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In furnishing me with these statistics Sir Robert informs me that the experiment has so far been supported from Customs funds and its own earnings (earnings in 1903 amounting to Tls. 345,000 and deficit supplied by Customs to Tls. 320,000) but that in January last he reported to the Foreign Board and the Board of Revenue on the condition of the Post and asked for a grant in aid, pointing out the dimensions which postal extension was assuming and the extent to which the revenue was increasing.
After four months' consideration the Boards have agreed to his request, and from July 1st a grant of Tls. 60,000 monthly, i.e. Tls. 720,000 annually, or more than 1,000,000 dollars, has been sanctioned.
The Post Office remains under the Customs, and Sir Robert Hart is of opinion that this grant will enable it to make enormous developments and that its surplus revenue will eventually be an important item on the receipt side of a future budget.
He intends to begin by developing the postal service in the Province of Chih-li, arranging for services
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