[235] The ascertainment of the direct distances was commenced in 1823. It was completed in a year and a half (including two revisions), and a map of distances prepared. There were 1,386,506 distances to measure, and the measuring was done by land surveyors. The distances so measured were tabulated for practical use by postal officials.—H. von Stephan, op. cit., p. 746, n. 3; Moch, Archiv für Post und Telegraphie, 1893, p. 2.
[236] The rates were to be rounded up. One or 2 pfennigs were to be counted as 3 pfennigs, 4 or 5 pfennigs as 6 pfennigs, 7 or 8 pfennigs as 9 pfennigs, and 10 or 11 pfennigs as 1 silver groschen.
[237] H. von Stephan, op. cit., pp. 760 and 761.
[238] This does not take into account the normal yearly increase, which was 120,000 thalers under the old rates. If that be taken into account there was still a loss in 1847. Thus:—
| Year. | Probable Gross Postage Receipts under Old Rates. | Actual Yield. | Loss. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1844 | 4,765,000 | 4,628,133 | 136,867 |
| 1845 | 4,885,000 | 4,325,570 | 559,430 |
| 1846 | 5,005,000 | 4,514,338 | 490,662 |
| 1847 | 5,125,000 | 4,771,392 | 353,608 |
| —Ibid., p. 762. | |||
[239] Ibid., p. 763.
[240] "Die preussische Postverwaltung war bei Einführung der weitgreifenden Taxermässigungen mit grosser Vorsicht und mit weiser Berechnung aller in Betracht kommenden Vorstände schrittweise zu Werke gegangen und hatte die Erleichterungen ohne bedeutende Opfer aus der Postkasse erkauft."—Moch, Archiv für Post und Telegraphie, 1893, p. 40.
[241] Regulation of 21st December 1800.
[242] Law of 21st March 1861.
[243] Moch, Archiv für Post und Telegraphie, 1893, p. 42.