Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-12-23
s2,406,84s

STEAMBOATS,, 1856
He also states that from the best estimates
which can be made, the number of letters and
papers passing through the United States
mail, during The past year, may be stated as
follows:
Paid and unpaid single rates Of cents 36,15a,565
Do s. :" q 10 g 1851 ,532
/ Ship and steamboat letters at 6 g 427 $50
/ Ship and steamboat letters forwarded
in the mails from foreign countries,
| cents added to the regular postage $3.50
] Dropped letters, s65 ,30S
/ Printed circular letters ,025, 304
52,173, 460
The free letters sent by persons entitled TO
the ranking privilege, and those sent free 10
the army canno, be ascertained with any de-
gree Of accuracy. but il is believed would not
/ fall short oil 100000.
! The newspapers passing through the mails
annually are estimated al S.. 900 900; pamph
lets and magazines al 100000. The number
of transien, newspapers paying 3 cents each,
cannot be ascertained with any accuracy, as
! the postage is returned with that on letters
/ The dead letters passing through the offices,
and returned TO the department, as nearly as
can be ascertained, number annually about
/ | 100000; which, calculated at an interme-
( uldtp Duilft DttWttI TIE t@o idttS VI pOStd0e,
would make an annual loss to the department
/ of s. 35,000. The newspapers. circulars. adj
refreshments, and other printed sheets sent to
the Offices. moi taken ont nor returned TO the de.
pariment will not probably fall short OF the
number of dead letters returned.
/ The revenues of The Department for the
year ending the Both of June last, including
| sec $3.50 due from the United States Treas
ury for the hostages of the government, ap-
propraed bv the 9Th section of The aci Of the
Sd of March, lS47, and not drawn from the
the treasury, amounted to S3,945, S93.3l, ex-
ceeding those Of The preceding year by the
sum Of $458. 693. &C. being an increase of the
last, over the preceding year, of 1915 per
cent, and falling short of the annua! average
revenues Of the nine years preceding the Isl
Of July. 1916. by the sum Of $ilS.73l 81
or this sum there was derived from letter
| postage, including the sum yet due from the
treasury for the government postage, the sum
of 1924 ,5l2.9S, which exceeds the amount
Of letter postage Of the preceding year $372,-
Sl5.24, making an increase OF 1898 per cent.
whilst it falls short Of the annual average rev.
enues from the same source. Tor the nine years
preceding the LIST of July, 1916, by the sum OF
$553, 4799l.
In the same time there was derived from the
postages on newspapers, pamphlets, Sc,
$643. l60.59, making an increase over the pre-
ceding year of SSl ,0l8.I0, and an increase
over the annual average OF the nine preceding
years of $ll4.lSl.6l. This Statement, includes
the sum Of $35,609.25 paid by the British gov.
ernmeni Tor the transportation of her closed
mails from Boston to Canada, part of which
properly belongs TO the revenues of preceding
years, but was not paid until within the last
year.
| The returns for the quarter ending the 30th
! of September last has not been received and
adjusted in the AUDITORS office, so as 10 ena
bic us TO make precise statement Of It's reve-
nues. "A comparison OF the returns from
number or the larger offices with those from
the same offices for the corresponding quarter
Of the preceding year indicates an increase Of
about IL per cent.
He says ii is gratifying to find, that within
so short period after the grea. reduction of
the rates of postage, the revenues Of the de-
partment have increased much beyond the ex-
pec,ations of the friends Of the cheap postage
system while the expenditures for the same
time have diminished more than half million
Of dollars annually; and that the department
is in condition TO sustain itself without fur
iher aid fIom the treasury.
! These results have been produced, mainly
by two important provisions adopted in the
act of 1915:
| First. The reduction in the rates of postage
| has produced so great an increase in the bust
ness OF the offices, that the revenues will soon
equal those received under the former high
| rates.
| Secou d. The direction of the Postmaster
General 10 contract with the lowest bidder,
I without the allowance of any advantage to
I the former contractor, as had been the case
before its passage, had the effect oil enlarging
the field Of competition and reducing the price
| of transportation, except on railroads and
steamboats,, 10 the lowest amount for which
service can be performed; and will reduce the
/ whole cost OF transportation, when the other
section is let to conirae, under it, but little less
I then a million of dollars per annum from the
! former prices.
! II is not doubted that these results would
have been still more favorable if the modifica-
tons of the act Of 1915, heretofore suggested
! by this department, had been adopted.
First Private expresses still continue TO be
run between the principal cities, and seriously
affect the revenues of the department, from
the want Of adequate powers for their sup
preston.
Second. The privilege of sending sealed
letters "in relation 10 the cargo" free over
mail routes, is the source Of innumerabe
frauds upon the revenues.
Third. II the single letter were made the
I quarter or third Of an ounce, instead OF half,
1 (excep, when written ON single sheet OF pa
per- and prepaid or double postage required
when no, prepaid, the revenues OF the depart
4 meni would have been greatly improved
! Fourth The postage on newspapers is I'M
equal and unjust TO the publishers themselves.
The same postage is charged on each, with
out regard 10 weight. Many Of the larger
class Of papers weigh over two and half GUN
ces each, and pay bui one cent and half for
{ any distance over 100 miles; and If changed as
letter postage. would pay, under 800 miles Is
cents, and over, 80 cents. Other papers
weigh as low as half an ounce-only one fifth