Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-12-09

oe."h uc amount c Tree letters, before and after the
extension OF The ranking privilege necessary TO take
two entire years Thus-rhc allowance 10 Postnastcrs
Tor Inc delivery of esleers or the two years ending
Joly 30 1882, (bctorc the excnsion9 was sl055G %
For the two years ending July ], 1884 (ailer
the eNtenson) was 5il5s IS
Or payment for the delivery of 6SOO99 free letters moro
than were delivered the two preceding years But no al
owance Is made for the delivery of free letters NJ nos
quarter 49, NV
II the same proportion Of free letters is delivered at
ohces where no allowances for them are mads 10 Post
masters as at the smaller Offices then the increase SINCE
The fankng privilege extended is equal TO 9in OO0
free letters more than what were delivered within ths
same period OF time prior h that extension The post
age on each OF these letters il free would be from
siN cents to two dollars The average, it is believed
"cuiu not be less than twenty-five each exclusive
OF the PostmaScgs commissions IL estimated M ,ls
~ ~ 5 IeS w1,iu amount To $2i0,000
their delivery, 1861 90
And the increase of free letters within the
last two years has actually cost the De-
pirmcnt -,oSo en, oo
which than equal to the balance of debt n, this
time existing against the Department
Estimates have been obtained from several of tho Ex
ecutve oihccs, OF the amount of their official corrcs
rondencc carried on through the Post Office establish
eh' under The ranking privilege Of the officers by whom
IL is Connected and appears that from The Denoynnnt
oil state Treasury, War and Navy. including tho srh
oe's OF The Treasury and Navy, the official correspond
'hSe by mail on which no postage is paid il estimated
to be equal to 26So 35 single free letters in wear and
nat by lar the greater proportion ofhcm are sent the full
distance Tor which the highest rate OF POSTAGE would no
chargeablc The average postage ON those letters If NO,
ee Is believed would be not less than Is 81 cents
each, which would amount TO S503A8l Sc
This estimate is exclusive Of the Offices of the A,r
ney-Eencral, Adluant- General Coniussarv General
inspector General, Quartermaster. General Paymoser
@eneral and Superintendent of the Patent Office all of
whom have the privilege Of franknr IL is also esno
ed that the number of free letters passing under the frank
81 members OF Congress, amounts to 5000 day during
If the correspondence of the Offices above mentioned
winch are not embraced in the estimate and the posag
airy estimated which would be chargcable on The cor
respondence of members of Congress if not free shonld
be added to the statement il is believed that The onnun
amount oil iree letters would not fall short million of
exclusive oil the correspondence of the Post Of
hce Department itself.
a., ms IS an annual contribution by the Department to
Though the amount of revenue arising from hostages
Tor he year ending June 30, 1884 did not equal the es
innate yet there was considerable increase above the
amount OF the preceding year. The gross amount of
p'S'oges Tor the year ending June 80, 1888, was
For the year ending June 30, 1884 it was as7, 81
Making an increase in the gross of $2O7 l68 20
s0ns to postmasers and the expenses of their
ohices' was, for the year ending June 80, 1888
For the year ending June 80 1894 it was 1897 G "a
Making increase in the proceeds of Sl7 $50 70
The finances of the Department continue TO no in am
improving condition; and the solicude which has becn
shown TO obtain mail contracts the reduced r,tcs -,
winch they have been taken for the Southern Section
and the zeal with which contractors generally percvr
III tnelr services to the Department. furnish ample de-
hiostration that It's credit is unlnpaircd
ne number of posofices the United States was
on he LIST oil July last 1903, being increase Of 5G6
over the number reported last year
The annual amount of transportation has boon Inn,
slightly varied since my last report The mail il now
carried IN stages and steamboats, about 10 900 600 miles
year; and ON horseback, and in sulkes about eco O00
mles; making together about % 800 900 miles q veor
The celebrity Of tle mail should always be equal to tho
most rapid transition of the travellers and fIot With
sorieS the ume OF communications and facilitates the
intercourse between distant places like bringing them
nearer together While affords convenience TO men of
iarging the sphere of acquaintance.
perPctuatcs existing friendships and creates now
ones Ny "iHch the bonds OF union strengthened and
c "PPhesS OF society promoted These considerations
have always had their iull weight upon my mind in mai
ing improvements IN mail operations.
The multiplication of rail roads in different n,rts r
the counry promises within few years TO Give rent
rapdity to the movements of travellers; and il Is sh
ject worthy of enquiry whether measures may no, 80
DC taken 10 secure the transportation Of the mail ,Ipop
them Already have the railroads between Frcnobtoyn
IN Maryland and New Castle in Delaware and between
camden ana Amboy, in New Jersey, afforded great and
important facilities to the transmission of the Great
ern mail The rail road between this city and Balior
w soon DC Completed and the distance from the post
once III uls place to that of baltimore, will not be ma
terlaily varied from the present road - miles
FROM baltimore by Port Opposite, in MARYLAND 10
Coatesville III Pennsylvania the line for rail road 10
located, and the stock suhscr for its couplco and
from Coatesve to Philadelphia rail road is made and
in operation. W
The distance between Baltimore and Philadelphia, on
TINS road, will be III miles, about Is miles greater than
the present land route. From PHILADELPHIA 10 Trenton
bridge about2s miles, the railroad is nearly completed
and from New Brunswick in New Jersey To Jersey civ
ON the west side of the Hudson river Opposite the Civ
OF New York. 30 miles, the railroad is in state of ro
gress When these works shall he completed the only
interval VIII be between Trenton and New Brunsv,icf
about 20 hlcs to complete entire rail between Ills
place and the City oi n York and it cannot be snnosed
ihat the enierprsng State of NJ Jersey will LONG delay
TO perfect communication of such great imDoPiance
passing through most of her largest and most A6uisbin
LOWS When this shall be done the whole distance he
tween this city and New York ON a continnons raiI
road, viii not exceed 2fO miles; and the journey n,nv
DC Performed at all times with certainty, allowing ample
thhe or stopping at important places the road i'm rs
hours: and ordinarily in shorter period
III provision can be made Is secure the rcenlar frame
Portaon OF the mail upon this, and upon other RI roads
wmch are constructing and in instances already
hnsed IL VIII be OF great utility TO the public other
WISE these corporations may become cxortant in tcr
demands and prove eventually be dangerous nonopo
lies. ~ OPO
have The honor to be- most respectfully your hum
PIC SIYant, w. r. BARRY
B7OEIsTEGAE.