The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-03
,ssport or the Postmaster General. 4
PosT oTEIcE DEPARTMENT,

report or Postmasser General.
q PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
November 80, 1850.
Sir: The number OF mail routes within the United
States at the close o the fiscal year ending the 30h OF
June last $685. the aggregate length OF such routes
was 672 miles; and the number OF contractors en-
ployed thereon, 4,760. tH
The annual transportation OF the mails these routes
was 46.5tl423 miles, at an annual cost OF 426,
making the average cost about five cents and eight and
half mills per mile II. a..
The increase in the number OF inland mail routes du
ring the year was 649 the increase in the length OF mall
of the year exceeded that oil the previous year 1854
miles, al an increased cost OF $342,4io Ass
The mail service in California and Oregon having been
irregular in its performance, and mperiectly reported to
the department. has not been embraced in the foregoing
statements. Ea{shH BIIsn
There were on The aoth OF June last five foreign mail
routes, OF the aggregate length Of l5079 miles, and The
annual price Of the transportation thereon payable by
this department, S264 SOC; being increase OF
$s,sl4 on the cost OF the preceding year. af m n
There should be added to the cost OF transportation
above stated the expense oil mail messengers, and local
and agents, (Which expense is chargeabe to the
transportation fund.- and which for the last fiscal year
amounted to Sl070 0l2 being increase OF $45,529 on
the expenses OF the mall messengers and local and route
agents, for the preceding year.
The increase oil mail service for the last fiscal
year. the year preceding, about 40 per cent,
and tine increase in the total cost was about ~ 7lo
cent sTHs st sataA ase s'fas
The extent and cost of such service for the last year.
its division among the States and Territories and its
parson with thai OF the preceding year. will more fully
appear BY the accompanying report OF the First Assistant
The number OF postmasters appointed during the year
ending June 80, 1850, 65lS OF that number, 1900
appointed 10 ill vacancies occasioned By resg-
nations; 233 to Gil vacancies occasoned by the de.
cease OF the previous incumbents; 262 change OF
The sites OF the Offices for which they were appointed;
,4i4 on the removal of their predecessors and 079
were appointed on the establishment OF new Offices
The whole number Of post Offices in the United States
at the end oil that year was lS.fl7 There were 1910
ahaA "A sk
The posmas,ers and other agents OF the department,
have, with few exceptions, performed their dues with
fidelity and promptness and maintained the credit OF the
department for efficiency and usefulness
The failures OF cennexion which have from time to
time occurred on some OF The routes have caused much
Inconvenience and annoyance Ii is hoped, however,
that The renewed requirement o the returns OF weekly
and monthly registers OF the arrivals and departures, by
the posmaste The ends of each route, which
regularly made TO the department. and the efficient action
OF the increased number OF SPECIAL agents, will render
these Irregularities less frequent
The gross OF the department for the year end
ing June 30, 1850, was S5552,97 As, derived from the
following sources:
From letter postage, including foreign
postage, and stamps sold Si575,663 So
From newspaper and pamphle, postage 0lo4s5 %
From fines IS 90
From miscellaneous items - 30is GO
From receipts on account oil dead letters LIS 40
S5.499,9s4 SO
From the app ropriaton made by the 18th
section oil the act ol 30 March, lSi7,
for the iranked matter OF the depart r. :.
ments 100000 90
s5,Cos,9si SC
From this sum should be deducted the
amount received during the year for
British postages, which are payable 10
that government, under the postal con-
vention OF December, 1915 1903 IS
Leaving, for tie gross revenue of the
year s5,552,97l IS
LIZ. -
The expenditures OF the year were as follows:
For the transportation OF The mails S2,965,7S6 36
ship, steamboat, and way letters 40,5f3 III
compensation to Postmasters lois,376 ~
wrapping paper 27435 So
office furniture 6,S59 10
advertising 1858 80
/" mail bags 3l,IGo 50
" blanks 30,639 20
mail locks, keys, and stamps e,392 80
" mail depredatlons and special agents 29,725 10
mas,er) 357,o35 81
miscellaneous items s9,528 90
post Office laws and regulations LIZA %
letters 2le SO
sS2la,e5s 4s
Leaving as the excess OF the gross reve-
nue. over the expenditures Of the
year the sum of S3to,ol5 70
-
The unlrawn appropriations for this de- s
partment under the I2th section of the Il
act of lSi7, before referred 10, amount
ell, on the Both June last, (including
the $500, 900 embraced in the revenues
OF the last year, and included in the y
foregoing baIance)to G65,555 %
The Auditor OF the department estimates
the balance TO the credit OF the revenue
OF the department on the day last men,
toned. which will be ultimately
found TO be available, (and which
does not include the ej65,5j5 55 above .
meDtioned,) at sM OiVio9 "a
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''ssps sources, 81 Of f'' ' - l,3n.7aoso