Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-16
OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS.
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL,
) accompanying the President. Message.

Uvtf
,Ol2 57s miles, costing 2,44s, 766, asfollows wit
On railroads. 4,327, 400 miles, costing. 1854, 1872
In steamboats,, 4, 1856, 800 miles, costing 262,0l9
Agencies connected herewith. 54,063
In coaches, 1885, 1873 miles, costing 7s6, 9s2
In other modes, not specified, l7,744,Dl miles,
And in addition thereto for foreign mail srvice
The table Of mail service for the year ending the 30h Of
June, s4s made up from the state Of tie service it stood
the close Of the year. exhibits a. compared with the table
of s47 increase in the length Of h route in the United
States Of $50 miles, and Increase the amount Of
nua transportation off $50 miles but decrease in the
cost Of transportation Of. Sl2, las
There is, however, Increase in the cost agencies
g be deducted Of. $500. 1910
Leaving balance Of saving in the cost ofour inland
mailsfor ls4s, compared with ls47, Of 49,. 4,235
But the cost Of foreign mails which appears iof the
first time in the tables of this year. 100000
And deductng from this the saving abovestad Of 1926
Leaves an excess of cost for ls4s over s47 Of 96265
For this we have 2l24, $50 miles Of annual
poraton Of inland mails and the conveyance for
egn mails every other month distance ct $500 miles and
back.
The new contracts made the last annual lettings for the
middle section, embracing New Jersey, Pennsylvania Della
ware Maryland and Ohio, went into operation on he ls
Of july ls4S and exhibit saving for the current year to
end Both of June next upon the Of the section for
the past year, Of SOL This saving Of nearly twelve
per cent Notwithstanding the reduction Of cost the service
has been increased under the contracts The routes
have been extended in distance 293 miles further and in this
way and by greater frequency Of trips this section OF service
has become greater than last year miles Of annual
transportation. .a
Miles. Miles.
On the lst of July, ls45, the annual
transportation Of the mails in the
United States amounted to. 81, 634, 269
On the 30th of June, 1916. ....... 37,3SS,44
Increase in service over the preceding
ON yt tbe so,b Of June is47 To-
Increase over preceding year.. LASS, 4s5
On Both June, ls4S, TO. 4l,Ol2,579
Increase preceding year. 2,l24,6sO
Total increase for the three years .. 5,37s, $40
But the cost of the service lessened, follows
On LIST July, Is45 it stood al. -. S2,905,504
On 30th june 1876, it stood at... 2,7l6,673
Reduction from the preceding year. SlSS,s3l
On 30th June, ls47, it stood at.... 2,453,00l
Reduction from the preceding year. 263,672
On 30th June, lsds, it stood at. 244S,766
Reduction from the preceding year 2s5
Total reduction of cost in the three years 45673s
This exclusive of the foreign mail service performed in
the last year.
The operations of the three years show that the mail
vice has been augmented cents and its cost at the same
time diminished Is 40 per cent
The results Of the mail letting last spring in the middle
section will add to the service of the current year 65S
miles Of annual transportation. while it makes redtc-
SOL, 674.
The number Of mail contractors in he service during the
last year 40l7 and the number local and mail agents
and mail messengers 24s connected with the service on rail-
roads and steamboats,.
The service during the year has been performed by the
with comendabe zeal and activity; yet energy
prevent occasional failures TO deliver the mails in due
time. In sections Of the country where urnpkes
adamzed roads bridges the exist at certain
of the year failures unavoidable the most
improved and best conducted routes unavorabe weather.
the railroad, storms fogs the rivers,
slight accidents the machinery delay the mails The
speed given them renders seldom possible to regain
the time lost This has been and always must be the
There is at this time more service performed, with more
speed and with much regularity any former period
is believed that expedition be given on the
principal mail routes until further improvements made
the roads, without endangeng the connexions necessary to
be made ensure the prompt and puncua delivery Of the
mails.
The foreign service during the past year has been in
creased by additional steamethe Hermann being placed
the line between New York and Bremen-and monthly
trips performed between those cities with regu-
laity.
On the 18th Of October last the Isabel was placed on the
line between Charleston and Havans in compliance with the
contract with Messrs Modecai d Gourdn, and will hereafter
perform semi-monthy trips.
The steamers, California, Panama, and Oregon
constructed under contract with the Secretary Of the Navy,
for service the Pacifc-have sailed from New York
for Panama and the California Is expeo,ed
Panama 70 Oregon
The Secretary Of the Navy has likewise employed the Fall
the line between Havana and Chages and she IL
pected TO sail from Havana to Chages time for the mails to
reach Panama, and be forwarded by the California to the
rorcs the Pacific coast This Department has made
contract for the transportation Of mails the shmu
from Chagres to Panamaso that in future there will be
regular monthly mail from Charleston by Havana Chagres
and Panama, TO Oregon.
to be regretted that the Ocean Steam Navigation Com
psny has not yet been able 10 comply fully with their
tract for service between New York and Bremen. But
vessels, the Washington and Hermann have yet been
completed The third the Franklin, has been launched and
great exeons making TO have her finished and take her
place the line. The fourth vessel II s believed, has
yet been commenced.
Notwithstanding the failure Of the company TO have their
vessels ready for the service within the time specified in the
contract Is not believed that the policy or the interest
Of the couny would require any forfeiture Of the contract,
any other steps taken unendy to their interests The
great exeons Of the company TO comply with the contract
and 10 the best class OF vessels suited the purposes
the Government and such would do credit 10 the country
the great expense Of such undertaking the want Of expe
ence in this country in the construction Of that class
sells the endorsements they have had encounter from
the unsettled state Of Europe and from conflicting interests
at home the importance OF the service in connecting our
country intimately and directly with the enterprsne and
enlightened States Of the German Confederation would en-
title hcm to the indulgence Of Congress and the orbeaance
Of the Department.
Since the contract was made with this COMPANY others
have been given from New York Liverpool and from New
York to New Orleans upon much favorable terms than
allowed them. The last contracts made by the NAVY
Department under the direction Of Congress for the term
of years. and certain Of money advanced 10 aid in
the completion Of the vessels The contract made with the