Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-12-12
THE REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL

This document is before us, and we Law am
abs'racto its contents before our readers
The extent OF post routes in the United
States the Both day OF June last, was 1854
miles. The annual transportation of the
mails over these routes, was 30 ,63l ,2G9 miles,
OH horseback, in sulkics, by stage coaches and
by steamboats, and railroad cars, al an expense
of 62,905, 50i. The number of contractors on
that day in the service of the department was
3,217, mail agents 30 and mail messengers IA
and local agents H.
Although the annual transportation for the
year ending, June goth, 1915, was greater
then that OF the preceding year by 22i 1915
miles, yet the the cost was less by S62 ,79l
On the Goth OF June last there were ii 1873
post Offices i'll the United States. During the
preceding year there were established 3j2 new
Offices, and 800 were ex,inguished. The
present number is 1903. There were ap-
pointed during the same period 1903 post
masters, IN consequence of deaths, resigna-
tions, removals, expiration of commissions
and the establishment of new Offices.
The revenue OF the department for the wear
ending June Both, 1873, was 81 ,239, 81 so.
The expenditures for the same time amounted
to 81 ,320,73l 90. The nett revenue, after
deduchng the commissions OF post masters,
contingent and incidental expenses, amounted
to S2,0i2,2l7 81.
Judging from The returns Of post masters for
the Quarter ending the Both of September.
the Secretary is Induced TO believe that there
will BE- falling of from the nett revenue OF
the last fiscal year of about IS per cent. As
Stunning this TO be true, and that the savings ON
contracts will equal the expense Of new route.
and improved service, there will be dilninu.
tion i'll the m,sns OF the department to meet
the expenses OF the present year of 81 1923 .997
There will be a saving in the letting of mai
contracts ia New England and New York thi.
year of S232,732. Should similar savings b,
realized in the other sections, there will be. in
the western section, after the first OF July next
reduction in the annual cost OF transporta
ton Of about $685. 900; in the Southern sec
ton after July LIST, 1917, reduction Of abou
s235,OOO per annnm, and in the Middle sec
ton, after July lst, ISIS, 5lsO0O0 per an
mum.
The compensation to postmastcrs. end N,
expenses OF their Offices, for the ycar endin,
on the Both Of June last amounted 10 the SIM
Of 81 400 SIS Is. Their compensation bo
baen much reduced b. the operation OF the new
lsw, and about two thousand resignation
have taken place in consequence thereof. Tia,
Secretary, after consultation with the Attor
ney General. determined TO allow them. f.
each quarter Of tlIs present year, The same com
pensation that they received for the correspon
ding quarierof the preceding year
lie says thot there IL little ground TO hon,
That, within any reasonable time. the cxpcn
ditures can b. so reduced as not TO require tb,
aid OF the treasury. This. be thinks. OUCH
not to be. lie therefore recommends severn
alterations in the present law, which he sum
poses will tend to bring about thc result,
The Secretary recommends several alton.
lions in the present post Office law. The first
Isl return to The old method Of rating letter.
by the piece, instead Of by weight. If i'm.
deemed not advisable to charge letters by ,be