Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-12-29

ne increase oil the Transportation oil
the mail since the Ist July, ls2s. a.
mounts to one million five hundred and
twenty eight thousand eigbf hundred
and twenty one mile, annually; dis
lance nearly equal 10 one sixth OF its
annual transportation throughout the
Union previous to that time; and only
ailing short about two hundred thou
sand miles per annum ni lis entire con-
yeyance in the year 1871
such mas been the accession of re-
cripts for postage, that the additional
expe nditure required by this extension
of the mail, will be met without diff
Guilty; and, If Congress should think
proper to relieve the Treasury from all
charges on account of this Department,
the usual appropriations may be drawn
from its own funds
Since the lst July, 1928, there have
been established one thousand and forty
Post Offices; greater number than ex-
isted in the Union in the year 1901.
suits have been commenced on the
balance standing against late postmas-
tiers, before the lst july, 1873, where
their existed any probability OF coliec-
ting the whole or any part, from the
principal or his surities.
1t was stated in the report of l7th
November, 1928 that there was due TO
Inc Department from Postmssters, late
Postmaster, and Contractors, on the ist
July, l5a3, three hundred and ninety
one thousand nine hundred snd ninety.
four dollars and fifty nine cents And
in the same Report it was estimated, that
not more than two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars of this sum could be
collected. The progress that has since
been made, in adjusting these balances,
goes to CONTRIB the accuracy oil this es-
innate.
The amount, thereof,
due to the department, on
the LIST July last the great
er part oil winch must be
realized from old balan-
cosby the sale oil property
on execution, be stated at 100000 90
TO this should be added
the excess OF receipts over
expenditures Tor the year
ending the Isl july 1915,
after deducnng tneretrom
1887 IS dollars, the de.
hciency OF receipts to
meet the expenditures for
the previous year, ss,os9 IS
Making the total sum of -53,059 55
A law passed at the last session OF
Congress, authorisiOg the Postmaster
General. under certain restrictions, to
discontinue any mail route which shall
have been in operation three years, and
the receipts On which do not equal one
fourth OF the expense. As thi. provision
does not take effect until three wears
after the passage of the act, it affords
no immediate relief from the expendi.
ture OF money on unproductive routes.
With the exception of some routes
which connect important districts oil
country, the expenditure ought always
TO bear a just proportion to the receipts.
No iairer criterion Of the inutiity of
mail route can be afforded, than its fail
ure to pay reasonable proportion of
the expense.
On some routes, the mail bag is often
carried when it does not contain single
letter or newspaper; and where this is
not the case, the expense of !rarspor-
ting the mail on many routes is from
ten 10 twenty times greater than the re
ceipts. Both the justice and pslicy of
such expenditures may well be ques-
toned A discontlnuance oil unproduc-
tive routes, which afford little or no ac-
commodation, would save from forty
to fifty thousand dollars annually. This
sum, judicio1sly appropriated, would
give much public accommodation, and
would be the means at increasing the
receipts OF the Department.
some losses OF money transmitted in
the mail, have occurred within the rast
year, but it is believed that the sums
have been smaller, aud the instances
more rare, than have taken place within
the same period, for many years And
il is fact, important to be known, that
for eighteen months past, very few de-
predanons upon the mail have escaped
detection.
By permitting the large portmanteaus
to be- opened only at the important off
ces. ard having them secured by locks
different iromthose used on the waybags,
greater safety has been siyen to the mail.
In the operations OF this Depai tment,
there are between fifteen and twenty
Thousand agents employed. That thase