Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-30
POST MASTER GENERALS REPORT.

POST MASTER GENERALS REPORT.
The P. NJ. General states that the whole !
amount of mail transportation for the year end !
ing June 30th, 1s4l, was 34096,525 miles, at
contract cost Of S3,l59,375 The whole !
amount of transportation for the year ending |
June Both 1912, was 5i,s35,90l miles, at con- |
tract cost of ss3,OS7,796.
The amount of expenditure of the Depart
ment, for the year ending June, 1912, was esti-
mated, in my report of December last. at ST..
100000. The revenue to be derived from post.
age, dc. in the same report, was estimated at
$4,3SO,O00 The amount est mated for the ex-
penditure did not include the sums due by the
Department prior to the Dist March. ISL
Thus exhibiting probable liability Of 10000,
beyond its estimated current receipts of that
year.
TO bring the expenditure within the income
of the Department was duty demanded at my
hands by regard for the observance of the
principle upon which | desire to conduct the
administration Of the General Post Office, viz
that, while the Department should not be re-
garded as source of revenue TO the Govern.
ment, it must not become an annual charge up.
on the public treasury.
| In regard 10 the number of miles of mail
transportation and the amount paid for such SER
! vice, the report says that in the Northwestern
and Southwestern districts, comprising the
States of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois. Missouri,
Kentucky, Tennessee, "A labama. Mississippi, Ar
kansas,a Louisana,and the Territories OF Wis
consnand Iowa. prior to July, 1852, and the
service under the recent lettings. The whole
number of miles of mail service in these dis.
tricts annually was ll.005,S 65 costing annual.
ly the sum of sl,l02,045 prior 10 the LIST July
last. The recent contracts require the trans
| II Il. s,na rs,o
miles at a cost of $957,763--thus giving. in
fact, 4lS,263 miles more Of service for $l44-
PIT less expense. And ! do not hazard much
when assert that this saving has been made
while the service itself has been, IN the arrrc.
gate, greatly improved
The report shows great saving in the ex-
pense of Mail Bags. 1t appears that about the
same quantity of Bags have been manufactured
each year, without reference to the wants of the
Department. For instance, in the year
1887, S567O2 2S
In 1898, 3s737 3B
, In 1899, 360S2 46
In 1910. 55,337 %
From LIST of April, Is4l, up to LIST of April
lS42, the amount expended was but $l3,55d
From LIST April, 1912, to LIST October, 1912
six months-S7,630 So A large proportion
Of which was the mail bags manufactured prior
to 1S4l.
1t will be seen by reference to my report o.
December last, that the amount received from
S postage on letters and newspapers, and fines
4 for the year commencing LIST July 1S40, ant
' ending 3Olh June, ls4l, was stated 10 be 81,
: 379,3l7 70.
The amount arising from the same source;
for the year ending 3Olh June 1912, is S4,536,
246 IL. Thus showing an increase of the
revenue OF the Department, OF Sl66,929 80
over the revenue of the preceding year.
0 The increase has not been the result of al
increase of mail matter, | am persuaded, bu
q has arisen from more systematic and yigilan
execution of the law.
= The gross expenditures of the Department
for the year ending 30,h June, 1912, so far a.
!, they have been audited and paid, are SS4,627,
y ZIG 62 exceeding the amount derived from
0 postage, during the same year, ISL, 40 40.
d 1t will he remembered that by the act ap
/, proved the 9Th September, lS4l, there was APP
. propriaed. "to enable the Post Office Depart
Il ment to meet its engagements aud pay its debts,
y the sum OF SiS2657.
Of this sum, there has been expended during
the last nscal year, the sum of 1892. 6t4 81 IL
satisfaction of demands against the Department
prior to the month of April, l64l. The repor
OF the Chief Clerk upon the subject, No
o will exhibit more in detail the application O
! this fund.
). There remained uneypended of this appro
priation on the 3Oh June. 1912, $4,000 40 t
meet such other demands as may be establish
~ ed to be due prior to 3lst March, lS4l.
Il This sum of s392,G64 81 constitutes no par
y of the sl,546,245 IL, given above as the reve
= nue. for the last year derivabe from postage an
!. fines. 1t does however, constitute part OF tn
n s3,627,736 62. the gross expenditures for tn
;. year, and, if deducted, will show the gross ex
IS pendture. for ordinary current services, to
- sl,235,055 IL.
d This would present an apparent balance, G
!. an excess OF revenue, over expenditure {
;, s3ll,l94.