The republic., 1850-12-03
TIL E r E p Lie.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTmEST,
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Posr OFFICE DEpARrMrsr,
November Both, 1850
SIR: The number Of mail routes within the Uni
ted States, at the close Of the fiscal year, ending
the 30th Of June last, $3.50; the aggregate
length Of such routes l7S,672 milcts and the
number of contractors employed thereon 400.
The annual transportation of the mail. on these
routes was 1854 ,423 miles, at ANIMAL cost of
$2,72l 1926, making the average cost t,,oui five
cents and eight and half mills per miles,
The increase in the number of inland nsasi routes
during the year 6s9; the increase in the len 9Th
of mail routes ~. .969 miles, and the annual
transportation Of the year exceeded that Of the pre-
vious year by 1897 1854 miles at an increased cost
of y 3a2 40
The mail service in California and Oregon hav
ing been irregular in its performance and imper-
fectly reported to the Department has not been
en- raced in the foregoing statements
There on the 30th of June last five foreign
mail routes of the aggregate length of l5,O79 mikes,
and the annual price of the transportation thereon,
payable by this Department, was $264 500, being
an increase of $s.sl4 on the cost of the preceding
year.
There should be added to the cost Of transporta-
ton, above stated, the expense of mail messen-
gers, and local and route agents, (Which expense
is chargeable to the transportation fund.- and
which for the last fiscal year amounted to l07 O4f
being an increase of $45,529 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 8 4-l0 per
cent. and the increase in the total cost about
IL 7 10 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 fuiy,appear by the accompanying Re
port of the First Assistant Postmaster General.
The number Of postmasters appointed during the
year ending June 30, 1850, 6,5lS. OF that
number, 500 were appointed to fiji, vacancies oc-
casioned by designations; 233 to fill vacancies occa
stoned by the decease of the previous incumbens;
262 change of the sites OF the offices for which
they were appointed; ,4l4 on the removal of their
predecessors and ,979 were appointed on the
tablishment Of new offices.
The whole number of post Offices in the United
States, at the end of that year, lS,4l7. There
were 1873 post offices established, and 309 discon-
tinued during the year.
The postmasters and other agents of the Depart
ment have, with few exceptions, performed their
duties with fidelity and promptness, and main
tanned the credit Of the Department for efficiency
and usefulness.
The failures Of connexion, which have from time
to time occurred of the routes, have I'd
much Inconvenience and annoyance. 1t ia hoped,
however, that the renewed requirement of the re-
turns of weekly and monthly registers of the arri-
walls and departures by the postmasters at 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 irregu-
larities less frequent
The gross revenue of the Department for the year
ending June 80, 1850, was o,552, ,s7l As, derived
from The following sources:
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