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Modern postal reform — that is, a uniform tariff
according to the system of Rowland Hill — was tried for
three years, beginning in 1844 as an experiment with
letters in Finland and to St. Petersburg, the charge
being 10 kopeks per Russian ounce for small letters
and 20 for larger sizes. From 1850 the tariff in
Finland was 5 kopeks for 125 versts (144 kilometres) and
10 kopeks for longer distances. Stamps were only
introduced in 1856 as an experiment for two years,
and were finally adopted in 1857, at the same time
that they were introduced into Russia. Letter-boxes
were also introduced then. In the sixties the whole
modern postal system was in force.
The increase of postal matter has been considerable,
as in most other countries, growing from 8½
millions in 1881 to 31 millions in 1897. In ten
years, 1891-1900, the increase was 125 per cent.,
the largest increase being in wrappers, parcels, and
postal cards. There was also a considerable
increase in letters and newspapers, the smallest
increase being in free official communications. Letters
and postal cards increased in the period 1888-97
from 2.4 to 5.2 per head, and all postal matter from
6.3 to 12.3 per head. The net profit made by the
government, besides free official communication, was
in 1897 one-third, in 1898 half a million marks.
In 1890 the transfer of the post to the Russian
Minister of the Interior and the Russian Direction of
Posts and Telegraphs was decreed, notwithstanding the
fact that this was contrary to the constitution of
Finland. Finland has still really its own post, but modern
reforms have been stopped. Especially an excessive
tariff of 20 and 50 penni is maintained for letters
and postal orders, and when the Diet asked for a
decrease the Emperor answered, according to the
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