ft * ♦ * + • * ■ * + + + ± 4 . *•+ ♦•*■ ♦■ *■ + ♦+ *** * *
The Firm of
A. C O N A N DOYLE
^ -(Ü -3 ^
C H A P T E R X X .— (Continued.)
“ O f course. What could be more de
lightfully simple? Friend Hurt here doe»
hi* work ; we carry her throuich the icnr-
deu gule. and lay her on the darkest
l>art of the rails. Then we miss her at
the house. There is an alarm and a
st arch. The gate is found o|>eu. We nat
urally go through with lanterns, and tiud
her on the line. I don't think we need
fear the co
-r, or any one else, then?”
“ lie's a .irp 'un, is the guv'nor,"
cried Hurt. slapping his thigh enthusias
tically. ‘ ‘ It's the downiest lay 1 have
heard this many a day.”
"M r. Hurt can do his (.art o f the busi
ness twit of doors.
We cau entice her
out upon some excuse. There is uo rea
son why any one should have a suspicion
of the truth.”
“ Hut the) know that she is not mad.”
“ They will think that she did it on
t>ori«ose. The secret will be locked up iu
our three breasts.
A fter oue night's
work our friend here goes to the colo
nies as a pros|ierous mail, and the tirtu
o f Girdlestoue holds up its head ouee
more, stainless and irreproachable."
"Sqieak low !'* said Kira. iu a whisper.
" I hear her conuug downstairs." They
listened to her light springy footstep us
it passed the door. “ Come here. Hurt.”
he said, after a pause. “ She is at work
on the lawn. Come and have a look at
her.”
Tliey all went over to the window and
looked out. It was then that Kate, glanc
ing up, saw the three cruel faces survey
ing her.
“ She's a rare, well-built "un." said
Hurt, as he stepped liaek from the win
dow. “ It is the ugliest job as ever 1
was on.”
“ Hut we can rely upon you?” (Jirdle-
•toue asked, looking at him with puek-
ei ed eyes.
“ You bet— as long as you pay me," the
navvy answered phlegmatically.
C H A P T E R XXI .
The grey winter evening was beginning
to steal in before the details bad all been
at ranged by the conspirators.
It had
grown so chill that Kate had abandoned
her attempt at gardening, and had gone
back to her room. Kira left his father
aud Burt by the fire and came out to the
open ball door. The grim old trees looked
gaunt and eerie as they waved their naked
arms about in the cutting wind. A slight
fog had come up from the sea and lay
iu light wreaths over the upper branch*-»
like a thin veil of gauze. Kzra was shiv
ering as he surveyed the dreary scene,
felt a hand on his arm. and looking round
saw that the maid Rebecco was standing
beside him.
"H aven 't you got one word for me?”
aln- said sadly, looking up into his face.
“ It's but once a week, and then never a
won! of greeting.”
“ I didn't see you. my lass." Kzra an
ew ered. "H ow does the l ’ riory suit yon?"
“ One place is the same as another to
me.” she said drearily. "Y o u asked me
I*» come here and I have come. You said
ouce that you would let me know- how I
«void serve you dowu here. When am 1
to know I "
"W h y , there's no secret about that.
You do serve me when you look after my
father as you have done these
weeks
back. That old woman isn’t fit to man
age the whole plai-e by herself."
“ That
wasn’ t what
you
meant,
though," said the girl, looking at him with
questioning eyes. “ I remember your face
row as you spoke the words. You had
at mething on your mind, and have now.
only you keep it to yourself. W hy won't
you trust me with it? "
“ I have a great deal to worry me in
business matters.
Much good it would
do telling you about them !"
" It 's more than that," said Rebecca,
doggedly. “ Who is that man who has
come down?”
" A business man from Ixvndon. He has
come to consult my father about money
matters. Any more questions you would
like to ask?"
“ I should like to know how long we
are to be kept down here, and what the
meaning of it all may be."
“ W e are going l>ack before the end of
thr winter, and the meaning of it is that
Miss llarston was not well and need«*] a
change of air. Now. are you satisfied?"
lie was determine*! to allay as far as pos
sible any suspicions that the girl might
have previously formed.
"A nd what brings you down here?” she
arked with the same searching look. "You
don't come down into this hole without
some good reason. I did think at first
that you might come down in order to see
me, but you soon showed me that it
wasn't that. There was a time when you
w as fond of me."
"S o I am now. laas."
"A ye, very fond! Not a word nor a
look from you last time you came. Tou
must have some reason, though, that
brings you here. ’
"There's nothing wonderful in a man
ruining to see hia own father.”
“ Much you cared for him in London.”
•he cried with a shrill laugh. “ I f ha was
under the sod you would not be the sad upstairs Instead o f taking tf atrslrht to
der.
It's my lielief as you come down her mistress she slipped Into her own
after that doll-fac««l missy upstairs."
room and read every word of it. It ap
As the light failed and the grey of peared to confirm her worst suspicions.
evening dee|iened into darkness Kate sat Here was Kzra asking an Interview with
patiently in her bare little room. A coal the woman whom he had assured her thut
fire spultered and sparkle«) iu the rusty he hated. It was true that the request
grate, nnd there was a tin bucket full of was made in measured words ami on a
No doubt that
wus
o*>als beside the fender from which to re- plausible pretext.
i plenlsh it.
She was very cold, so she mi rely to deceive any other eye which W i l l i a m
H. C u r t i s S a y a C r o e s u s
drew her single chair up to the blaze and might rest u|s>u It, There was an under
W a a P a u p e r R esid e O u r
held her hands over it. It was a lonesome standing between them, ami this was an
and melancholy vigil, while
the wind assignation. The girl walked swiftly up
U n cle S am .
whistled through the branches of the and down the room like n euged tigress,
1 1 ees and moaned drearily iu the cracks striking her head with her clenched hands
aud crannies of the old house.
When iu her auger, uml biting her lip until
were her friends coming? l ’orha|i» some blood came. It was some time before she F IG U R E S S H O W
B IO G R O W T H .
thing had occurred to detain them to day. could overcome her agitatiou soilicicntly
>
j This morning such a thing would have ap- to deliver the note, and when she did so
l>enretl to her to be an lm|H>saibility, but her mistre»«, as we have seen, noticed that
. now that the time had come wheu she hud her manner wns nervous and wild. She Par Capita Wealth In 1A70 Was
i expected them, it api»eared probable little dreamed of the struggle which was
$779.83; In 1907 It Waa
enough that something might have delay going on in the dark-eyed girl's mind
ed them. To-morrow at latest they could against the impulse which urged her to
$1,310.11.
not fail to come.
She wondered what seize her imagined rivul hy the white
they would do if they did arrive. Would throat and choke (he life out of her.
they «Mine boldly up the avenue and claim
“ It's eight o'clock now," Ksru was say
het from the Girdleotonea, or would they ing downstairs. '1 wonder whether she
As a rule, the nvernge n*\v*|>ii|>er
endeavor to communicate with her first? w ill come ] ”
r**ndcr docs not like statistics. but here
"She is sure to come," his father said
Whatever they decided upon would be
are some figures that everybody should
sure to lie for the best.
briefly.
rend, las-iitise they mean so much. They
She went to the window one* and look
“ Supi*>»e she didn't?"
ed out. It promised to Is- a wild night.
" In that case we should find other measure our greatness as a nation and
Far away in the southwest lay a great tucaus to bring her out.
\Yc have not our prosperity as a |H«op|e, and a l
cumulus o f riigg*-*l clouds from
which gouc so far to break down over a trifle though they are so stupendous that the
dark streamers rndinted ov*{r the sky. like at the last moment."
human mind almost refuses to compre
" I feel as cold us ice ami us nervous hend them, they carry a lesson that cv-
the advance guard o f an army. Here and
there a pale star twinkled dimly out ns a cat.
I can't understand how you cry citizen ami every arhuol Isiy should
through the rifts, but the greater part look so uuconcerucd. If you were going
learn. I ’ ncle Sam Is richer than any
of the heavens was black nnd threaieuing. to sign an invoice or audit an account or
other
nation that exists or ever has
It was so dark that she could no longer anything els*- iu the way of business you
existed.
(Toeaua, King o f l.ydla. whoa.*
see the sea. hut the crashing, booming could not take it more calmly. 1 wish
sound o f the great waves filled the air the time would couie. This waiting is name has been a synonym for wealth
fo r ages> was a pauper comparisl to
and the salt spray
came driving in terrible."
through the open window. She shut it
Kzru, leaning back in bis chair with him.
and resumed her seat by the fire, shivering the firelight flickering over his haggard
From tin* re|sirts o f the bureau o f
partly from cold and iwrtly from some hut still handsome face, looked across at at at let lea, the census bureau, the T rea s
vague presentiment o f evil.
his father with a puzzled expression, lie
ury and A gricu ltu ral Department WII-
An hour or more had passed when she had never yet be*-u able to determine
11 n in K. Curtis, the Wiiahlngton corre-
heard a step upon the stairs and a knock whether the old uiau was a consummate
»•nine to her door. It was Rebecca, with hypocrite or a religious tuouoiuaiiiac. Hurt apodent. has complied a few significant
a cup of tea upon a trav and some bread lay with his feet iu the light of the lire figure* showing the m aterial develoji-
nnd butter. Kate was grateful at this at- and his bead sunk back across the arm of incut o f tIn* I'nltt-d States within the
t* ntion. for it saved her from having to the chair, fast asleep aud snoring loudly. Inst thirty-seven years. He has select
go dowu to the dining room and face Kzra
"Isn 't it time to wake him up?" Kzra ed the year 1
ns n hnsls o f com pari
stid his unpleasant lookir.g companion
asked, interrupting the reading.
son, because that wns the lieglnnlng o f
“ Yea, 1 think it is," his father answer n new era In Am erican commerce and
Rebecca laid down the tray, and then to
her mistress' surprise turned hack and ed.
Industry that follow ed the C ivil W ar.
shut the door. '13ie girl's face was very
K ira took up the candle and held it
AltlHHigh the panic o f '73 arrested the
I ale. and her manuer was mild and ex over the sleepiug man. "W h at a brute
grow th o f the country fo r a time, the
he looks!" he said. "D id ever you see
cited.
present j>erb*I o f development tiegnn
“ Here's a note for you." she said. “ It such an animal in your life?”
The navvy was certainly uot a pretty then.
was given Mrs. Jorroeks to give you. but
The population of the country In 1870
I am lietter at climbing stairs than she sight. His muscular arms aud legs were
i*. so l brought It up." She handed Kate all a sprawl, aud his head hung back at a was 38,558,871, or 12.74 to the square
strange angle to bis body, so that his fiery mile; the population on the .'loth of June.
a little slip of paper as she spoke.
A note for her! Could it be that her red beard pointed upwards, exposiug all 1907, according to the estimates of the
ft ¡ends had arrived and had managed to the thick sinewy throat beneath it. His census bureau, was 83,303,303, or 28.23
send a message to her? It must be so. eyes were half open and looked bleared per square mile.
She took it from the maid. As she did and unhealthy, while his thick lips puffed
The tangible wealth o f the country, th«
so she noticed that her hands were shak out with a whistling sound at every ex true valuation of real and personal pr*qe
piration.
His dirty brown coat was erty, according to the census of 187'), wns
ing as though she had the ague.
“ Y'ou are not well, Rebecca,” said Kate, thrown open, and out of one of the pock $30,008,318,000, while In 11*17 It Is esti
ets protruded a short thick cudgel with mated at more than three times that
kindly.
“Oh, yes. I am. You read your note a leaden head. Juhu Girdlestoue picked «mount, or $107,104 211.917.
and don't mind me.” the girl answered in it out and tried it in the air.
A* far hack as 1850 the per capita
"1 think 1 could kill au ox with this,” wraith of the Cnited States waa esti
her usual surly fashion. Instead of leav
ing the room she was bustling about the he said.
mated at $307.®). In 1870 It had more
"D on 't wave it about my head." cried than doubled and
bed as though putting things in order.
was
estimated
at
"A s you stand in the firelight $i 79.83. In 1907 it had almost doubled
Kate's impatience was too great to allow Kira.
her to wait, so she untwisted the pa|>er. brandishing that slick in your long arms again, and has reached the sum of $L-
which had no seal or fastening. She had you are leas attractive than usual.”
810.11 per capita, which proves that we
John Girdlestoue smiled and replaced are the richest people that ever existed.
ho|»ed in her heart to se e the name of her
lover at the end of it. Instead of that her the cudgel in the sleeper's pocket. "W ake In other words. If the real and personal
eye fell upon the signature of K ira Gir- up, Hurt," he cried, shaking him by tbs property belonging to the inhabitants of
dlestone. What could he have to say to aim. "It's half-past eight."
the I'nited States could be equally dis
The navvy started to Uis feet and then tributed among them, each man. women
her? She moved the solitary candle on
to the mantelpiece, and read the following fell hack into his chair, staring round and child living on the 30th of June |»»T
note roughly scribbled upon a coarse pie*-* him vacantly, at a loss as to where be would have been entitled to $1.310.11.
might be.
In 1870 the deposits in national banka
of paper:
“ I ’ ve been asleep, guv'nor," be said for the whole I'nited State« amounted to
"M y I>ear Miss llarston— I am afraid
your confinement here has been very irk hoarsely. “ Dird you say it was time for $342.201.303, while on the 3<»th of Sep
tember last they were $1,322.830,141.
some to you. I have reis-atedly requested the job?”
"W e
have made arrangements by
In 1870 the deposits in savings barks
tuy father to alleviate or modify It. but he
itas invariably refused. As he still per which she will be out by the withered oak were $349.874.338, while on the 80th of
September, 1907, they were $3.090,978,-
sists in his refusal. 1 wish to offer you at nine o'clock.
"Come on, then !” said the uavvy. "W h o 943.
my aid. and to show you that I am your
Taking the two together and Including
sincere friend in spite of all that has is a-cotnin' with me?”
" W e shall both come.” answered John all the banks— national. State, privnte
pc seed, if you could slip out to-night at
nine o'clock nnd meet nte by the withered tiirdlestone, firmly. “ You will ueed help and savings— the deposit* have increase*)
eightfold during the
last
thirty-seven
oak at the head o f the avenue. I shall see to carry her to the railway line.”
"Surely Hurt can do that himself," years- from $1.(02.135,921 in 1870 to
you safe to Re*lsworth. and ydu can. if
"She's not
so
very $8.023.288.880 in 1907.
you wish, go on to Portsmouth hy the Kzra remarked.
The bank clearings for the entire coun
next train. I shall manage so that you heavy."
(•milestone drew bis son aside. "I)o n 't try are not given for 1870. The earliest
may find the door open by that time. I
shall not. o f course, go to Portsmouth be so foolish, Kzra." he said. " I t must j available figures are for 185MI. when the
v* ith you. but shall return here after drop be dune with the greatest carefulness and total for the I'nited States was $38.843,-
ping you at the station. I do this small precision, and no traces left. Our old 279,303. which has increase*! to $137,-
thiug to show you that, hojieless as it ntay business watchward was to overlook ev 749,328,913 for the last fiscal year.
The national bank circulation in 1870
he the affection which I bear you is still erything ourselves, and we shall certainly
was 4288.tl48.081, w hile on Dec. 14 last
as deep as ever. Y’ ours. K. tiirdlestone." do so now."
Our heroine was so surprise*! at this
“ It's a horrible a ffa ir!” Kzra said, with it was $073,231,303.
In 1870 we had only $23,000,000 sliver
epistle that she sat for some time dang a shudder. “ 1 wish I was out of it."
"You won't think that to-morrow morn and gold coin. To-day we have $1.233,-
ling the slip of paper between her fingers
and lost in thought. When she glanced ing when you realize that the firm is 703.809, of which $730,003,809 is gold
round. Rebecca had left the room. She saved aud no one the wiser. He has gone and the remainder silver.
The lntere«t-l>earing debt o f the I'nited
rolled the paper up and threw it into the on. lion't lose sight of hitn.”
They both hurried out, and found. Hurt States has lieen reduced from $2,94*1.435,-
fire. Kzra. then, was not so hard-hearted
as she had thought him. He had used standing in front of the door. It was 722, or $*¥».40 per capita o f population,
his influence to soften his father. Should blowing half a gale now, and the wind in 1,870 to $8*H),1)03.010, or $10.20 per
The annual interest
sh< accept this chance of escape, or should was bitterly cold. There came a melan capita. In 1907.
she await some word from her friends? choly rasping aud rustling from the leaf charges on the public debt have been re
IV rh a i* they were already In Beds worth, less wood, aud every now and again a duced from $118,784,900, or $3 per cap
but did not know how to communicate sharp crackling sound would announce ita of population, to $21,028,914, or 25
with her. I f so. this offer o f Kzra'» was that some rotten branch had come crash cents per capita of population.
Notwithstanding the reductions In war
just what was needed. In any case, she ing down. The clouds drove across the
could go on to Portsmouth and telegraph face of the moon, so that at times the taxes since 1870. the ordinary revenues
from there to the Dimedalea. It was too cold, clear light silvered the dark wood of the government have increased from
good an offer to be refuse*!. She made and the old monastery, while at others $395.959.834 in that year to $*‘>*13.140.434
up her mind that she would accept it. It all was plunged in darkness. From the in 19*17, and the ordinary expenditures
from
$104,421.307 to
was past eight now nnd nine was the <>l>en door a broad golden bar' was shot have increased
$554.422.5,89. This does not include the
hour. She stood up with the intention of across the lawn from the lamp in the
receipt* or expenses of the postal service,
putting on her cloak and bonnet.
hall. The three figures with their long
which is almost self-sustaining.
Last
fantastic shadows looked eerie and unnat
year the receipts from postage were $183,.
C H A P T E R X X II.
ural in the yellow glare.
386,093 and the expenses $191.214,387,
Krra and his father had composed the
"W h at If she fails to come?”
leaving a deficit of $7,029,387 !o be paid
letter together, and the former handed it
From the spot where they stood they
to Mrs. Jorro*-ks, with a request that she had a view of the whole o f the Priory. out of the treasury.
The total revenue* o f the government
should deliver it.
It chanced, however, Kate could not come out without being
that Rebec*-«, keenly alive to any attempt seen. Above the door was a long narrow in 1!**7 were $840,723,339 mi l the total
at communication between the young mer window which opened upon the staircase. expense* $819.840,130.
The increase in the pension roll has
chant and mistress, saw the crone hob On this Girdirstone aud his son fixed their
bling down the passage wi’ h the note in eyes, for they knew that on her way been enormous. The total in 1870 was
$28.344*.202. and in 1907 it is $1.39.309,-
her hand.
•
down she would l>e visible at it. As they 614. The cost of the army In 1870 was
“ What's that, mother?" she asked.
looked, the dim light which shone through $57,341*1,073. and In 11**7 $122.570,403
" I t 's a letter for her,” wheezed the old it was olmmred and then reappeared.
The coat of the navy daring the same pe
woman, nodding h**r tremulous head in
“ She has passed !”
riod hn* increased from $21,780,230 to
the direction o f Kate's room.
“ Hush r
$97,128,4*8).
" I 'l l take it up." said Rebecca eagerly.
(T o be continued.)
The Imports of merchandise In 1870
“ I am just going up there with her tea.”
amouuted to $4.36.938.408, and our ex
“ Thank ye. Them stairs tries my rheu-
Telegraph w ire* last four times as ports wsr* $392.771,708 that year, while
matis something cruel.”
| ia 1907 tbs Imports wsr* $1.434,421,423
The maid took the aots and carried it k>n« on the coast aa Inland.
AMERICA IS RICHEST
AMONG THE NATIONS
and the sxports $1,880.861,078. In 1870
Ills eiports tier capita of iKipulatlon wers
$9.77. and, notwithstanding the enormous
Increase In isipiilutlon, the per capita III
1907 was $21.041.
'13ie foreign commerce of the Knit»«.
States for the calendar year o f ll»0T has
been larger than In any previous year In
the history of the country, both In Im
port* and exports, and our trad* with
every grand division of the world Is In ex-
c * m of any previous year.
The Imports
during the eleven months ending Nov. 30
*\*-erded $1,,TUI,INN),(MM), whtla the ex|>ort»
were worth $I,7I0.IMMMMNI
If the In
crease has continued during liecember th#
total of exports will reach nearly two
Idlllon* of dollar*. The ei porta for No
vember were th* largest for any single
month on record anil reached $294.444,-
IMMI. which was nearly seven million» a
day. Our exports to Europe were $•*),-
(SNI.IMMI more than In 11*4is), when they
w*re Inrger than for any other year. Our
exports to North American countries also
gained $ |4>.I MM ».IMMI Our exixirt* to South
America gained $7.tMMI,<MMl. to Asia $11,-
090,1 MMl and to 1‘urto Rico, the Hawaiian
Island* nnd the Philippines uiors than
(rn millions.
In I860 there wers only 251,354 d*'|sx»
Itors In the savings bank* of tbe I'nited
States; In 1879 this number had Increas
ed to 1,03*».8441. line person in every
thirty of (lie IKipulatlon was de|sieltlug
his or her savings where they would draw
interest. To-day 8.388,811 persons, or al
most exactly It) per rent of the en*'
population of the country, have arcoui
in savings hanks— an average of on* in
every ten men, women and childien in
the I'nited States.
The Internal ro in meres for th* yea:
was greater than ever Ix-fore. On th#
Great Lnkes and on the railroads Ihs
movement of naturul products was lieyoml
nil comparison. There was a gain o f 18
l>er cent in the amount of iron ore ship-
lie*!. a gain of 25 per cent In <-oal and n
similar gain in corn, wheat, live stock and
every other iin|iortnnt article, while th*
freight diarges averaged lower than for
any previous year.
The Incrense In exports occurs chiefly
In manufacture*! article*. The figures of
agricultural ex|K»rts remain about th#
»am* as In 1IMHI, when they were th*
la r g e s t on record.
The government treasury was never In
l>etter shape. The report of the I ’ nited
State* treasurer for June 30, 1870. *h*»w-
ed an available cash balance of $160,406,-
immi in the treasury at Washington; tha
report for Decemlier 14, 11M)7, shows an
available rash Iwlance of $2.39.7*12,309.
without counting $24*1.284,436 d*tH>»lt*d
In national bank* and subject to the call
of the department. This makes s total
available balance of $300,0441.704.
Secretary Wilson In his recent annual
report showed us that ths rrrqi# of th#
farmers of the I'nited State# for the year
14*4*7 was beyond all comparison and had
a farm value of $7.412,(MM>,(KM>— an In
crease of 57 |>er cent In eight years.
In 1879 the value of th* farm anlmala
in the I'nited States was $1.364.9*10,149;
in 1907 they are worth $4.42.3,097,863.
In 1870 our farmers had 23.484,100
neat cattle; In 11M17 they hav# 722133,998.
In 1879 they had 8,248.800 bora**; In
1907 they hav* 19,74*1,383.
In 1870 the wool clip was 132,000,000
pounds; in 1907 It
waa 298,913,130
pounds.
The wheat crop In 1870 was 233.884.-
700 bushels; in 1907 It was 736,200,970
bushels.
Tbe com crop In 1870 waa 1,094,253.-
«■ * * bushels; in UMJ7 It was 2,927,410,-
091 bushels.
In 1870 the cotton crop waa 3,114.962
bales; In 1907 it waa 18 610,982 bale*.
The cotton mills o f th* I'nited State«
consumed 837.IMMI bales of cotton in 1870
and 4,027,990 imi*» in 1907.
In
1870 we exported 958.668,623
IKiiinda of cotton; in 1907 we exported
4,618.217,229 |H>iinds.
Tbe production o f gold In 1870 was
$3*1.4MMI.OflO; in 11*07 it was $96,000,000.
In 1879 the production of silver was
$16.334,000; in 1!***7 it was $37,642.000.
In 1870 we produced 220,931,290 tons
o f co a l; in 11M»7 we produced 5,312,743,-
,312 tons.
In 1870 we produced 1.635,179 tons of
pig iron ; in 1997 we produi-ed 25,307.191
tons.
In 1870 our furna*-*» had an output ol
only 08,750 tons of steel; in 1SMI7 the out
put was 20,023,947 tons.
In 1879 we Oparntad 52 , 1*22 miles ol
railroad; in HM)7 we had 222,635 miles in
operation, and carried 813,774,118 (iaa-
sengers and 216.050,705,0941 tons ol
freight.
Th* statistic* for freight and
peMcnger traffic do not go hack o f 181M),
when th* railroad* of the country carried
529.4.39,(02 passengers and 79,192,985,-
123 tons of freight.
The average freight rate per mile in
1800 was 9.3 cents and In 1907 it was 77
cents per ton.
There were 084,704 tons of shipping on
the great lakes in 1870, which has In
creased to 2,4.30,741 tons In 1907. Th«
amount of freight passing through th*
Sault Ste. Marie canal in 1879 was 0!M)..
820 tons; In 194)7 the total was 41,(08,-
324 ton*.
In 1870 we had 28,492 postoIBcea is
the country: in 1!MM) we hnd 70,088. Sine«
that time, by the introduction of rural
free delivery, the number has been redue
ed to 02,639.
,
There is no better thermometer o f com
merrial and industrial activity than tht
Post office Department, for people do not
write letters when they have no husineiw
to write about. The reenipt* of the de-
loirtment in 1879 for
postage stamp«
amounted to $19.722,222; in 1907 they
had increased to $107,9.32.783.
In 1880 there were 4.820 money ordei
office* In the I ’ nited State*.
In 1907
there were 87,500.
In 1881) 7.240,537
dome«» Ic money orders were issued; is
11*07 the number was 62.tMBl.7M3. Thorn
laeued in 1880 represented a value ol
$'. im ),332,818 ; those issued in 1907 rsprw
seated a valus of $479,630,342.