Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1842-12-12
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Dec. I'd, ls4:

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT. Dec. ID, 1912.
To the Presidenf Of the United States.
sir-in presenting your consideration report Of the
condition and operations Of the Post Office Department. for
the year preceding the 30 June, 1912, il affords plea
sure % say its condition has been improved and the
vice has attended with than ordinary success,
whether contdcrcd reference the management Of its
financial concerns the regularity and OF its opera
tions.
public service, which requires the agency Of 1888
and their clerks 23i3 contractors and their a.
gents covering during the year, 34S3599l miles OF trans
portaon and extending almost the door of every citizen,
must difficulties and b. subjected to occasional
only from the neglect OF some OF its nu
agents. but from physical net in the power
OF this Department to overcome.
When the vast machinery Of the General Post Office, the
mnueness Details and the character OF the minority
ID the roads which the mail transported, are con'em
plated ee should he of establishment ut the general
regularity of the service than of surprise and discomfort at
occasional failures Absolute certainty and unbroken
lay arrival and departure OF the mails at all times,
cannot and ought be expected. And it is with plea
sure bear testimony, this occason 10 the general
zeal and fidelity of those employed in this branch OF the pub
lie service.
ending June 31h lS4l 1896 SOS miles, contract
Of s3lss,375 The whole amour, Of transportation
for the year ending June 30 1872 was 34S55Su miles, nj
n contract of S3,0S7,796.
The amount OF expenditure OF the Department, for the
year ending June 1872 estimated, in my report OF De-
ga 493 O0O The revenue 10 be derived from
postage SC in the same report, estimated 1880,
000 The estimated for the expenditure did not H.
clude the sums due by the Department prior TO the 3lst
March, 1871. Thus exhibiting probable liability OF
$4,000 beyond its estimated current receipts oil that
year.
To bring the expenditure within the income of the De-
parment duty demanded my hands BY regard for
the observance the principle upon which desire TO con-
duct the administration OF the General Post Office, VIZ =
that while the Department should not be regarded
Of % the not become
nn annual charge upon the public treasury.
To effect this object lsbor and minute attention
have been bestowed by all concerned
revision eff po.t-roads and post offices, necessary
reduction unprotable and the dsconauance of
unproductve and useless post oices and the substitution
of others important points, better suited 10 the
pnbc wants the institution of system for the preservation
and safety Of the public property and the reduction OF
less a6iiures task requiring ordinary portion
of time and its performance could not fail often To
subject head OF the Department TO censurc and criticism
from ihose who did feel the necessity OF the measures
adopted The effect has been sau,afy the public service
we'll reference TO its income as 10 its usefulness and
cost refer the reports of the LIST and ID Assistant
Posasters General which will give more in detail the e
feet which has produced by the adopted
Useless and unproductve have been discontinued
whilst others convenient less expensive and
productive have been substituted. In many instances
where the nature and of the mail did demand the
higher grade the less expensive modes OF
poraton have been employed This may be more satstac
Iory illustrated by the service in the North
western and Southwestern Districts comprising the States
of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky Tenn
essee Alabama Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana and
the Territories Of WISCONSIN and Iowa, pnor the LIST July
1872 ind the service under the recent lettings The whole
number Of miles of mail service in these districts annually
IL 005 SOS, costing annually the sum OF 81 lO2Oi5
prio LIST July last The require the
transportation of mall in each year, 1924 l2s miles
1851 76Sthus giving, in fact, 4ls more
service for Sl+4 277 less expense And do not hazard
much when that this saving has been made while
itself has been, in the aggregate, greatly inn
proved.
The heretofore heavy expenditure of mail bags and locks
kan, nipano tho DlOn Inv
proper system Of preservation. and just responsibility inn
posed public agents. the number OF mail bags hand
equal the of the service, and would be su-
its demands for several years. have effect,
ordered their manufacture
By the repsr the Third Assistant will he that
1887 $50, 100 %
In 1888 IS, Sc
In 1889 36,Os2 46
la 1910 35,331 %
pended was but Sl3, sec 80.
From LIST April 1912, TO LIST October, 1925 months
1910 So large proportion Of which the mail bags
manufac ured prior to 1871.
Ii is important in branch of the public service, to
impress upon those in ts employment the necessity of TAX
Of and preserving the public property This is best
done by the adoption OF appropriate SYSTEM and holding
responsibility those charged with administrative du
and, when they prove themselves faess negligent,
appoint others in their places
The good effects of this rule strictly illustrated,
only the item of expenditure just enumerated, but they
manifested throughout the results Of the entire years
service.
will be seen by reference my report of December
last that the received from postage letters and
newspapers and fines for the year, commencing LIST July,
S4O and ending 3Oth June 1884, stated TO be S4379,
81 10.
The arising from the for the year
ending Both June, 1912, is S4,54G2i6 49, Thus show.
ing an increase of the Of the Department Co.
925 IS, over the of the preceding year.
This increase has not been the result of an increase Of
mail NATTER am persuaded; but has from more
systematic and vgilant execution of the law.
The gross expenditures OF the Department the year.
ending 9th June 1872 far they have been audited
and paid, 81, 627 ZIG 62-exceedng the de-
Tved from postage, during tho year, S5l 40 49,
1t will be remembered that by the approved the 9th
September, S4l, there appropriated "to enable the
Post Office Department meet its engagements and pay
its debts" the sum Of 1882, G57.
OF this sum- there has been expended during the last scs
year. the sum Of 1892 6Gi ST. satisfaction of demands
against the Department. prior the month Of April lS4l.
The report the Chief Clerk upon tins subject, No. j. will
exhibit more in detail the application Of this fund.-
There remained uncxpended Of this appropriation on
3)i June 1912, S59 1892 40, such other demands
as may established be due prior 3st March, l54l
This sum of 1892, ga 81 constitutes part Of the
Si546 246 10, given above the for the last
year derivabs fJm postage and nes Ii does, however,
constitute part of the Si6277l6 g. the gross eKpendi-
ture for that year. and if deducted will show the gross
peidture for ordinary service, be 81 1885,
052 II.
TINS would present apparent balance, OF
revenue, over expenditure Of 81 l94 OF.
A highly probable that there claims
he'd not having been presented for psymeni and claims
which due prior that time, and which presented
would have been audited and paid within the year, and
which have paid vince 18th June, l5i2, and
quenty will be charged in the expenditures fr the current
year. intended convey the idea that this S3ll
1892 is surplus hand, but 1t fact from which
authorized that the income Of the Department
has been equal its expenditures during the year
ending in june 1912; and induces to hope that,
4 It'll