Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1839-01-12


This document Ike al vt.cf. Nt',i
.imos Kendall, Is brief laci5. ne
and satisfactory. Il details m lie r'''
manner and pcrspicuous LANGUAGE =
operations OF the post Office SsS.,.,@
past year. It's statements are 60
pie and clear-there is not supe,ss
the Whole document. In fact, il So
Crypt OF the close, thinking power, - -
sing faculty Of ITS author, and ms -
to make an abstract Of that which !. =. x
duced 10 almost the smallest posslJ. : =
The post routes OF the Unl,sd s.
the lst July last, basis miles !, s,,.,
cost Of annual transportation. inol,i s.''-
of steamboats, and other vessels. M.
SO, l47,3O6. To avoid embar,ass,.. !.
recent cheeks on the revenue Of The y a.
retrenchment and suspensions have b.s.
services of little value TO the amo,,, -
per annum. Eleven bundled and c.al ~
fees have been established and three H.. y
fiily-twO discontinued. The preseu, ~.a
post offices is exactly l2,55S-lbr , a-.
contractors is l,947, Of whom 800 -
fined 10 the amount Of SCI, l2s.54 q, ~
ces and omissions.
The revenue oflhe department ts, n,A
year is estimated at 500"
lis engagements and liabi6ssus 4ssGa
Making an access Of engageusus
0''I Tt l'aoin,.g i'' &1aa
ment from this cause. The revenue of Il
partment has increased per cent. MAJ,
past year.
The cash on hand on the LIST Decent,
$3l4,068,65. At one time the sunh, I.
amounted to near a million-they have hva.
been reduced to the sum stated in consso.'
of the increased liabilities of the depar,m,n
was estimated that the revenue would lpc,s
least fifteen per cent. or more for lie last y
which would be maintained or augmented d
present year. The extension Of mail SERVE,
accordingly kept up sufficiently to consua.
greater part Of this anticipated increase.
revenue Of the department has not suffers
consequence of the financial disasters d I
last year,a measure greatly attrbuableto The
utary policy Of receiving nothing but specie
equivalent for postage. But as the mail 70.
have been so greatly extended within the las
years, it is believed that ii will not be more
sufficient to meet the current expenditures
The post master general speaks in hishan
ofthe fidelity, intelligence, activity and enaE
the various post masters. He s,ares that ID
accounts are rendered, and the duties Of coHHA
tors performed with the utmost precision q
zeal.
Some embarrassments have arisen out Of
doubtful language employed in the act passed
congress in its last session,n relatonto The use
railroads rs post routes. The law reads
follows
"That each and every railroad within the
its of the United States which now is, or hat
ter may be made and completed, shall be AZ
route, and the post master general shall caua
mail TO be transported thereon, provided be-
have il done on reasonable Terms, and notl
ing more than twenty-iour per ccntum Oya
above what similar transportation would cos
post coaches"
The difficulty lay in the Interpretation Of
words "similar transporidtions." After car
consideration Of the act, the department De
mined to take the cost Of transportation d
great western mail v~hero il changes from
southern one at Baltimore, as its guide 10 fix
on the basis for its allowance to railroad CON
MES in the main southern line. twenty-five
cent was added 10 the cost per mail line from
timore 10 Cincinnati, and this was propose
the railroad companies between Frederlckst
Va, and the Roanoke river. 1t has how
been refused, and higher compensation IS
manded, then it would be either legal or poh
accord. The department is consequently
gagged in making provisions for the transport
Of the great southern mail by other means
the LIST of January next. This cannot be &C
pllshed without some loss Of time, and son
convenences, and here the subject is commit
congress, that II may correct the conshu
if erroneous, given to the law, OF provide
BILE cnactmonts 10 meet the exigenoy.
.Nets Orleans