The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-01-06
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT


ain 1890, the whole number OF post Of
fees in the United States did not exceed
seventy.fve the number Of miles of posi-
road, ! 81 /; the revenue, S37 1886 the ex !
penditure, S32,l40. In ls40, the whole I
number ofpost Offices was l3, ass the mum
Der of miles of post road, l55,7739 the
gross revenue for the same year was 81,
$50, 265, and the expenditure was 1859.
no."
The images OF the Department are not
IN a prosperous condition. They arc oil
ways liable to be affected by the fluctuations
of business. And They are nov affected by
the facilities afforded by railroads and steam
boats, for the transmission Of letters and
papers by private conveyance; by the ex
ten,ion and abuse Of the frankiug privilege,
and by frauds in evadlng the payment of
posiages. More specific legislation is call
ed Cor to remedy these evils.
The total revenue of the Post Office for
the fiscal year terminating on the 30th Of
June, lsll, was S4,379,2l7 IS the total
expenditure for the same time was Si,567,
23s 80. 10 this year the expenditures ex.
ceeded the revenue By the sum Of SlS7,
go 6l."
| The receipts for tho present year, com.
menciBg 30b June last, are estimated al
St,Ss0-000; and the expenditures at 81,
100000; leaving an estimated deticft OF
$4,000, which be proposes to provide
for by reducing the commissions Of the
Postmaslers. lie prefers this mode to Ell
Their calling 90 Congress fer aid, or to redu
cling the mail fCciliiies. He thinks the De.
parsment ought always TO sustain itself.
A rigid security has been instituted into
the qualifications Of postmasiers, aud the
solvency of their securities.
a reduction of Postage cannot be adyi
sed but an increase OF the rates for those
mammoth sheets now sometimes published
is recommended.
I" the mail was transported last year on
railroads and steamboats, 1916, 40 miles,
al the cost Of $685., SAB on horse and in
sulkeys II ,0SS, sG2 miles at a cost of $751;.
s07 10 stages and coaches 1s,96l ,2i3
miles, at the cost Of 81 ,79l ,695 making a
total aggregate Of annual transportation Of
"a ,906,j25 miles, a, the rate of cost of s g..
l59.375.
The following is that part OF The Repor,
oftbe Postmaster General which relates TO
the Railroads, and 10 The project Of purcha
sing the RICH, TO transport the nails on
them -
E" an anxious desire to effect some perma
nent arrangement with the railroad compa.
MES for the transportation Of the mail, upon
a basis which shall be both Just ard Uni.
form, considering the nature of the service
performed by each, induced me to invite
meeting Of the presidents of The difgeren,
companies, in the city Of Washington, on
the lst of January next; and am gFatifed
at the prompt manner in which all who haVc
been heard from have consented 10 a.tend,
and hope is cherished that some arrange
ment, satisfactory TO all parties and beuef.
cial to the public, may yet he effected.
"The improved mode Of in:ercommuDi
cation by railroad and steam, operating un.
der chartered rights granted by the States,
and over which il Is not pretended that the
General Government, much less the Post
Office Department, can exercise any con
troll, imposes upon Congress, III my opinion,
new duties and obligations, which can ons
be cancelled by the adoption of some meas
ure whereby the Post Office Department
may, upon adequate consideration, secure
By compact The rgh! to transport the mail
IN tue cars Of railroad companies, and at the
same time give to the Department the DOW
or TO control The departure and arrival Of
The same.
There IS now paid 10 the different rail
road companies, annually. over $500, 600
Tor the eryIce, without power 10 the Depart
meni 10 regulate the travel, arrival, and de
parlure Of the mail and constant and fre.
qnent difficulties, both Of entering into and
the execution Of contracts, are presented.
4" Ii has occurred 10 me tina, She present
was a most favorable period for the adoption
Of some measure by Congress, whereby TO
secure TO The United States the right TO
transport the mail upon these roads in all
time TO come, fee Of any annual charge On
on the Pos: Office Department, by the adj
saneement OF sum in gross, which may
be agreed upon, 10 each ofthese companies, i
or such Of them as may be wiling TO con.
tract. Many ofthe railroad companies, aud |
some Of them constituting most important
links 10 The great chain Of intercommuGica
ton between Boston and Charleston, owing
TO the grea, deraogemea. Of The monetary
Of the world, aud the depression
ofali State aud company stocks, find them.
selves laborIng under embarrassmen,s and
difficulties, which the ald Of the General
Government, applied 10 the way proposed,
would eHectua!ly remove, and al the same
inle secure TO the United States The adYan.
age and the ample equivalent of transport.
ng The mail upon these roads.
" The credit of the United States 10 an
lmonnt not greater than the sum necessary
0 produce, at five per cent interest, the a.
Count paid by The Post Office Department,
. these companies annually, would, have ,
70 doubt, be sufficient 10 accomplish this {
end - The rx1xr n aud "a ALA