The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-04
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER
GENERAL.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, !
November 30th, 1850. !


November 30h, 1850. !
SIR: The number of mail routes within the
limited States, at the close of the fiscal year end
inc on the 30th of June last, was $500 the |
aggregate length of such routes was l7S,672
miles and the number Of contractors employed
thereon, 4,76O.
The annual transportation of the mails on
these routes was 46, 54l ,423 miles, at an annual
cost of $2,724,426, making the average cost
about five cents and eight and half mills per
mile.
The increase in the number of inland mail
routes during the year was 64s the increase in
the length of mail routes was l0,969 miles and
the annual transportation Of the year exceeded
that of the previous year by 3,997, 1854 miles, at
an increased cost of $342,44O.
The mail service in California and Oregon,
having been irregular in its performance, and i'm
perfectly reported to the Department, has not
been embraced in the foregoing statements.
There We're, on the 30th of June last, five
foreign mail routes, of the aggregate length of
l5,O79 miles, and the annual price of the trans
portation thereon, payable by this Department,
was 1894 500; being an increase of 1884 on
the cost of the preceding year.
There should be added to the cost of trans
portation, as above stated, the expense of mail
messengers, and local and route agents, (Which
expense is chargeab,e to the transportation fund.-
and which for the last fiscal year amounted to
$lO7O42 being an increase of S45,529 on the
expenses Of the mail messengers, and local and
route agents, for the preceding year.
The increase of our mail service for the last
fiscal year, over the year preceding, was about
9 4-l0 per cent, and the increase in the total
cost was about - ITO per cent.
The extent and cost of such service for the
last year, its division among the States and
Territories, and its comparison with that of the
preceding year, will more fully appear by the
accompanying Report of the First Assistant Post
master General.
The number Of postmasters appointed during
the year ending June &c. 1850, was 6,5lS. OF
that number, $500 were appointed to fill vacan.
cies occasioned by designations 1913 to fill
vacancies occasioned by the decease of the pre-
vious ncumbents; 262 on change of the sites
of the Offices for which they were appointed
l,444 on the removal of their predecessors; and
1879 were appointed on the establishment of
new offices.
The whole number of post offices in the
United States at the end Of that year, was
l8,4l7. There were 1879 post offices estab-
lished, and 800 discontinued during the year.
The postmasters and other agents Of the
Department have, with few exceptions, per-
formed their duties with fidelity and prompt
ness, and maintained the credit Of the Depart
ment for efficiency and usefulness. 4.
The failures of connection which have from
time to time occurred on some Of the routes,
have caused much Inconvenience and annoyance
1t is hoped, however, that the renewed require
ment of the returns Of weekly and monthly
registers of the arrivals and departures, by the
postmasters, ut the ends of each route, which
are now regularly made to the Department, and
the efficient action of the increased number Of
special agents, will render these Irregularities
less frequent
The gross revenue Of the Department for the
year ending June 80, 1850, was $5,552,97l 4s,
derived from the following sources:
From letter postage including
foreign postage, and stamps
sold, S4575,6Ga sc
From newspaper and pamphlet
postage, ol9,4s5 "a
From fine, 38 90
From miscellaneous items, 3,048 66
From receipts on account of
dead letters, l,74s &C
$5,499,9s4 sc
From the appropriation made
by the 18th section of the
act of Sd March, l847 for
the franked matter Of the De-
partments, 100000 90
$5,6e9,9S4 sc
From this sum should be de-
Quoted the amount received
during the year for British
hostages, which are payable
to that government, under
the postal convention of De-
cember, l94S, 1903 SO
Leaving, for the gross rev.
enue of the year, $5,552,97l 4S
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The expenditures of the year were as follows:
For the transportation Of the