Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-12-11
Report Of he Postmaster
Gcuer0I.


The Annual Report OF the Pos rhAs-
rER-GENERAL is a long and able docu.
ment. IL gives a clear idea Of the vast
extent OF The p ct Office operations OF
ofthis country, suggests some important
improvements, and abounds 10 useful
statements. ...t .t-
Ii appears that an actual increase OF
665 per cent occurred during the past
fiscal year in American Postages, while
the apparent increase on American and
foreign payments to the Department,
amounts TO l6s per cent. Or, in figures.
the receipts from American and Foreign
Pos,ages for the fiscal year, exceeded
those Of the preceding year sos, ,223 ,S5;
tu. excluding the balances accruing TO-
the British Post Office, in order 10 in
dicate the increase of our own hostages,
the amount reaches 1897 7,6l0,79. Dur
ing the last quarter Of the fisca! year,
sensible reduction took place in .omestic
postage, attributable to the near ap-
proach Of that period 10 the time fixed
by the Act Of March 3rd, 1850, 10 es.
tablish cheaper rates of postage. A
consequent delay in correspondence was
natural result. A similar reduction.
was observed upon the adoption Of the
reduced rates under tho Act OF lS45. -
The claims the Franking privilege by
certain members Of the present Congress
also contributed 10 this reduction.
The Report contains Il formidable ar.
ray OF figures relating 10 the business
OF the Department during the year; Of
phich the important points are as iol!sws,
viz:
Number Of Mail Routes CLIO
Length of Mail Routes mihs 1868
Number OF Contractors employed 5,544
Annual Transportation Of Mails mile. So, 3,272, ,263
Annual cost OF Transportation S3,43l,7A
Miles Of Railroad TranspoI tation s,56S, ,7O7
Miles OF Steamboa, Transportation 6,45+ ,9s7
Number Of Pnstmasters al pointed 5,336
Number Of Post Ohcers, June ], 1851 1871
Gross Receipts OF the Department 50, ,7S6, ,as3
Total Letter Postage S5,369, ,24s
Newspapers, Pamphlet &C., Postage 81 OBS, ,lSl
Ordinary Revenues of the year 1851 ,97S
Increase over those Of Last year S999 OOG
Expenditures Of the year e6,27S,4U2
Ordinary Expenditures 5000, ,567
At the clos Of the half Century, the
Postmaster General deems il proper to
refer 10 The origin. history and progress
oi the Post Office Depa tment. This
portion Of the Report possesses pecu-
liar interest and value.
Within the last two years, The cost.of
Mail transportation has largely IN
creased. New contracts for the north.
western sections involved an increase Of
20 per cent. in aggregate cost and Of
l0.4 per cent. in service; while other
contracts in the Southern section. the
extension and opening Of the Erie Rail.
road, increased mail facilities on the
routes leading from The Atlantic cities ,o
important points in the West, and upon
the Western R.vcre; added TO the plac--
ing Of two s:eamrs, the FrGniiia ard
hmboMt, on the New York and Havre
liue, have al! contributed 10 entail our
dens Oh the revenues Of the Department
The Report refers, in this connection, Ia
the subject Of compensating Pos'mas.
ters, and suggcsls the proprie,y oil mak-
ing liberal provision for this purpose.
The question OF Cheap Postage 10
discussed at considerable laugth. Tho
Postmaster. General compares the results
Of the system in Great Britain with the
reduced rates Of the Uuited States. ana
believes that we are admonshed by the
comparison not to attempt n further re-
Juction, until il shall he justified by the
revenurs. He suggests that the rates
of postage on ali printed matter can be
rendered more uniform and less complex
by the adoption { suitable rates, without
diminishing the revenue very material
~.
The Special Agents Of Tie Dcpar..
mcnt have been actively cmployed.-
Mr.. Hobbe WAS dispatch,d TO Cuba and
Panama 10 effect suitable Mail arrange
menis for the West Indies. South Amer
lea. and points on the Gulf OF Mexico.
These objects were temporarily attained.
but the Increase Of correspondence Will
soon render more perfect arrangements
desirable. IL is recommended tlat ade.
quate pr vision be made for tie payment
Of Mr.. Hobbies expenses, while he was
absent upon this mission. As 10 Cali
iornia and Oregon, contracts have bern
executed for the residue OF the contract
term. TO end on the 30th June, 1854
The Report also refers TO the opening OF
the route now in operation by way OF
Lake Nicaragua.
The contracts with the Cunard and
Collins steamships The subject Of costa!
communication between the United
States and Mexico, by a line offs, Gamers
running from New Orleans 10 Vera
Cruz Uid Tampico; the conveyance OF
letters hither from foreign ports without
delivery II, the Post Office the nee, salty
of guarding the Mails from robbery and
the increasing abuses Of the Franking
Privilege-are made in relation thereto
which viii attract At eniion.
Certain inn rovements IN the organiza-
lon ol the Department are suggested
and the Report concludes with a re' omr
mehdaiion for a through revision OF ,ne
laws which affect the government aud
the officers OF the General Pos, Office.