Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-02-27

NNS'SOO H"Bt'S1
\ lets, magazines, SC. aver
aging or. ench-(many
are put into the muil wet)
IA million pounds $780, 900
Add half Of office service 100000
Total cost, Sa,o0o,oo
Amount heretofore received
for postage on printed mat
ter 500, 900
Showing an excess ofcost
over the receipts of S2,5oo,ooo
From which deduct the profit
on letters l,25o,ooo
Nhich shows, without any
II increase from reduction
/ OF postage, an aggregate
/ deficiency Of SI,250,O
L But should il be insisted that The ex-
pense ought to be equally divided be-
tween the written and printed matter,
notwithstanding the disparity in weight,
call each Of these two millions.
II II will be seen that the postage on
letters exceeds the sum thus assumed as
the cost by $3.50, 200 showing a profit
on that part Of the service Of l2s per
cent. and loss on the papers Of hall
| million
\ From these views il appears that,
however divided, the deficiency upon an
estimate, without any increase of the
number OF the letters from a reduction
of postage, is one and quarter million,
requiring, 10 enable the Department to
meet all It's expenses, an increase Of q
little more than fifty. per cent on the let
ters, or twenty-five million letters.
This Is but one sixth the increase in
Eng gland, and not 50 much as " as estima-
ted the other day by the Senator from
New Hampshire, (Nlr. Woodbury., who
stated, that in his opinion the mere ase
would be thirty millions on account OF
the reduction. WiM this increase the
Department will have surplus.
But suppose there should be no in-
crease. We have seen that all the de-
ticlency ~ caused by the carriage of
newspapers, pamphlets, SC, al less than
II costs. The loss on this branch Of the
service has not been complained of by
any one. There is no design to dimin.
sh th'S or any other part of the mail SER
vice but general wish, in which par
hclpate, TO see lis usefulness extended.
But is It proper TO burihen the social and
business correspondence Of the country
with the loss sustained in disseminating
Information over the country We cam
not do this If we would unless by Sc.
we're en"c.ments we suppress all compe-
tltlon in the profitable part Of the service
\ letter carrying. For at higher rates
'han that now proposed private express
es will underbid us.
What useful results can be expected
by imposing burihens upon letter cor
respondence to enable us TO make up
our loss IN the carriage of newspapers
Is not the intercourse OF affection and
enterprise, conducted by letters, as much
the object OF regard for statesmen as the
circulation OF newspapers think it is.
For, much as ] respect the character
and usefulness Of many of these, | can
7 HVi IoiRol 'Dbt iH SOiUB 1 nave seen OF
late there is evidence that n sort Of de-
ieiereous oryde comes of from the types,
which is calculated 10 poison the foun.
tains Of social life ! No such injurious
effects come from letter writing. If
there be motives for incurrng this ex-
pense and loss To the Department, by the
circulation Of newspapers from the geo.
graphical extent OF our country, there
are still stronger ones for the encour-
agemen, Of friendly correspondence a.
mong our people. was struck with the
remarks made day or two since by the
Senator from Arkansas. who sits near
ne, that the danger Of this country was
not from without, but within its borders,
from the extent of the country and the
remote situations Of its people. IL was
the considerations here suggested that
created apprehensions for the duration
ol our Union in the minds of the early
patriots of The country. Our geographic
cal posiiioo-- States separated from each
other by mopniaios the natural ienden-
cy TO division aud separation all require