The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-12-22
Report of the Post Master General.


was 16, ,747-921 being new offices. and
S33 discontinued During the year end
ing in June there were 6,333 postmasters
appointed, 2,1O3 removals. In 1845 it
cost the department 8 cts. per mile to car
nv mails, but they arc carried for cents
now on the average. In July last there
were 4,943 mail routes, of l67, ,703 miles
making 42,547 ,O69 miles travelled in the
wear at the cost of 4,749 ,049, and the rev.
senue $4,9O5,176. The current year will
cost nearly all that can be received, unless
some 400 tons of franked documents be
scurtailed, which are usually poured out
on the country without much benefit to any
one. This does not include the letters
sent by Congressman, or the matter receiv-
ed by them. The Senate matter alone, if
taxed with postage, would pay 100000
The classes of service now required are
three: the care, transportation and delivery
first ofletters, second ofrewspapers and
pamphlets, third of matter carried without
COMPENSATION. 1t is by postage on the
two first classes of service that the whole
expenses Of the Department are now sus-
tanned.
5 The whole number Of letters charged
with postage passing through the mails,
the past year, reckoned on the postage re-
ceiyed, agreeably to basis heretofore ap-
nroyed, amounted to sixty-two millions.
sa On all these letters, the postage collec-
ted was $685. ,762, on newspapers and
pamphlets $819,916. 1t is well known,
that the postage on the newspapers and
pamphlets, in proportion to their weigh: and
numbers, is in a very great degree less
than the letter postage: so they DO not pay
their propotion Of the expenses Of the SER
vice. It therefore follows that the letter
postage pays now not only for its cost, but
also for what the paper postage falls short
sofits proportion, and also for all operations
and services of the Department, including
the expense of all other matter carried for
the public without pay from Government.
Congress is to decide whether the frank
ing by its members is valuable public
service proper to continue; and it is not
intended to make any remark on that topic.
Were it abolished, there would probably
be very much less of such matter printed.
But the postage on the remainder, togeth-
er with that of the correspondence OF the
members and the relief of the expense Of
the transportation and delivery of this
sfranked matter, would enable the depart.
ment to sustain itself, though the postage
were materially reduced on letters. But
ifCongress continue this franking it is but
Just and proper that the letter correspon-
.dence, by reduction on its postage, be
relieved from its support; and that provi-
sion be made therefor, in the same manner
that other branches of public service is
sustained. tro
Another great additional demand ofpub-
lie service by the Post Office Department,
without compensation, is made this year
that is the transmission of all the blanks,
returns and correspondence required in ta-
king the census of 1850. Three thousand
reams of these blanks are already enga-
ged. /
:, 1t has been said that the newspaper and
pamphlet postage is not in propotion to the
cost of their transportation. but it is not to
be, therefore, understood that any increase
of that postage is proposed. 1t has long
been regarded as sound public policy, to
promote the circulation of these publica-
tons by cheap postage, and it may be adj
visable to proceed further in this policy,
especially in promoting their circulation
in the vicinity Of their rplaces capitalization,
provided no decided injustice be done to
the postmasters within that same vicinity.
kiIt would be desirable to have fixed
sum granted from the Treasury for this
public service as to free matter, and then
the postage SO reduced and arranged as
to provide for the remainder; but that
course is impracticable, as the money from
the Treasury cannot be drawn until that
from postage is first exhausted; and there
fore, the only safe way is to make reduc-
tions of postage, from time to time, until
Justice is produced, by leaving a balance,
to be drawn annually from the Treasury,
equivalent to the public service performed;
and no extent Of reduction, which does
not produce this effect, is sufficient so long
as public service is to be performed free Of
postage.
The most obvious and prominent feat
ture now in our postage is the double price,
ten cents, charged on all single letters car
ried over three hundred miles. The re-.
duction ofthis ten cent postage and charg-
ing all single letters at five cents each,
would much simplify the manner of ac-
counting, and render the same both more
facile and perfect-would remove the dis
satisfaction arising from the great differ
ence in the postage in the different offices,
even in the same vicinity, but separated
by this arbitrary line, and would promote
and encourage the correspondence and
by mail, between the most dis.
tant parts of the country, which must need
and demand it, in precise propotion as
their other means of intercourse are slow
and unfrequent.
Mail Service in CalJornia.-As early
ae Novernber 1848 a posfrnaster was an.