Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-12-29
PosrMAsrE GENERALS REPORT.

The Postmaster General has submitted his re-
ort to Congress, of which we can give but an
Ledger.
There are in the public service 1888 pest
masters and their clerks, with 2,3i3 contractors
md their agents. The whole amount Of mail
ransportatlon Tor the year ending June Both,
1871 was 3i,996,525 miles, at contract cost of
So l59,375. The whole amour, of transpor,a-
ZION tor the year ending June 80, 1912. was 81
o3o,99l miles, AT "a contract cost OF S3.0S1 .796.
system OF revision WAS adopted Ivy the de-
rartnent. Useless and reproductive routes have
been discontinued; whilst others, more convent
cnt, less expensive and more productive, have
been substituted. In the Northwestern and |
Southwestern districts the whole number OF miles |
oil mail service annually was III ,005, 865, costing
annually the sum Of 81 ,lO2,Ol5 prior to the LIST |
july last Tho recent contracts require the trans
potta''on OF the mail in each year, ll,i2lI2S
nii's at cost OF $951,76S-thus giving in fact,
liS,S63 miles more of service for Slii,27 less
expense.
In the matter Of mail bags there has been re-
irenchment Of considerably more than one half
over iormer years. In 1871, the amount expend-
ell Tor this purpose VAS Sl3,566 30; this year,
20 lar, about tile same, In former years. between
1857 and 1910, the lowest SUN paid was $780,
%. 70, and the highest $56,102 %.
me increase In the revenue this year over last
IS Si6692S IS, arising, the report says, not from
any increase Oh mail matter, but from more sys-
'N,.'"''N anu ';NScuilON oil me law.
The gross expenditures OF the Department for
the year ending 3Oth June, 1912. so far as they
nave been audited and paid, are Si,627.TIG CO.
exceeding The amount derived from postage, du-
ing Inc same year, SSl ,4TO49. Ofthc eXpendi-
lures Sd92,604 81 is part of the sum appropria-
ted I'm 1871 TO pay the deb, of the Department.
ana, II deducted, will show the gross expenditures
LOT ordinary current service to be 81 1856 O52 III
ms would present am apparent balance or an ex-
cess oil revenue, over expenditure, OF SO l9i o.
The Postmaster dwells with much satisfaction
on Inc TACT that the income of the Department
mas been equal to its expenditures for the year.
A'thonSh The aggregate amount received from
postage during the past year has been greater by
me sum stated, the receipts at the large Offices
'or 1872, have been less than in 1871. The ae-
9regate increase las been at the medium and
sha'ier oiiices. This is accounted for by the
iact That The means of ntercommunication be-
tween the great commercial points have been
such us to Invite constant and increasing infIac-
uohs aud violations of the laws Of Congress req
ulating the General Post Office
hIodihcaion OF the ranking privilege is rec
commended again. The whole number of free
iet'ers sent through the post Office annually, SO
TAR as The returns of post masters exhibit is a.
bout three millions, the postage of which is a.
oont S4o0,0oO, which is lost 10 the government
W" cents are paid to postmasters on each of these
'e''ers, constituting an annual charge upon the
revenue OF $50, 600.
could be safely made, with proper regulation of
'he ranking privilege, and further protection "a
Sainst the violations Of the laws of the Depart
'"ent. lie doubts whether the English system of
REDUCTION could be adopted here.
lie again urges upon Congress TO make some
permanent arrangement with the Railroad compa-
mes 10 relieve the Department from the immense
ana constantly increasing amount annually paid
those companies for transporting the public mail
ne great question involved is. whether Con-
SfeSs shouid make these contracts. and pay the
consideration out of the resources of the Govern
men', or whether the Department shall levy the d.
noun, ny continuing the present rates of postage
upon letters.
The report mentions that the French Govern
Hcht is anNiouS 10 make a treaty with the United
states Tor an interchange of mail service by the
agency Of packets and steamships of the two
countries.
The City Despatch Post established in New
ork, confined to the delivery, through the Post
otice OF that city, of the correspondence within
It's limits, has proved satisfactory i'll lis operations.
and lie doubts not ia other large cities Will call
Tor similar establishments
he amount OF expenditure for the current fiscal !
year. Tor the service of this Department. may be !
stated. by way o. estimate, in round numbers at |
81 500 600 ~
Tins estimate does not include tie probable ex-
Pehse OF Tie new routes established by Congress /
at The last session, none of which have vet been
Pu' IN operation. The probable costs of these
routes per year will be $3.50 900, making the
who'e estimated expense of Si,420,OOO.
ANY estimate OF the income from postage du-
ing tle present year, must of course be altoceih-
n conJectnral, founded upon the amounts received
or me year ending in juno. 1912.
, he amount received, the quarter ending 3Oth |
oePHmDer last, is less than the amount Of the
corresponding quarter of 1871 and | therefore
conclude the income of tho Department for the
.ufFent year Will fall considerably short of that
or Inc year ending Both June. 1t is however,
ny intention to put these routes in operation by
ne uine specified IN tie act. And as there is no
discretion vested In the Department by the act if
mo us mems VIII not he Otherwise equal to the
,adiuonai expense. 1t will become 10Y unple SAINT
'uty TO curaIl the expense upon routes already in
Histence equal TO the costs OF the new ones per-
emPtorliy ordered by Congress.
nc New ork Tribune notices case in which
edmund Jones, the legal inspector of Matthews
ounty, teSthes that one Alexander James unlaw-
nliy assumed to himself the authority Of inspec-
or, and aided by an armed force seized the Cap.
am oi the schf Mail, and his papers, did some
ahage 10 rigging, &c, under pretence Of enforc-
ne The payment of the inspection fee after Jones
ad inspected The vessel and received his fee
he Tribune Insists that something must be
one. "
Inc Louisville Journal states that there are
ow eight or ten consumptives in the Mammoth
ave- in kentucky, who design remaining there
OF '"e winter The Prcprictors of the Cave have
'"'uoceo shat they will not be able to accommo-
Gte any others Cor Srr,,a H.. n 10 ,4a.o