The unofficial motto of the U.S. Postal Service, the oft-quoted “neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night ... ” is being put to the test.According to a Tribune article last week, the Postal Service estimates a $6.5-billion deficit at the end of this fiscal year. The service isn't supported by tax dollars — rather, it's a business funded by revenue from postage sales. The sad reality is sales aren't strong enough to keep it afloat. Even the recent increase in postage rates isn't stopping the hemorrhage: Mail volume is down 15 percent, gas prices are rising and businesses have reduced mailings. The use of services such as online bill pay and the ease of e-mail versus “snail mail” certainly haven't helped. In addition to consolidating routes, offering early retirement and cutting pensions, an option proposed by the service calls for cutting mail delivery to five days a week. Postal Service officials estimate that change alone could save $3.5 billion annually — that goes a long way toward making the operation solvent.No mail delivery on Saturday, or even Tuesday, is a controversial choice. While a minor inconvenience to some, many businesses (including this newspaper, with its long-time history of Tuesday delivery) would have to make major adjustments. That being said, the sacrifice of one day of delivery pales in comparison to losing the Postal Service altogether — unfortunately, that's a distinct possibility unless the service makes major changes to its operation.

The unofficial motto of the U.S. Postal Service, the oft-quoted “neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night ... ” is being put to the test.

According to a Tribune article last week, the Postal Service estimates a $6.5-billion deficit at the end of this fiscal year. The service isn't supported by tax dollars — rather, it's a business funded by revenue from postage sales.

The sad reality is sales aren't strong enough to keep it afloat.

Even the recent increase in postage rates isn't stopping the hemorrhage: Mail volume is down 15 percent, gas prices are rising and businesses have reduced mailings. The use of services such as online bill pay and the ease of e-mail versus “snail mail” certainly haven't helped.

In addition to consolidating routes, offering early retirement and cutting pensions, an option proposed by the service calls for cutting mail delivery to five days a week. Postal Service officials estimate that change alone could save $3.5 billion annually — that goes a long way toward making the operation solvent.

No mail delivery on Saturday, or even Tuesday, is a controversial choice. While a minor inconvenience to some, many businesses (including this newspaper, with its long-time history of Tuesday delivery) would have to make major adjustments.

That being said, the sacrifice of one day of delivery pales in comparison to losing the Postal Service altogether — unfortunately, that's a distinct possibility unless the service makes major changes to its operation.