arrier, than it takes to
serve the daily newspaper. The cases are also much more numerous than with
newspapers, where many letters are deliverable at one place, which of
course lessens the amount of labor chargeable to each one.

There are ninety-five bell-men, who call at every door in their several
districts once a day, and take letters to the post-office in time for the
evening mails. Each one carries a locked bag, with an aperture large
enough to drop in a letter, which can only be opened at the post-office.
Any person having letters to go by mail, may drop them into this bag, pay
the bell-man his fee of 1_d_., and be quite sure they will be despatched
the same evening.

All these carriers are required to assist, at stated times, in the sorting
of letters, both for the free delivery and for the mails. They are paid by
a stipulated salary, and have a permanent business, with chances for
advancement in business and wages, according to length of service and
merit.

A letter was addressed through the newspapers to the Postmaster-General of
the United States, by Barnabas Bates, Esq., of New York, one of the most
able and efficient advocates of postal reform, bearing date February 7,
1847, urging the adoption of a similar system for the city of New York,
and other cities--the postage to be in all cases prepaid. The advantages to
be anticipated are thus set forth by Mr. Bates:

"The adoption of this plan will ultimately be a source of revenue
to the post-office department.

"1. It will be the means of diminishing the number of dead letters
and newspapers, which is increasing every day to an incredible
amount. The carriers will not carry out letters or papers where
there is any doubt of getting their pay, consequently the number
of advertised letters is daily increasing, and as for dead
newspapers, they are sold by cart loads. Half a cent is not a
sufficient inducement to carry out newspapers, especially if there
be any doubt of getting the postage; hence the many complaints of
editors that their subscribers do not get their papers.

"2. It will reduce the list of advertised letters which has
increased within a few years more than three hundred per cent. The
Sun and Tribune of last Saturday, advertised 1700 letters, which
cost sixty-eight dollars; if this be the average weekly number,
the post-office department or the people must pay for advertising