Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-04
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS.

Documents accompanying the Presidenfs Message
REPORT OF THF POSTMASTER GENERAL.
GENERAL Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
NOVEMBER 80, 1884. !
To the President Of the United States:
SlE-The report which had the honor 10
make on the 30th November, 1893, exhibited
balance due from this department, on the ISL
July, 1888, beyond the whole amount OF us
available funds, Of S1s5,20s 40.
The expenses for the transportation OF tne
mail necessarily continued undlminisne9 III tne
close of the year 1888; prior to winch date the
ra,rsncbments stated i'm that report could not
take effect: consequently, the balance OF oeot
against the department continued to augment
till that period.
The gross amount of hostages was.
from July to Deer 81, 1888, Sl,375,437 70
Conversation to Postmasters, in
GLIDING the contingent expenses
of their Offices during the same
period, amounted to S434,62s SO
Incidental expenses OF
the department dur
ing the same time,
amounted to 4,797 ~
The expenses for trans
portation of the mail,
from July | to 3lst
December, 1888, was 1,013, 4O2 %
Making the total expenses OF the
department for that half year, l4so,oZo 90
This sum, after deducting the gross
amount Of hostages for that pc
Rod, leaves a deficit for the six
months ending 3lst December,
1888, of I2o,3sl %
To this sum add the deficit exist
ing on the lst of July, 1888, 1952oS 40
And the balance ofthe debt against
the department, beyond the a
mount Of its available funds, was,
on the lst Of January, 1884, 3l5,599 W
From the 1st Of January, 1884, the retrench-
ments in the transportation of the mail, stated
in my report of last year, began to take enect;
and from that period the revenues OF the depart
ment have exceeded its expenses.
The gross amount of hostages was,
from January to June gu, 1889, Sl,44o,<os %
Compensation to post
masters, including
the contingent ex-
penses ofther offices
within the same pc
riod, amounted to s46l,4s3 g.
Incidental expenses OF
the department for
mounted to $4,000 80
The transportation oil
the mail from Janua-
ry to June 30, 1884,
amounted to So9uSo 81
Making the total ex-
penses Of the depart
ment for the halfyear
ending the 30th Of .
June, 1884. l,4oo,'oS 10
This sum deducted from the gross
amount OF hostages for that pc
Rod leaves revenue, beyond
the amount Of expenses for the
sSrh 1891 of 47,5o7 "a
This sum deducted from the den.
cit existing Januaryl, 1884, (3lo,.
500 es.) reduces the balance OF
debt which existed against the
to =" '"' - 26s, os2 IA
Such was the financial condition of the de-
partment on the last day OF July last Inc
amount Of this debt has been continually ami
aishing 10 the present time, ana II CONTINUES W
diminish in an increased rauo.
On the LIST day os July, 1884, the balance OF
the account with banks was S29S, SIG SO against
the department, consisting OF loans $ZIooOO'
and over-checks to the amount oil SlZ3,oio %.
In this statement, the difference between loans
and over-checks is rather nominal than essen,
tiaI When over checks are mutually agreed
upon to a certain definite amount as stahoihg
order they are called loans; but when they va
nv indefinitely, as to time and amount, they are
called over-checks In either case they are
debts due from the department 10 odnns'
This amount of balance against the Depart
ment has been considerably reduced since the
LIST of July last. On the 1st day OF the present
month it stood as follows:
Amount due for loans from banks S275,OOo w
Ah bs~ ~, u Iss. $500 90
M,L;na ,og.,ber the sum of 33O,e6s O9
On the same day, the balances OF
bank deposites in favor OF the dc
partment constituting the amount ..
Of cash on hand, amountedto s2'oSl o.
Making the actual balance Of the
accounts with banks, against the
department, on the Lat Novem-
Der, 1884, 24o,937 70
The contracts for the southern section, IN
GLIDING the States Of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, and Georgia, and the Terrific
n Florida will evnire with the