economical arrangements proposed above. It has already been shown that, under such arrangements, the present establishment of the Post Office, with some slight addition to the salaries, under the head "Superintendents," (the class to which Receivers and Deputy Post-masters belong,) would suffice, even if the amount of business to be transacted should increase four or five-fold. A considerable addition to the mileage would of course be required, as on some roads it certainly would be necessary to employ two, three, or even four mail-coaches. Assuming for the present that, owing partly to the reduction in postage, and partly to increased facilities of communication, the total number of letters, &c., passed through the Post Office would increase to four-fold the present amount, the calculation will be as follows:
Heads of charges. (See p. 14.) | Present cost of primary distribution within the United Kingdom. (See page 14, column D.) |
Estimated future cost of primary distribution within the United Kingdom. |
£ | £ | |
Salaries and allowances | 222,510 | 250,000 |
Special services and travelling charges | 8,039 | 12,000 |
Conveyance of Mails, &c. | 135,919 | 310,000 |
Packet service and port dues | 4,987 | 10,000 |
Tradesmen's bills, building, and repairs | 9,974 | 15,000 |
Rents of offices, tithes, and taxes | 4,085 | 6,000 |
Law charges | 5,913 | 9,000 |
Stationery, printing, and postage | 3,539 | 6,000 |
Superannuation allowances, &c. | 30,248 | 30,248 |
Menai and Conway bridges (tolls) | 1,303 | 3,000 |
426,517 | 651,248 |