New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-12-17
Th, pa,,mas,er Generals Report.

The Postmaster Generals Repers.
The In,eligencer of yesterday contains the Re
port Of Hon. C. A. W1cKLIFFE, Postmaster Gen
eral. 1t is quite brief, filing only two columns o;
tina, paper. In excuse for lack OF details. the
Postmaster General urge, the short time ne has
been in oiicc.
The financial condition Of the Department; is no,
as prosperous a, the demands upon require. The
fluctuations OF business the increased facilities Tor
the transmission of letters By private conveyance
the great extension and abuse of the frankiHg
privilege the recent establishment 81 private eH-
presses upon the mail roads, and the frauds prac-
Used upon the Department are mentioned IS the
prominent cause, Of the erabarrassusnts under
which it labor-. 1t. financial condition is thus
stated:
The total gross revenue OF the Post Oiice for the
fiscal wear commencing on the Isl OF July. ls4O,
and terminating on the Both June, 1871, was
s4379.2l7 70; the total expenditure Tor the same
time was = 567 ,23S 80. In this year the exPend-
lures exceeded the revenue by the sum OF Sl5f,-
920 GI A statement OF the expenditures. rnere
in detail will in due sine, as required oy law be
reported 10 Congress.
The precise income and expenditure OF the Gen
eral Post Office cannot De known in any year. IN
til me close of the fiscal year, and the settlements
of all accounts have been compeicd. Consequent
" any statement of expenditure and income, for
the present year, IS liable TO the fluctuations and
changes aiways incident to the peculiar character
/ OF the service.
The expenditures and income OF the Department
for the current year may, upon estimate, be stated
in round numbers as follows:
Total ameunt CT revenue derived from
postages, fines, and all other resour-
/ ces --------- S1''oV'uVu
/ Expense OF mail transpora-
ton IS, l41,UUU
Commission TO postmasters,
if the rates OF per centage
remain unchanged .-.---- l,Olo,0UU
Ship steamboat and way
| letters. 2u,uUs
Incidental expenses, incIud-
ing blanks, stationery, print
ing, Observation-Disclosures $4,000
/ Total estimated income .-.--...----. 4,39O, eOO
Total deficiency ----.----- 81 900
/ The Postmaster states that he has essayed the
most rigid economy in the administration OF the
service, and vet he is satisfied the expenditure
cannot be reduced within the income. Under the
circumstances, Ike has thought it necessary to re-
adjust the commissions allowed 10 Deputy Post
masters, by which about 100000 will be added
to the revenue of the Department. Should Con
gress not approve of this step 1t can be prevented
Nv reducing the amount of mail service before i,
goes into eject Rigid inquiries have been in't
tuted, not only into the capacity of the Deputy
Postmasters, but also into the solyency of their
securities.
Mr.. Wicklifc does not recommend reduction
OF postage on letters but modification of t' rates
so that i! shall conform to the smaller Untsd Stute'
CON- and revision OF the laws regulating news
paper postage He especially urges attention tc
the mamaotn periodicals, which increase the
weigh, of the mails and the expense Of Transports
ZION, without adding TO the revenue
He invites the legislation of Congress 10 regulate
the establishment of private expresses. The ex
elusive right to post-r,ads for post purposes he
thinks should be held by the Government.
The United States Mail was transported on rail
roads and steamboats, 3,946,45 miles at the cos
of $3.50 ,si3 on horse and in sulkeyN. la,03s,36-
milo. at cost Vt :7s 1907 in stages and coaches
ls 96 ,2l3 miles, at the cost of 635-'nakinE
total aggregate Of annual transportation o
"a 900, 5a5 miles, at the of cost of 3d. l59 80
The part of the Report relating to the trans
portaton of the Mails upon railroads We haze
already published
Embarrass ments in the free transit Of the mai
over the Cumberland road in Virginia have beer
experienced, incident TO right assumed 81 th'
State to impose a tax each coach Transporting:
che mail.
CAPTURE OF THE SASTA FE EXPRDrTisS we