The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-12-08

| whether the Department shall levy The amount ol
continuing the present rates of postage upon letters
and in all time to come, devote SO large portion
thereof to the payment for railroad transportation as
to deny even the hope to the distant and less
favored portions OF our country OF any increased mail
iacitIesf The cost Of railroad transportation, foI
the last year, stands at S432, $685. The whole length
of mail road in the United States is l49, 1872 miles,
costing S3,Oe7, 1856 OF this length of mail road
only 1901 miles IS railroad transportation at cost OF
S432,56o. Only one forty-eighth part Of the whole
number OF miles costing seventh part OF the gross
| sum-
i repeat the inquiry made on former occasion. Is
just that the whole burden Of the public corrcspon-
dence, Low nearly equal to half million OF dollars
annually, should be sustained by tax upon the bust
ness and friendly correspondence of the community
IL the Government eXacts from the citizen no more
than the cost and expense of transporting his letters,
he has no right to complain, but when additional
sum is wanted to deiray the expenses Of transporting
the correspondence of the Government and its Off
GERS that sum- like the tax for every other public
vice. should be drawn from the common resources of
| the country
1t is proposed that, in lieu OF annual drain from
the Treasury to pay the postage upon the public cor
Iespondence, the United States now secure and pay
for the perpetual right TO transport the mails rail-
roads. Can this right be now secured upon fair and
reasonable terms lis question worthy to be tested
| by fair experiment. l am of opinion it can be Sc
cured upon most, II not all of the important roads
upon reasonable terms and with ample guarantees.
is part of the business of this Department to
speak OF the effects which such contracts with the
railroad companies would produce upon public Gre
dit, both at home and abroad The effects, whatever
they may be for good but incidental to the great
object TO be attained in reference to the mail service
| Of the United States.
| Entertaining these opinions upon this subject
pray you TO allow most respectfully to press them
| upon your consideration.
! Public opinion seemed so strong in favor of re-
ducon OF postage upon letters, that it could be re-
| .el,I., a III, Al.
having the power over this subject, have felt its
influence, but have been unwilling to act unadvisedly
| IN any recommendation might make upon the sub
Ject. 1t will be remembered that England recently
| reduced her rates Of postage. The effect upon the
revenue, and upon the amount of mail matter, was
anxious to know. For this, and other objects con-
nected with the operations Of this Department,
availed myself of the services of General Green, in
November last who about to visit England and
FRANCE upon private business and instructed him to
make certain Investigations and inquiries. The re-
suit of his Investigations may be by ference
TO ms report to me, copy Of which accompanies
this.
The dissmilarity in the government of the two
countries, well the difference in the extent of
territory, induce me to doubt whether the same sys-
TEN of mail service and rates of postage could be
safely adopted in the United States.
One TACT, however, is clearly developed by the
report OF General Green, that since the reduction of
postage in England the number of letters mailed ha:
particular suggestions upon this subject, because il
has been duty devolved upon me by resolution of
the Senate, to make to that body specific report up
on an alteration of the rates of postage which pur-
pose to do at as early day practicable.
1t Will be seen, by reference to part of the report
Of Mr.. Green, that the French Government is anx-
ious to make treaty with the United States for an
Interchange OF mail service by the agency of packet
and steamships of the two countries
Y on will remember this subject was brought To
| rnft a,ft,, ~,
last session of Congress- 1t submitted by you to
Congress as one worthy Of their considerations and
requiring specific legislation, if, in the opinion of that
body, such an arrangement would prove advantage
Gus to the United States The Committee on For
egn Relations made report favorable to the mea-
sure, and the House of Representatives adopted the
following resolution
"That the President of the United States be re-
quesed to cause to be prepared and reported this
House, by the Secretaries of State and of the Navy,
at the commencement of the next session of Con-
gress, plan for the establishment, in concert with
the Government OF France, of line of weekly steam
ers between the ports of Havre and New York, to-
gether with estimates of the expense which may be
| required to carry the said plan into effect"
That portion of Mr. Green's report, and the ac-
companylng documents are submitted under the be-
lief that it may be servceable TO place before Con.
gress the outlines of the plan contemplated by the
| French Government
lished and put into operation City Despatch Post
Tor the city Of New York. confined to the delivery,
through the post office of that city, of the correspon-
dence within It's limits. am gratitied to know that
ITS operations have proved highly satisfactory to the
community, giving to the citizens prompt and cheap
medium OF communication, the income of which will
not only MAINTAIN the expense of the establishment
but, IN the course OF time pro Misses considerable
addition to the revenue of the Department The r,-
port OF the Postmaster of New York upon this sub
/ Ippf tod in ord, ~, !.
more generally known; and, when understood, ! have
little doubt that the other large cities of the Union
VIII call Tor similar estat ishment Its usefulness
has been fully tested in New York. by the saving of
heavy daily expense of money aud time to the bu-
smess community in their city correspondence.
| The amount of expenditure for the current Fiscal
year, Tor the service of this Department, may be
stated by way OF estimate, in round numbers at 81,
| 800 900
lhis estimate does not include the probable ex-
pense oil the new routes established by Congress at
the last session, none of which have yet been put
operation. The probable costs of these routes per
year will he $4,000, making the whole estimated
| expense of 81, $4,000.
| Any estimate of the income from postage during
the present year, must of course be altogether CON
jectural, founded upon the amounts received for the
year ending in June, 1912,
Inc amount received, the quarter ending 30th Sep
TENDER last is less than the amount of the cores
ponding quarter Of lS4l and ! therefore conclude
the income OF the Department for the current year
will fall considerably short of that for the year end
ing 30th June. 1t is, however, my intention to put
these routes In operation by the time specified in the
act And as there is discretion vested in the De-
partment by the act if find its means Will not be
otherwise equal to the additional expense it will be-
come my unpleasant duty to curtail the expense up
on routes already in existence equal to the costs of
the new ones peremptoriy ordered by Congress.
There are other matters more of detail, requiring,
in my judgment, the legislation of Congress, which
iorbear obrude upon your attention. but " i'll seek
the opportunity to submit to the Committees 10 whom
the affairs OF this Department may be referred
l have the honor to be, with great respect your
Exceency's obedient servant,
g. A. WICKLIFFE.
j GALE OLE REAL. ESTATE In TILE CITY or