Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-06-24
No. 6.
NO. %.
PaST OFFICE DEPARCMEhT,

22d February, 1928.
Sir: In answer to your communication of the
I5th instant, inquiring whether there be 90 any Of
hcers III this Department whose services may be
dispensed with, without detrnent to the public in
terest, or If the salaries of any OF them can he re-
duced, consistently with justice and proprety and
IN general, whether any of the expenses incident
to the Department can be reduced without i'm
pairing the efficiency OF its operations" | have
the honor TO submit hasty but general sketch OF
the outlines OF the business transacted, annually,
in This Department
There are in the United States GA mail routes,
S9,l3l miles OF post roads on which the mail is an
nuaily transported; and about Z 900 post Offices
Inc amount OF hostages which will be collected
III the current year Will exceed million and a
half of dollars
The following iSa somewhat detailed view OF
the business for the current year:
lst. Arranging the order and connection of
III mails routes, being one fourth ofhe whole ey-
cry year.
"a. Examining and recording 5000 proposals for
carrying the mail, comparing them, and deciding
TIE right, examining numerous testimonials which
accompany them, and furnishing a letter Of accent
ance TO each successful applicant.
Oh preparing, and causing TO be recprocalIy
executed, All contracts, with duplicates, bonds, and
SUreties.
4th. experimenting 1914 mail routes. fepnIat-
ing the movements Of the mail, changing its direc-
ton, and examining the reports of the daily per
iormances of contractors.
9th. APPOINTING, registering, and commissioning
more than 200 postinasters annually receiving
and registering their bonds, ascertaining the re-
sponsbiiity OF their surees, and establishing hun
dreds of new Offices
9th. experimenting the management of more
than 1000 post Offices, instruciing postn,asters.
furnishing them with constructions of the law
and investigating their conduct when complaints
made.
It'll. Receiving, examining, and adjusting more
than $4,000 quarterly accounts of postnastcrs
covering together about 10000 folio pages, with
additions OF items, chiefly in cents, amounting. 10
gether, to more than 81 800 900
Stb. Entering, in accounts current % 900 ac-
counts OF Postnastcrs, with all their various items
and furnishing statements to 1000 postinasters oil
errors discovered in their accounts.
9th. Opening more than 900 dead letters daily.
registering and forwarding TO their proprieors such
of them contain valuable enclosures
10th. Tracing lost letters, detecting and nroae-
cutting depredatlons committed on the mail
Ilth. Furnishing from the books Of the Office
about 200 postmasers, annually, with full state
nentsof their accounts
18th. Settling, finally, the accounts and collect.
ing the balances OF 1000 postmasters, who annual
ly 60 out Of Office, insiituting and experimenting
about 2O6 suits in NY for recovery.
18th. Collecting, by drafts and Otherwise, quar-
ter,yearIy, the revenue arising from more than
! T'VVV post Offices, and reviewing the account o
each iouP times in a year.
l4ih. Settling the accounts, and paying theii
amount, tour times in the year, Of the several con.
tractors on l,Gif mail routes; making together
6,5IG accounts.
i5ih. Procuring mail bags for all the routes
i9chs' keys paper, tie printing and distribution o.
plank forms Tor accounts for the different Offices
amounting 70 many hundred ra,n,s
lGtb Keeping distinct and separate account.
with tho post Offices, with contractors, and otbe,
agents requiring, besides the previous entries in
accounts current pay books, cash Books, day books
| and journals, 1900 ledger entries
/ l'ih. Preparing, cuarter-yemiy, for tie Urea
sry, statements Of the whole fiscal transactions oil
,he Department, covering, in the year, about 200
large pages, accompanied with abog, 5000 re.