Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-12-27

affect the Treasury.
1t is no, possible, fiom any returns or
data in the Department, to ascertain
with much precision the number of let
tiers passing annually in the mail under
this charge of ten cents. Even if the
number of ten cent letters were actually
known, it would still be impossible to
determine how many of them were ten
cent letters from being double. Thence
arises the great difference in the esti.
mate of loss of revenue from such a re.
duction as was presented in the repor,
of the Postmaster General la.t year, 10.
wit, S7I5.Is7
And that of the First Asst. S3O6,73s
From a careful examination now
made ofthe data in the Department, it
is estimated that the whole number of
charged letters sent through the mails
the past year, was 100000, and of
this number, about 100000 were
subjected to the ten cent postage, on &C.
count of distance. If, then, the reduc-
ton were TO bring no more letters into
the mail, the diminution of revenue
therefrom the first year, would be SITS
600.
1t is already shown that the surplus,
on the first day of July last, was s69l,.
$50 10, and that, on the first day of
July last, was 1901 $50 10, and that,
on the first day of July next, will be
ss5s,7l0 81, which will undoubtedly in
crease in future years, by natural accu.
mutation, and by increase ofthe number
of letters arising from this reduction.
will, in the first year occasion no change
in the Treasury, and it is extremely I'm.
certain whether its operation can ever
produce that effect. A brief trial of
this experiment will show its effect, and
if it should not produce any important
draught on the Treasury, then, further
reductions of postage should be made,
and corresponding provision from the
Treasury, adopted until after this has
been tested by experiment, is respect.
fully submitted.
RAIL ROAD SERVICE.
This is a constantly increasing ser.
vice. In the current year the length of
railroad routes is 6l3s miles; being an
increase within two years of ll4e miles
and it is almost daily increasing as
new roads are being completed. On
these routes the mail is now transported
5,749,04O miles annually. 1t is true
that this service is done with more dis.
patch than the same amount of service
in any other way, yet it is at a much
greater cost. The law of ls45, requi.
ring this service to be classed and fix.
ing the maximum compensation, has in
some degree reduced the cost. There is
one feature of this service which fire.
quently embarrasses the operations of
the Department. In all the ordinary
mail contracts. provision is made that
the time of arrival and departure and
connexon of the mails is subject TO the
order of the Department. This fea.
; ture has never been admitted by the
railroad proprietors to be inserted in
their contracts. 1t is provided in them
that if any change is made without
their consent, they may abandon the
contract. This often deprives the De.
partment of the power to make such
changes and improvements in the time
Of transportation of the mails as the
public convenience requires, and sub.
jects it to censure by those who know
not this circumstance.
FOREIGN NAIL SERVICE.
The mail service by the way of South
ampton to Bremen has been, under the
contract with this Department, carried
: the past year by the steamships Wash
ington and Hermann. for the sum Of
l. Two hundred thousand dollars, and the
Q gross amount realized in postage from
8 that service for the year ending Octo
u Der 4lh, was SAL, Il4,20. The gross
G amount from LIST June, ls47, to Octo
q Der 4th, ls4s, was $29,0s2 81.
n Notice has recently been received
+ from the Proprieiors that this servic,
:. will be suspended until February mex,
d in order 10 make the necessary repair
r now required for the safety of thos,
D. steam. ships.