriation acts, it should be stated among the various objects of expenditure at the close of each year. From the foregoing it will ap pear that the gross proceeds of the sale of special-delivery stamps will appear in the postal revenues, it being impracticable to make the adjustment between expenditure and revenue so as to credit only the net revenue and make no charge for the expenditure.

INCREASE OF UNIT OF WEIGHT OF FIRST-CLASS MATTER.

Under the act of March 3, 1835, the unit of weight of first-class matter (letters and sealed packages) was increased from half an ounce to one ounce, to go into effect on and after the 1st July, 1885. In its bearings upon the revenue the measure affected only such first-class matter as exceeded half an ounce in weight, the charge for any fraction being the same as for the full unit in each case. An increase of the average weight of matter designed to go at a single rate of postage was to be expected as a natural result of the change, from the liability to additional inclosures and to the use of heavier stationery, without the fear of incurring an extra rate; but the tendency of this was to operate up on the cost of transportation, rather than upon the revenue. Partial compensation, at least, for the loss suffered by the increase of the unit was to be expected from the inclosure under seal, at letter rates, of packages and other matter previously sent unsealed at the cheaper rates charged on third and fourth class matter.

With the view of laying the foundation for approximating the effects of the change, the separate pieces of the various classes of matter likely

to be affected were counted and weighed at 20 of the leading post-offices in the country for the six days ended June 27, 1885, just prior to the change in the unit, and again for the six days ended September 27, 1885, nearly three months after the change had gone into effect. The work was done by direction of the Department, and under special injunctions to the postmasters to secure accuracy in the results. The figures appear fully in tables Nos. 19 and 20 in the appendix to this report. From these figures some interesting deductions may be made.

SIX DAYS IN JUNE.

The total number of pieces (excluding second-class matter and postal cards) mailed at the 20 offices for the six days in question was 11,111,466, weighing 439,593 pounds, or an average of .632 of an ounce per piece. They consisted of 7,878,191 pieces of first-class matter (letters and sealed parcels), weighing 153,13613 pounds, or an aver age of .31 of an ounce per piece; 815,718 unsealed parcels, weighing 222,4253 pounds, or an average of 4.3 ounces per piece; and 2,417,557 unsealed circulars, weighing 64,03127 pounds, or an average of .42 of an ounce for each circular.

The letters and sealed parcels (first-class matter) represented 70.9 per cent. in number and 34.8 per cent. in weight; the unsealed parcels 7.3 per cent. in number and 50.6 per cent. in weight; and the circulars 21.7 per cent. in number and 14.5 per cent. in weight, of the whole number and weight of pieces.

The first-class matter was subdivided into sealed letters and sealed parcels, of which there were 7,861,583 sealed letters, weighing 149,622 pounds, or an average of .30 of an ounce per letter, and 16,608 sealed parcels, weighing 3,5143 pounds, or 3.38 ounces per parcel. The sealed letters represented 99.78 per cent. of the whole number of pieces, and 97.70 per cent. of the total weight, and the sealed packages .21 per cent. of the pieces, and 2.29 per cent. of the weight of all the first-class matter. The letters and sealed parcels were each further subdivided into three classes, with results as follows:

1. Sealed letters.-First, those weighing half an ounce or less, number. ing 7,517,658, and weighing 127,123 pounds, or an average of .27 of an ounce for each letter; second, those weighing not less than half an ounce and not more than 1 ounce, numbering 254,623, and weighing 12,3928 pounds, or an average of .77 of an ounce for each letter; and third, those weighing over 1 ounce, numbering 89,302, and weighing 10,105 pounds, or an average of 1.81 ounces per letter. Of all the sealed letters those weighing half an ounce or less represented 95.6 per cent. in number and 84.9 per cent. in weight; those weighing between half an ounce and 1 ounce represented 3.2 per cent. in number and 8.3 per cent. in weight; and those weighing 1 ounce and over represented 1.1 per cent. in number and 6.7 per cent. in weight.

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2. Sealed parcels.-First, those weighing 2 ounces or less, numbering 9,391 and weighing 828,3 pounds, or an average of 1.41 ounces for each parcel; second, those weighing 2 ounces, but not exceeding 6 ounces, numbering 4,785 and weighing 1,056, pounds, or an average of 3.53 ounces for each parcel; and, third, those weighing 6 ounces and over, numbering 2,432 and weighing 1,630 pounds, or an average of 10.7 ounces for each parcel. Of all the sealed parcels, those weighing 2 ounces or less represented 56.5 per cent. in number and 23.5 per cent. in weight; those weighing 2 ounces, but not exceeding 6 ounces, represented 28.8 per cent. in number and 30 per cent. in weight; and those

weighing 6 ounces or over represented 14.6 per cent. in number and 46.4 per cent. in weight.

3. Unsealed parcels.-The unsealed parcels were also subdivided into three classes, as follows: First, those weighing 2 ounces or under, numbering 427,173, and weighing 39,60315 pounds, or an average of 1.4 ounces for each parcel; second, those weighing not less than 2 ounces, but not exceeding 6 ounces, numbering 235,171 and weighing 53,753,3 pounds, or an average of 3.6 ounces for each parcel; third, those weighing not less than 6 ounces, numbering 153,374 and weighing 129,068 pounds, or an average of 13.4 ounces for each parcel. Of all the unsealed parcels, those weighing 2 ounces or less represented 52.3 per ceut. in number and 17.8 per cent. in weight; those weighing not less than 2 ounces, but not exceeding 6 ounces, represented 28.8 per cent. in number and 24.1 per cent. in weight; and those weighing 6 ounces or over represented 18.8 per cent. in number and 58 per cent. in weight. The unsealed parcels exceeded the sealed parcels 4811 per cent. in number and 27.2 per cent. in average weight.

4. Circulars.-The circulars were 190 per cent. more in number and 90.3 per cent. less in average weight than the parcels, sealed and unsealed.

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SIX DAYS IN SEPTEMBER.

The following are the results for the six days from September 21 to September 26, inclusive, to wit: The number of pieces (excluding second class matter and postal cards) mailed was 13,318,752, weighing 650,62022 pounds, or an average of .856 of an ounce per piece. The whole was composed of 9,165,127 pieces of first-class matter (letters and sealed parcels), weighing 210,61855 pounds, or an average of .36 of an ounce per piece; 1,171,283 unsealed parcels, weighing 357,155 pounds, or an average of 4.87 ounces per piece, and 2,982,342 unsealed circulars, weighing 82,846 pounds, or an average of .44 of an ounce per piece. The letters and sealed parcels (first-class matter) represented 68.8 per cent. in number, and 32.3 per cent. in weight; the unsealed parcels 8.7 per cent. in number and 54.8 per cent. in weight, and the circulars 22.3 per cent. in number, and 12.7 per cent. in weight, of the total number and weight of pieces.

In first-class matter, separately, there were 9,142,373 sealed letters, weighing 205,60017 pounds, or an average of .35 of an ounce per letter, and 22,754 sealed parcels, weighing 5,01739 pounds, or an average of 3.52 ounces per parcel. Of the total of the two kinds, sealed letters represented 99.75 per cent. in number, and 97 61 per cent. in weight, and the sealed parcels .25 per cent. in number and 2.39 per cent. in weight. Subdividing the sealed letters and sealed parcels each into classes, the results are as follows:

1. Sealed letters.-First, those weighing half an ounce or less, numbering 8,486,673, and weighing 171,67233 pounds, or an average of .32 of an ounce for each letter; second, those weighing not less than half an ounce and not more than 1 ounce, numbering 498,258, and weighing 17,225,5 pounds, or an average of .55 of an ounce for each letter; and third, those weighing over 1 ounce, numbering 157,442, and weighing 16,7027 pounds, or an average of 1.71 ounces per letter. Of all the sealed letters, those weighing half an ounce or less represented 92.8 per cent. in number and 83.5 per cent. in weight; those weighing between half an ounce and 1 ounce represented 5.4 per cent. in number and 8.3 per cent. in weight; those weighing 1 ounce and over represented 1.7 per cent. in number and 8.1 per cent. in weight.

2. Scaled parcels.-First, those weighing 2 ounces or less, numbering 12,861, and weighing 1,23263 pounds, or an average of 1.53 ounces for each parcel; second, those weighing 2 ounces, but not exceeding 6 ounces, numbering 6,454, and weighing 1,48311 pounds, or an average of 3.67 ounces for each parcel; and third, those weighing 6 ounces and over, numbering 3,439, and weighing 2,301,7, or an average of 10.7 ounces for each parcel. The average weight of all sealed parcels was 3.52

ounces.

Of all the sealed parcels, those weighing 2 ounces or less represented 56.5 per cent. in number and 24.5 per cent. in weight; those weighing 2 ounces, but not exceeding 6 ounces, represented 28.3 per cent. in number and 29.5 per cent. in weight; and those weighing 6 ounces and over represented 15.1 per cent. in number and 45.9 per cent. in weight.

3. Unsealed parcels.-First, those weighing 2 ounces or less, numbering 648,887, and weighing 58,545 pounds, or an average of 1.44 ounces for each parcel; second, those weighing 2 ounces, but not exceeding 6 ounces, numbering 306,948, and weighing 72,6783 pounds, or an average of 3.78 ounces for each parcel; and third, those weighing not less than 6 ounces, numbering 215,448, and weighing 225,9313 pounds, or an average of 16.77 ounces for each parcel.

Of all the unsealed parcels, those weighing 2 ounces or less represented 55.4 per cent. in number, and 16.4 per cent. in weight; those weighing more than 2 ounces but not exceeding 6 ounces represented 26.2 per cent. in number, and 20.3 per cent. in weight; and those weighing more than 6 ounces represented 18.3 per cent. in number, and 63.2 per cent. in weight. The unsealed parcels exceeded the sealed parcels 5047 per cent. in number, and 38.3 per cent. in average weight.

4. Circulars.-The circulars were 149 per cent. more in number and 90 per cent. less in average weight than the parcels, sealed and unsealed.

COMPARISONS BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER.

The following comparisons are made between the results of the six days in June and the six days in September, viz:

There was an increase for the six days in September of 2.207,286, or 19.8 per cent., in the whole number of pieces; of 211,027 pounds, or 48 per cent., in the total weight; and of .224 of an ounce, or 35.4 per cent., in the average weight per piece.

In the first-class matter as a whole, the increase was 1,286,936, or 16.3 per cent., in the number of pieces; 57,481 pounds, or 37.5 per cent., in the average weight; and .05 of an ounce, or 16.6 per cent., in the average weight per piece.

In sealed letters alone the increase was 1,280,790, or 16.2 per cent., in number; 55,978 pounds, or 37.4 per cent., in weight; and .05 of an ounce in the average weight of each letter.

In sealed parcels alone, there was an increase of 6,146, or 37 per cent., in number; of 1,503 pounds, or 42.7 per cent., in weight; and of .14 of an ounce in the average weight per parcel.

In letters weighing half an ounce or less there was an increase of 969,015, or 12.8 per cent., in number; of 44.549 pounds, or 35 per cent., in weight; and of .05 of an ounce in the average weight per piece.

In letters weighing over half an ounce and not exceeding one ounce there was an increase of 243,635, or 95.6 per cent., in number; of 4,833 pounds, or 39 per cent., in weight; and a decrease of .22 of an ounce in the average weight per piece.

In letters weighing more than one ounce, there was an increase of 68,140, or 76.3 per cent., in number; of 6,597 pounds, or 65.2 per cent.,