Mehmet Rahmi Efendi

The life of Mehmet Rahmi Efendi began in Şebinkarahisar (Karahisar-ı Şarki); the father's occupation was "Redif binbaşı". Mehmet Rahmi began work in Şebinkarahisar in 1887/88 (AH 1305), on a first salary of 27 kuruş. The first annual entry, for 1887/88, places Mehmet Rahmi in Şebinkarahisar, the birthplace, as Tahrirat Kalemi mübeyyizi, where the entries run to 1889/90. Next came Vize from 1891 to 1893. Alongside, the lists for 1892 to 1895 give a second post, in Beirut as Telgraf Merkezi haberleşme memuru. Mehmet Rahmi then moved to Aleppo (Halep) from 1895 to 1903. Alongside, the lists for 1896/97 give a second post, in Zor as Telgraf ve Posta Merkezi müdürü. The annual lists then follow Mehmet Rahmi to Antakya from 1897 to 1903. The last posts were in Erzincan from 1903 to 1905. Six provinces on two continents in all, a number reached by fewer than 4 per cent of the 6,605 officials with a place of service.

The salary went from 27 kuruş a month in 1887/88 to 1,080 in 1896/97, the peak, in Zor, when 82 per cent of paid officials earned less. The peak was 40 times the first salary, a rise matched by fewer than 5 per cent of the 2,724 officials paid for ten years or more. The last annual entry is for 1904/05.