The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-22

296, SIC, viz:
BY horse and sulkey I2IS2 4l5 $7S9 66s
BY stage and coach, 2029927s 1911 ,s5s
By steamboat and railroads, 3,Ss9,053 1855
Total 36,37O,776 s329667G
In addition to this service the mails by steamboats,
and other vessels under the 9th and 9th sections Of
the act OF 1885 are estimated to have cost the last
year, about 5000 and there has been paid for shI
and way letters about $4,000.
The resolution OF Congress of May IA, 1886, au-
thorized the Postmaster General TO extend the term
OF the then existing contracts for six months "a
nave them terminate on the 30th of June instead OF
the last of December In pursuance Of this authority
the contracts which would have expired with the pre-
sent year were extended to the Both June 1871 in
consequence of which, the lettings that would other
wise have fallen into the year 1910 will take place
until the spring of lS4 The advertisement for this
service has been prepared, and will be published
The new routes, amounting to about seven hun
dred established by the act of the h july 1882 have
been put in operation during the past year. and have
made considerable addition to the expenditure for the
transportation service. This extension, with the be
lief that the usual increase of revenue would not be
realized has indicated policy of retrenchmen rather
than general Improvement but since took charge OF
the Department some improvements have been effect
ed on some OF the most important routes which the
public interest seemed TO demand and where little adj
ditional expense was incurred. have also executed
contracts for additional service a few railroad AMI
steamboat routes, where Entertainments could be made
on other routes nearly equivalent to the new liabilities
assumed These changes have given some additional
expedition to the great North and South mail as wei
as several large mails connecting with it important
points,
The number of contractors in the service during
the last year about 100. The number who had
been fined, or had deductions made from their pay fer
delnquences In the performance of their engagements
is 62S. The fines and deductions during the year,
exclusive OF the remissons amounts to $50, $3.50
In general the transportation service has been per
formed faithfully and in commendable spirit Of
gy perseverance, and devotion to the public interest.
The obstacles which, for time, occasoned Irregular
ties in large mail south of this CITY, it is believed
have been removed.
The number of post Offices on the LIST day of July,
1888, was 1919; the number on the Both day q
June, 1889, was IL $50 on the same day of the pre-
sent year. the number 3D. 1863 showing an increass
during the year, of 6SS There have been established
during the year. 96S post Offices and 21i discontinued
The number this day is 1868 There have been,
during the year 33l postmasters appointed of whom
959 were for new offices.
The revenue Of the Department, for the year end
ing June 80 $40, as appears fom the settlement a
the accounts of postmasers in the Auditors office
was:
Letter postage S4,oO3, 6,J7
Newspapers and pamphlets 535 229 81
Fines paid to postmasters for viola
tons of law 10000
"a ,539, 265 is
The expenditures of the Depart
ment for the same period were
For compensation to postmastcrs,
$l,02s ,9a5,92
For wrapping paper, Of
flee furniture, adverti-
sing, mai-bags, mail
locks and keys, and
stamps, mail depreda-
tons, and special
agents. blanks, clerks
for Offices, and misce-
laneous AL sc
For ship, steamboat, and
way letters 35,4l0,Sl
For transportation 3252995,l6
$500 4,759,llo,ss