Bulletin of the American Geographical and Statistical Society (Volume 1-2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852. Excerpt: ... portation, but wo have seen that the internal affairs of the British Post Offices are conducted at one fourth the expense that the same duties are with us, in proportion to the amount of business carried on. There is a certain order of minds that sees a terrible injustice in having the resident of Nassau street pay the same sum for a letter to go to Union Square or Jersey City, that his neighbor in William street, pays to get a letter to his correspondent in California, Oregon, or New Mexico. These minds must be treated with becoming tenderness. Tell one of these innocent logicians, show him by the clearest evidence in the world, that any graduated scale of postages, few or many, where the pay is according to distance, cannot be carried on with a better financial result and more profitably than the very lowest of his rates, with the advantages of uniformity and simplicity, and he will then tell you that he thinks it very unjust. Can any one seriously think that there is a financial advantage in having letters between the Atlantic and Pacific States pay ten cents, with letters other distances paying three, and drop-letters one, while in consequence of these several rates, we are burdened with a varied, complicated, laborious, and expensive system? Is there any reason in believing that there is any other result than a great loss? Look at the following figures showing the gross amount of postages collected in the States and Territories mentioned, in the year 1854. California, $265,188 Oregon Territory 1,495 Washington Territory 1,628 Utah Territory 1,857 New Mexico 906 Total $270,974 If we deduct one third of this for the postage on local matter, we shall have $180,646 for the postage on letters and papers going over 3,000 miles, and which is charged double ...