itional charge of 1_d_. But on consideration it was found
impracticable to clog the general system with this addition. Uniformity
was everything, to the system. And they could not establish any uniform
rate which would answer both for the post-towns and for the hamlets. The
rate which would pay for the towns, would not pay for mails to the
hamlets. And the rate which was necessary for the hamlets, was too high
for the towns, and _the contraband conveyance would still continue_.
Consequently, the post-office would have to distribute the letters to the
smaller places, where the distribution is attended with the greatest cost
and the smallest profits. In the end, the rule of uniformity was left
unbroken, and it was left to future experience or local arrangement to
meet the wants of the smaller places, not now reached by the mails. The
local postmasters are to make such arrangements as they deem proper in
their respective neighborhoods, as to the employment of penny-post
carriers to distribute the letters at the houses of the people.

To show the working of multiplication and division in the increase of
profits, and the very low rate at which a service similar to that of free
delivery can be performed, let us look at the newspapers. The principal
daily papers in Boston are served to subscribers by carriers, at the
expense of the publishers. Deducting Sundays and holidays, there are 310
papers in a year. These are served at the cost of 25 to 50 cents for each
subscriber. Taking the highest cost, and you pay 1.6 _mills_ for each
paper delivered--less than one-sixth of a cent.

The penny papers are served to subscribers by carriers, who have regular
beats or districts; and who furnish their patrons for six cents per week.
These carriers purchase the papers of the publisher, at 62 to 75 cents per
100; so that their profits on each paper are from one-quarter to
three-eighths of a cent. For this they deliver the paper promptly every
morning, and collect the money on Saturday, running, of course, some risk
of losses by bad debts, &c. And yet this business is found to be so
profitable that some routes in New York have been sold, that is, the good
will transferred, for at least $500, just for the privilege of serving
that district.

The two-cent papers from New York are regularly served to customers in
Boston. A person engaged in this business used to buy the New York
Express, Tribune, and Herald, for 11/4 to 11/2 cents each. He pa