Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-15
oouesgOndenee OF The wig.
Report OF the Postmaster General

'.@tt-etANN " Wv wing
Report OF the Postmaster General.
wAsnINGroN. Dee 10, 1886.
The Report of tho Postmaster GeaeroI gives us the ,ol-
lowing facts and sOggestions
Tne annual average receipts from July 1. 1896. To June
81, lSiS, amounted TO ST 36l. 69I Is
Receipts ending June 30, 1916. were 3.Is7, l99 IS
Making a loss Of So 7s an
Aud a loss from the previous wear OF 26I2 As
This diminuiion occurred almost entirely on letter posi-.
age The losses are thus accounted tor:
/. Espresso, which cary letters between the principal
cities. Trooi is difficult 10 be had. and there is no auho-
nk % Sc'ze the express bags.
:. correspondence OF third persons is covered under the
single hat ounce onveloae-onc hundred letters have been
conveyed under one cover for eighty cents. To different Ia.
dollars.
,. Advantage i, taken of the law which authorizes lot.
tiers relating to the cargo To accompany ir,igbt which 60
Ntts other correspondence.
4 Transient newspapers, circulars. &c.
.. Tic immense quantity ci dead letter., which number
annually between one and a hslf and two millions.
To remedy thc,c, the Postmaster General suggests:
l. single letters TO weigh l instead OF ! ounce, except
1t be q single sheet OF paper ulder ! an ounce.
=. That power be given TO search express bags. on the
Cling.
3. Letters relating to cargo to be unscaled on mail routes.
l. To make newspapers pay IN such a way Ne to CORE.
spoud with cost oi transportation.
>. ka'es Of postage according TO size OF weight Of news.
paper and distance OF transportation with the right to
sSe the papcts out % iho mails. The postage on news
papers should he 80 aigh ~ 10 cover deficiency OF letter
postage, and thus make the Department pay for itself.
j. ISL ACNspArtFs To nav higher Than ntleFs "a
they are cent IN place OF letters.
!. All printed matter passing through the mails to be
prepaid, aud ali letters prepaid, or rated at double post
age.
With some such amendments and the reduction Z, ,aks
place IN contracts, the Department, will pay It's own c1peu.
'cs by july let, ISIS, when the whole service will be
The average ANNA, expenditure from July Ist. lS3s Il,
June 3Oth, 1915, was Sl4gg 5g3 IS
Tor year cHGlng Juae 81. 1916, I.USl2g7 -
Reduction 6rst year under new law, SiI5 as6 &c
Reduction from previous year, 236,43t II
Total 1Pead''nr for VI o9d'S June 30, 10, s4,os4,2s5 %
" income 3,4s7, 1893 IS
Leaving a deficiency Of S597O97 81
Drafts on the Treasury, $4,000 20
On hand July Is. 1916. $50 eO2 %
The number OF contractors, exclusive Of Texas, is $3.50
on 1855 lol'es, extending over li9. 679 miles.
The Mail TIauspor'auon OF year ending June 30, 1876,
amounted To 3739S,4l4 mics; engagements Tor which
ancrutol 20 -, 665,O 7S; lcigth OF rou'es exceed previous,
wear 5I3S miles, and IN transportation l,76l, IS miles.-
The expenses are S2u2 9l3 Ices than prcyious wear There
IS an excess OF SIs93 over the preceding year for Mail
Agencies. 81 which $3.50 for - months transportation
o. Malls IN Texas - 20 be deducted, making the expenses
Tor the year less than the previous by SlSS.s3l.
tHe cost o. Dew r,u'es put in operation by the Post
Roais act Of le45, IS S3l 900.
The saving Is by the reletdng Of contracts in New
England and New York.
\ siniar saving - effected in the re-lctiirr in the North
Western 1ad South Western States and Territories, which
nave gone into operation since the close OF last contract
year.
The saving in these last mentioned. with the cost Of wear
ending June 30, 10, Is S323. 9OI, or 80 per cent.
The mails have been expedited and the Accommodations
increased.
Dtacuidcs have been experienced and failures have oc-
caIe1 '5'm the law leaving the performance in the hands
Ol the contractors.
Deductions from contractors for failure, the last fiscal wear
were S26.273 81.
By the Ioss of the New York, and the conveyance of
troops, The Texas mails have been a source OF much rou-
6'e-,t - hoped the difficulties will be arranged.
June 80, Isle, there were Pos, Offices, 1861
New Offices during the year, sI7
Discontinued do do do, 45g
Dec. an 1910, the number was, 1873
l~pPointed during the year, 4,95s
- hls- there were from Eesignaions or deaths, 2,g0'
From change IT -Itos, 3U3
s,' 1eS S.',1''''"'"' Of ne" Offices 81
By expiration Of commissions, 4
Nearly one-'hiTd Of the posto1ices have been vacated
SINCE the passage OF the new law. The old compensation
was restored. which arrested the designations.
The following table shows the revenues OF certain Off
ees tor a .ew years past;
New ycrs. sat477l sa:55os s]ssi45o. saossrI. srsPosf
a R,-n5 III" 49, l'-;sS. 1911. l2ejts. Sis:
The .ucroaee Of business is g,eat. In one wee, in
5gre ISIS there were s-nt from the New York Office
IJ~-l "''-"".e %" NeigEt N one week in June, ur-
der the present Z. NJ. o.. ives GU.OO2 lbs.
tac I. 81. G.. discusses The p.oGt OF an Express 10 New
Orleans, to prevent p-iyct, speculation. IL estima,cs the
aadiI2n'. cost at $4,000 per annum, to be paid on, o.,
the Treasury. To meet The case. also. the D,uartment
should have the Telegraph under its own control. lie
refers Iais 10 Congress.
Tie nEs' ocean steamer from New York to Bremen. 1t
Is hoped WI be rcaoy 10 start early in spring.
NJ mil line mas been established to the Pacific COST.
HE Telegraph line between dis cay and Baltimore u
to b. Kept up u! Mach i,h, for the pICils.
ih,F NC. urges TIE necessity O; Goyernmen. getting
con'ro. 81 inc Telegraph lines.
Attached u The Report are tables giving interesting IN
IormauOn;-one 1T these - the Report OF the Warrington
ad bllumore Telegraph. The receipts are given 1t
S%'3l2 -. Inc expenditures, including salaries OF ti-
ser, Sy,9J6 6G. The period included is from Apnl lst,
lS41' TO sept. 81, 'i6. Tie salaries are $500.
There DO also a lcucr from Amos Kendall md r. o. J.
smith, offering 10 ,gcat with the p NJ. Z. Tor the sale OF
Moses patent, rut naming no price. BKUIUS.