In closing the chapter on the King Edward stamps, doubtless ere long to be superseded by "King George" stamps, it may be well to record the following statistics in order to note the progress made in the Post Office Department for the period we have been considering.

31st. Mar. '03.31st. Mar. '10.
Number of Post Offices,10,15012,887
Number of letters and post cards annually,262,437,000501,189,000
Number of registered letters annually,5,470,00010,465,000
Number of pieces of 3rd class matter annually,46,794,00087,237,000
Number of packets and parcels annually,3,790,7407,112,660
Mileage travelled on mail routes annually,35,752,08746,773,727
Net revenue,$4,366,127.75$7,958,547.72

A very important fact is also to be found on examining the financial reports of the Department—that from a deficit (as usual for many years) of $416,183.99 in 1901, and a wee surplus of $5,109.14 in 1902, there has grown to be a surplus of $743,210.25 in 1910. Evidently Canada's Post Office Department is at least run efficiently and economically!

[177] Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XVII: 254.

[178] London Philatelist, XII: 162.

[179] Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XVIII: 338.

[180] Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, XXII: 414.

[181] ibid., XVI: 471.

[182] 8-9 Edward VII, Chap. 30.

[183] This was later corrected to June, 1906.