Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-08

From the Republic
Report Ofthe Postmaster General.

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From the Republic.
Report Ofthe Postmaster General
The report of the Postmaster Genera
accompanying the Message Of the Presi
dent, presents a voluminons exposition q
the nature and extent ofthe postalarrange
mcnts of the country,the changes thathav
resulted from the law enacted last session
and the additions and improvements tina
are yet needed to meet the exigences O
Jul extended territory, and the ~continu
Gus enlargement ofour political and com
mcrcial relations.
1t appears that at the close ofthe fsca
year-the Both of June last-six thousan,
one hundred and seventy mail routes wer
in operation in the United States, formin!
an aggregate length of 1876, 290 miles, AM
involving an annual costfor the transpor
taiion of mails of S3,421,754. TIE tota
annual transportation amounts TO 53,272,
252 miles of which $685. 07 miles al,
performed upon railroads, at an averagt
cost Of about eleven cents five mills pc
mile; 5,454,9S2 miles in steamboats,, at
cost Of about eight cents three mills pc
mile: and 19,726.5SS miles in coaches
at about FIVE cents three mills per mile
and 1881 97j miles in m7des not sped
fled, at about four cents eight mills
per mile. AS compared with the pre,i.
ousyear,this statement exhibits an increase
of 1854 miles in the length of inland
mail routes. and of$547,1 10 in the annual
cost oftranspoltatioa; but this comparison
is irrespective Of the routes in Calilornia
and Oregon. In the former State The an
nual transportation amounts 10 537.476
miles, and the annual cost to S!30,270; in
The latter to So, 900 miles, at an annual
cost of Si0,441. There are six foreign
mail routes; three ofwhich are unIcr con-
tract with the Post Office Department a,
a cost of about S2.09 90 per mile; and
three under contract with the NAVY De
partment at a cost of bout 50 IL Clio per
mile.
Duringth the year, ,S39poslnastcrs were
appointed, neatly halfofthemto fl vacan
cies occasioncd by designations; ISL to fiji
vacancies occasioned by death; 200 in
Consequence Of change of site; 500 on the
removal of prior incumhents; and 1.G9c
Oh the establishment ofnew Offices. The
entire number of post Offices in operation
is 1876; nearly 100 were established
and 25G were Discontinued during the
year.
The gross receipts ofthc Department
for the year describcdin this report were
~S6.7SG,493 %; of which ~S5,3Go,242 7G
were derived from letter (including for
cigu) postage aud stamps sold, and ST.
O35, 100 50 from postage on newspaper,
pamphlets, &c. TO form a true idea OF
The revenue. however, allowance must be
made for the sum payable to the British
post oificr. and for the sum Of additional
appropriations. With these deductions the
ordinary revenues ofihe year stand at So
SOLOS 50; being an increase of 5000, o0G
IL over the proper revenues Of tie PIE
ceding year
The expenditures during the same pc
riod were S6,27S,40l CO, butthis includes
a paymentto Britain and a payment under
an award. The ordinary expenditures
We're So, 024 ,5G6 10, showing a balance
OF receipts OF SiO3,299 ".
The Report glances at the position Of
the post office in this country halfa centu-
ry since, and intimatcs the probable pre-
scntation TO Congress OF the materials of
an Interesting history ofour postal system.
In lI90ihe number Of post Offices was 10,
the extent ofpost routes 1919 miles, and
The revenue S37,935.
Within the last two years the cost Of
transportation has been much increased f;
and the ever increasing mail facilities, b.
railway and on our rivers, viii continue 10
add largely to the expenses Of the Depart
ment. Under the terms of the act of March
last, the expenditure for the transportation
of mails must be increased from ten TO GE-
teen per cent ger year, ii the wants of the
country require it; and, unless some change
be inade by Congress inilie ruielaid down
forthc govcrnmentofthc Department other
expresses will necessarily iucrease-at near
y the sane rate.
In regard to commissions paid 10 Post
masters, the Postmaster General espresso
a belief that the allowance provided for
under the order made on the goth ofOcto.
Der will be found incommensurate it'll the
increase of labor required under TIE new
law.
The total estimated expenditure for tic
current year amounts to S7,l23.4IS G3
which are to he met by tie balances mo-
starding 10 the CT, di, Of the Department
the receipts from hostages, and tie arpro
priations made by the acts Of March, IS47
and March, 1851. The succeeding yea
will necessitate further aid from the Treas
ury. AT present, 10 reliable estimate o
the revenue of the current year. can bt
made in consequence ofti.e non-seitlemcn
of the Postmastcrs' account for the frs
two quarters.
An idea of the amount Of free matter ser
from and received at the Washington Of
fee, may be formed from the fact that, "a
The " years ending in July last, tLi
branch oi business would lave Welded 81,
24o.S20 at the rates then in force. or 81,
795.92o at tie present reduced rates. Til
does not include tie RECOMMENDATION ofnews
{, papers. ard so forth. Ii is thought ,ha
the reduced rates Of postage on piinre,
I matter, and the extension Of privileges /
e publishers, Viii dsi.iuish that branch Off,
: venue at least 100000 per annum. III
results OF the experiment now in cperatio
satisfy the Postmaster General that ther
! should not be more than iwo, or at mo,
!. three, different rates OF inland postage O
newspapers SEAT to actual subscribers; an
. that those on periodicals and other printe
matter. including transient newspaper