Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-12-13
DECEMBER 10, IS49.

even very limited supply of mail nccomnoda-
ton in that country. This subject requires the
early attention Of Congress, and at the same
time provision should be made for extending
mails to Oregon and New Mexico.
OPERATIONS WITHIN TUE DEPARTMENT
AS our country expands IN dimensions ind
our settlements extend in area, as our population
increases IN density, aud business in activity
the service Of the mail must have a correspond
ing advancement aud it follows unavodaJ4y
thit the business and labor within the Depart
nent are every year rapidly nugmening, de
inandlng from tine to time, additions offorcc for
their performance. In 1896 the Department
was re-orqanized, and by law much less mum.
Der of clerks provided for than had heretofore
been used IN putting that organz tion into ope-
ration, 1t was Immediately found impractcable
to proceed with such reduced force only, and
temporary clerks 10 the number Of EIGHT were
employed in 1897 These we're continued by
temporary appropriations until 1912, when by
aw they became permanent; but 10 provision
has been made for any additional clerks since
lcoI Sucb IN The meantime, has been the pro.
gross OF the service, and such the increase OF
| business that the pressure Oh the clerks has be-
conc so great, aud delays SO unavoidable as ab-
soutely to require new additional furce, or the
public service must suffer.
The pressure is on all the Bureaus of the De-
!
care and arrange ncnt of the mail service IS rx-
tending III daIly demand, aud where the extent
OF correspondence is permanently the greatest.
In the appointment Office, business increases
with the increasi of the number of Offices. In
Tue FINANCIAL Bureau, under the third assistant,
lhc labor Is much increased, al to that branch
iullS The care OF The Dead Letter Office, and the
receipt aud charge Of the quarterly returns. In
tho last year there were received 2, 100000 dead
letters, all which have been opened and exam
med. OF these, 1901 containing money to the
amount Of $32,067 have been registered, and
the same sent out for delivery to the owners and
99o letters containing other enclosures of value.
The Inspection Office, whose duties include
al miiteTs relItng 10 the performance or failure
OF mali service, all depredatons on the mail,
ana elso The supply OF mail bags, locks und
Keys, Is branch increasing in direct ratio wita
the general service. In tbs office alone. during
The past year, there were received l34 4a6 com.
municatIOus.
The mum ler If supposed dcpredatons report
ed was ,>26, winch were supposed to include
SI00, lUI. Twenty-hine depredators were ar
rested, and the amount Of money reclaimed or
otherwise accounted for was S77770.
10 show the great increase OF service, and
the consequent demand for the increase OF force
Ia the Department, the following comparative
statement Is made.
In 1897 The number Of post Offices was / 7G7
now II, l6l flour bundled and seventeen hay.
Ing been established since June last.
No. Of Defi Letters in 10 T. $4,000 now 2lOl,O 900
no tlua,tcry Returns, $1,000; 1900
NO. oil Mail Con racurs, lbel now 4,l9l
Length OF Mail Routes, l4l ,2il, now lG7 SOB
Mai TtdnsportItuus, 1851 ,01j 42 81 800
The nlmb,r Of CON uuncdtIuns received at
Me Department annually cannot be less than
$40 600.
To perform this service the present force is
inadequate, and has been found absolutely nee
essary to cmploy temporary clerk service, com.
pensalion Tor which should be made, and which
necessity it Is hoped will be prevented by sumo
permanent provision for supply, tina, the pubic
service may not suffer.
AUDITOR.
most important branch If the post office
departments! is, by the organization Of 1856, con-
united To the Auditor; not only that of auditing
all claims for service, bat more particularly that
OF keeping the UNITS and collecting all mon
es derived from postage or otherwise.
The manner in which this has been perftlxl
cd, us appears by his report hereto nnnrxex Is
satisfactory evidence rs well of tue efficiency al
the system as Of the energy and success u. 1t.
execution.
JACOB COLLAMER.