Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-12-13
REPORTS OF THE SECRETARIES,

We doubt not our readers will prefer abstracts
of the reports of the several Secretaries, rather
than we should fill our Taper with the Reports
themselves. We copy the following from the
y Y. Co rier s, Enquir r, which embodics al
that is of substantial interest in those already
published. For the report of Mr.. CoRwIN, when
it appears we shall cnde lvor to make room,
THE ST MASTER G NERALs REPORT
is full clear and explicit, and will be received
with univers II satisfaction.
Tbe number of ma routes in the United
States, at the end of June last, is $500, extend
ing over 1852 miles and employing AGO
contractors The annull transportation of he
mails on these routes was 100 1913, at an an
nual cost of $2,72i, l26, making the lveragc
cost of about five cents and right ana h1l
mills per mile. The increase of mail routes
during the year was 6lJ, extending over TO-
930 miles, at increased cost of So 2,440 -
On tn, last of June thcr. were five foreign mai!
routes Of an aggregate length of l5,079 miles
and nvovng government expenditure o.!
S;26l j06, exclusive of the cost of m1il mcssan-
gers and agents, amounting to SlC1, ,C12 The
number of postnastcrs appointed during the
wear, was 6,5lS, of who II 26O0 were appointed
to supply designations, 2;}3 to upply vac inccs
bv death, 262 by reason of the ch n e of the
sites of offices, lill on account of removals
1919 to fill new Oil es The whole nunbe. OF
post Offices in the country was III During
the year, 1919 have be n established, and 3u!l
discontinued I he gross revenue of the de-
partment for the year WIS S5,552 81 4S, o.
which $i,515, G63 &C accrued from letters
! he expenses were S5,2l '053 A. leaving an
excess in favor of the d partment of : 40,0IS-
O5. and making all fits available funds II 1872
Ol6 50. be expenses for mail contracts have
increased ia all sections of the country, plrtic-
ularly in the west. J he increase of income
from he receipts of postage, was II 40 per
&C t. for ISlS was 7,l3-l0 per cent for
1919 was IL, 90 GO per cent; for 1850 was H.
Sc per cent. 1t is estimated thlt the incre lse
for the next year will be at least | per cent
and that the excess of receipts ov cXpcndi-
lures will eSll6,S06 % Sixteen mail steam>
ers are in service i'll maintaining the commune
cation between the Atlantic AMI Pacific, hC
Secretary recommends reduction Of the inland
letter postage to a uniform rate of three cents
pre-plid an | five cent not prepaid, and tn,
the Postmaster General be empowered to make
a further reduction o two cents, VIII never atle
the present proposed reductions the revenue,
of tn department shall have exceeded It's ex.
/ e also recommends that a reduction t. 2C
cents be made on correspondence to and from
the Pacific coast, South America, the Easter
continent ana its isl llnls, and points beyond ci
ther, and to ten cents on all other sel-goins
letters except when the rates shall be other
wis, fixed by postal treaties. 10 recommenl
reduction on the postage of newspapers sen
out of the States TO one ccn', and also a rcduc
ton upon pamphlets, periodicals, &c Thes
reductions he calculates, will diminish the re
venues of the Department for three or fou
years, and the deficit must be met by the sur
, plus in the hands of the Department, and b.
appropriations by Congress e thinks tn
Riankipg privilege should be retained but tina
tn Department should be paid from the Treas
ury for the ira psmission of al free matter.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
INTERIOR.
1t is an able and very comprehcnsiv
document, and will be read withe grea
inter st. The Secretary recommends Con
grcss 10 fix with more defnitivencss tn
boundaries of the iurisdic Ion Of the De
!. partment,--to designate with more preci
sion the title of the Department. and I
appoln a Solicitor 10 exumine and decld