Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-18

1872 26iO 6I9,2Os 39,s7s
1877 3i59 l,002.973 $4,000
1899 July 4 1888 sss. s ss5ss
The above exhibit shows an augmen tation of an
nual revenue within five years. ending LIST July,
ISIS, of S4S3,79 a. sum exceeding by SlS,-
GOD similar increase for eleven years preceding
1923. and falling short only Sl65,4ls, Of being
1872. ~ $3.50 - ' ''" -
Within the same time there have been estab.
lished J, l53 additional post Offices; being greater
number than was in operation in the United State:
| In the year 1915.
From the most accurate calculation that can be
made for the year ending LIST July, 1923, the mai
was transported in stages four million four hund red
and eighty Fine thousand seven hundred and forty
tour miles; s on horseback, five million five hun
dred and eleven thousand four hundred and ninety.
six miles; making a total transportation Of ten
millions one hundred thousand two hundred and
iorty miles annually. Since that period there has
| been added transportation of one million nine
hundred and forty nine thousand eli nt hUudre ed
| and nifty miles annually i'll stages; and on horse.
back one million six hundred and fifty eight thou
sane nine hundred and forty nine miles; making
| an increase of three millions six hundred and
eight thousand eight hundred and forty nias mile
which adds two hundred and seventy five thou
sand and hfty-three miles, more than one third
to the mail establishment of the country in 1928.
And the augmented stage conveyance falls short
only two hundred and ninety five thousand and
entire stage transportation in the Union at that
time. This extension Of the mail has been accom-
panied by great Increase OF expedition almost
all the important routes On many of them it is
nov conveyed at the rate u one hundred miles q
day.
As Congress a, their last session declined ma
king any appropriation of the surplus funds of the
department, with the expectation, was believed,
that they should be applied in ditIusing mail ia
ciiities throughout the Union, and increasing them
where required by the public interests, aug
Inentation 10 the conveyance OF the mail of 1--WE
hundred and thirty seven thousand TWO hundred
and sixty four miles in stages, and two hundred
and sixty one thousand seven hundred and four
miles on horseback; making total of seven hun
dred aud ninety eight thousand nine hundred
and sixty miles, has been made the past year.
his, with the additional compensation poStinas-
tiers, arising from increased receipts, the ccunl,i-
iation of free letters, for which cents each are
paid, and incidental expences, has added to the ex
peniiures OF the Department within the year, the
sum Of S25O,094 49, The augmented revenue Of
the Department since LIST July, 1923, has been sf-
hcent 10 meet the annual expense incurred by
the increase of mail facilities and leaves The sum
OF Sla7,3O2 so unexpended.
1t Is be heved 10 be good policy to keep .he funds
OF the Department actively employed III extending
It's operations, until the reasonable of every
community shall be supplied. BY withdrawing
mail accommodations from unproductiye routes and
substituting horse Tor stage transportation
many others, very large surplus OF funds would
annually accumulate; but the public convenience
would be greatly lessencd, and the means oil infor-
nation withheld from districts of country sparcely
inhabited. There is no branch Of the Government
in whose operations the people feel a more lively
interest than those OF this Department. its facili-
ties felt in the various transactions Of business in
the pleasures OF correspondence, and the general
diffusion of information. In the course of every
year, no inconsiderabe amount of the active CAPT.
tai of the country in form other passes thro
the mail. To connect important places by frequent
lines OF intercourse, combine speed with all the
curity possible, and extend tue mail wherever il
may be wanted, constitute the objects which have
influenced the policy Of the Department.
Ii may be advantageous to the public and the
Department, at some future time, for il 10 become
insurer for moneys transmitted in the mail, being
authorized to charge higher rate of postage in
such cases, to indemnify for the risk incurred. To
guard against frauds, this responsibility must ne
cessariy be limited to packets mailed at the prin-
cipal Offices under such regulations shall afford
the greatest possible security.
Some pains have been taken TO ascertain the ex-
act number OF persons employed by the Depart
lnent, including Postnasters, Assistant Postnas-
ters, Clerks Contractors, and persons engaged in
transporting the mail, and although only partial
returns have been received, il is believed the to-
tai number is about twenty-sx thousand nine hun.
dred and ity-six.-There about seventeen
thousand FIVE hundred and eiebty-fo horses en-
ployed, and two thousand eight hundred and Sc
venty- nine carriages, including LIB sulkies and
wagons
The receipts Of the year ending lsi
July, 1928, as above stated amount
ed TO the SUN OF 81 sos, 1874 ~
Those OF. the preceding year were .i73, ssh 90
Making an increase Of this sum a.
bove the receips of 1927 I2i $50 40
The expenditures Of the year ending
LIST July last, amounted TO the
Of 1873 ,3S3 46
Leaving excess Of expenditure,
beyond the receipt Of %, 100 O3
In this excess there is not included
the sum of Sl2,729, q, which was
paid by the Department under
special act Of Congress.
BY the last Annual Report there was
surplus sum Of money in deposit
aud due from Post Masters, includ-
ing payments made old ac-
counts, amountingtO a70,o33 81
From this sum deduct the abovc ex.
cess Of expenditure % ,190 %
And the amount paid into
the Treasury under the
above law I2T29 2l
~ 600 % /