The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-28

PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Dec. 3, 1919.
SIN The number of post offices ia the United
States at the close of the year ending June Both,
1919, was 1914; there having been 92l cstab.
shed and 1913 discontinued within the year; max
ing an increase within the year of SIS.
The number of postmasters appointed within the
year ending June Both, 1919, was 6,333 OF that
number
2,7s2 appointed in consequence OF resigna-
tons.
is3 were appointed in consequence of deaths
2S4 were appointed in consequence of changes OF
site of office
2l03 were appointed in consequence Of removals.
IL were appointed in consequence Of commits
sions expired and not renewed.
20 were appointed in consequence of commits
sions renewed.
% we're appointed in consequence of becoming
Presidential, by income exceeding s 900
g2l were appointed in consequence OF new Offices
In Is45 important changes were made by law in
the postage and mail service of the United States
One of those changes large reduction OF post
age; another and almost equally important one 10
the pecuniary condition Of this Department con
sisted in directing all mail service 70 be let to the
lowest bidder irrespective Of the mode of con-
veyance, and abolishing the previous regulations
recurring the contractor 70 take the stage
stock of his predecessor. This single regulation
reduced the contracts Of lS55 in New England
and New York the first section let under that
law, more than S250,00O. Another law of lsi5
was that reouirinp a classification of the railroad
service and fixing the maximum prices of those
classes The effectof these aws greatly diminished
the price Of matt transportation, and aided IN bring
ing so soon the expenses of the service within the
income derived from the reduced postage; so That
now though the amount Of seTNlcc "a very greatly
enhanced, its expense bears no corresponding pro-
portion The mail contracts, which are Tor iour
years, are made one section in each year, 80 that
the whole service had undergone the process OF re-
ucti0n under the operation OF those laws IN June,
Is4s Therefore, the condition Of the Department
is as IL ~as expected TO be, found most favorable
az to it, expenses at the close Of the year ending
June 30th, fs49 The actual cost for each mile the
mail was transported in the year preceding June
1885, was sight cents ohe mill, and under the ope-
ration Of the laws of s45 the cost per mile oil tn'
mail transportation in June last vas five cents SIX
mills; making difference OF two and ball cent
per mile being more than one quarter
The number Of mail routes in the United State
OH the first day Of July, 1919. was 4,94S, and th'
number Of contractors 100 The .ength OF thes'
routes was 167 ,703 miles
On those routes the mail was transported s2,5li, >
O6g miles at the cost Of S242S, 5l5, which make
the average cost Of transporting the mail last year
FIVE cents mills per mile. To this should DC aod
ed the transportation Of the foreign mail by South
amptOn 10 Bremen, and the mail from Charleston
and Savannah 20 Havana, and also the Tansporta
ton Of tho mail the lsthmus Of Panama; al
which IL done at the expense Of this Department Y
the amount Of S255,692
The extent and cost Of this service Of the pas
year az compared with that OF the year preceding
will be seen BY the following tabular statement, an'
bv reference 30 the report Of the First Assisian
Postmaster General, hereto appended