-------------+--------+--------+-------+--------+-------+-------+------- Had I the space at command I would print the figures for the whole United States. However, it will be seen that the states I have taken are fairly representative of the whole country--the populous with the sparsely settled. The figures as to number of express and postoffices are from the United States census for 1900.[18] The estimates are made on the parcel weight of 11 pounds. Eleven pounds is the English _domestic_ parcels weight that is carried anywhere in the United Kingdom for 24 cents or, by international postal agreement, to any point in this country for 48 cents. In passing, it might be noted that for the year 1900 the British postoffice turned into its national treasury over $18,000,000 _profit_. It might also be well to notice that English merchants _imported_ nearly five and a half million dollars value by parcels post and _exported nearly twenty and a half million dollars of value by means of the same service_. But to get back to our 11-pound parcel. Germany carries it anywhere in her empire or in Austria-Hungary for 12 cents. Switzerland carries it for _eight cents_, and several other countries _are now trying to reach the German weight-rate for domestic delivery_. So we will take as our package of _eleven pounds_ and figure its delivery at any postoffice in the United States for _twelve cents_. One more point about this table. The reader must keep in mind that we now deliver packages up to eleven pounds from any person--merchant, manufacturer or other--living in England, Germany or Mexico. It is delivered for the English shipper (_by our mails_) to any United States postoffice for 48 _cents_; for the German shipper for 58 cents or for the Mexican shipper for 66 cents. The _three right-hand_ columns of the table show how much _cheaper_ the English, German or Mexican merchant, or other shipper, can have his eleven pounds of merchandise carried to Rabbit Hash, Ky., Springtown, Mo., Gold Button, Cal.--_to any postoffice in the United States_--than the New York merchant can send his 11-pound parcel to the _express office_ “nearest” the customer ordering. The express charges given are the _carefully figured averages_ for the states named for carriage from New York City. The third column gives the _average_ express charge (at rates ruling in 1900) from New York City to the states named. The fourth column gives the _savings_ to the purchaser--the merchant or the consumer--if the 11-pound parcel were carried, as it should be carried, in the mails for 12 cents. The first two columns give the number of express offices and postoffices in the several states named and are intended as _conclusive_ proof that _millions_ of our people are much nearer to a postoffice than to an express office.