Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-17

nlAO hho
Farmer Gray remained firm, and the
bill WAS settled, emitting the item of corn.
From that time forth he never had bet
ter neighbor than the shoemaker. The
cows, hogs, and geese of both would &C.
casionally trespass, but the trespassers
were always kindly removed. The lesson
was not lost on either of thom--for even
farmer Gray used to feel sometimes a
, little annoyed when his neighbours cattle
broke into his field. But in teaching the
shoemaker lesson, he had taken little
of it himself.
Annual Report of the Postmaster Gem
erRl,
The annual report of the Hon. N. X.
Hall, Postmaster General occupies nearly
eleven columns of the National Intelli-
gencer, and presents voluminous expo
sition of the nature and extent of the
postal arrangements of the country, the
changes that have resulted from the law
enacted last session, and the additions and
Improvements that are yet needed to meet
the cxigencies of our extended territory,
and the continuous enlargement of our
political and commercial relations. We
avail ourselves of the following abstract
of this interesting document, which We
find in the Republic
Ut appears that at the close of the fis-
Gal year-thc 3Oth of June last-SiX
thousond one hundred and twenty mail
routes were in operation in the United
States, forming an aggregate length of
1876, 300 miles, and involving Fan sannual
cost for the transportation of mails of
So, 422, 754. The total annual Transport
tation amounts to 53,272, 252 miles. Of
which 8 $3.50, 707 miles are performed up
on railroads, at an average cost of about
ciOven cents five mills per mile 5,454,-
982 miles in steamboats,, at cost of
about eight cents three mills per mile :;
1926, 588 miles in coaches, at about
five cents three mills per mile and 49,
521 1915 miles in modes not specified, at
about four cents eight mills per mile, AS
compared with the previous year, this
statement exhibits an increase of 1854
@ilcs in the length of inland mail routes,
and of $547, no in the annual cost of
transportation; but this comparison is ir-
respective of the routes in California and
Oregon. In the former State the annual
amounts" to 537, 47G miles,
and the annual cost to $3.50, go; in the
iRttar TO &c, 96O miles, at an annual cost
of $40, Al. There are six foreign mail
routes-thrce of which are under contract
with tho Post Office Department, at q
cost of about $4,000 10 per mile; and .
three under contracts with the Navy De- F.
partmcnt, at a cost of about So, 42G 1OI
per mile.
. During the year $3.50 postmasters
were appointed, nearly half of them fill
vacancies ocdasioned by designations; 1877
to fill vacancies occasioned by death
2O6 in consequence of change of site
500 on the removal of prior incumbcnts
and / 900 on the establishment of new of
fees, Tho eatirc number Of post offices
in operation is 1876; nearly LOO
were established and 25G were discontin-
ued during the. year.
The gross receipts of the Department
for the FEAR described in this report were
$6,786,49 22; of which $500, 242 76
were derived from letter (including for
eign) postage and stamps sold, and ST.
O35, 100 80 from postage on newspapers,
pamphlets, &c. TO form true idea of
he revenue, however, allowance must be
made for the sum payable to the British
post Office, and for the sum of additional
appropriations, With these deductions,
the ordinary revenues of the year stand
at, Sc, 551 ,977 80; being an increase of
100000 Al over the proper revenues of
she proceeding year.
The expenditures during the same pc
Rod were Sc, 278.l Of SO; but this in
cludes payment to Britain and pay
rRsnt under an award. The ordinary ex-
penditure was $G,O24, 566 10, showing
n balance of receipts Of $7O3, 900 90.
The report glances at the position of the
post-office in this country half century
since, and intimatcs the probable prcsen-
&ation to Congress of the materials of an
interesting history of our postal system.
In 1870 the number of post-ofllces was
rs, the extent of postToUtcs 1875 miles,
and.th revenue $37,936.
Within the last two years the cost of
transportation has been much increased !;
and the over increasing mail facilities, by
railway, and on our rivers, will continue
tos add largely to the expenses of the De-
prtment. Under the terms of the act
of March last, the expenditure for the
transportation of mails must be increased
from ten to fifteen per cent, per year, if
the wants of the country require it and,
unless some change be made by Congress
in the rule laid down for the government
of the Department, other expenses will
necessarily increase at nearly the same
rate.
> In regard to commissions paid to post
masters, the Postmaster General express
ses belief that tho allowance provided
for uSder the order made on tho goth of
October will be found incommensurate
With the increase of labor required under
ti'S rev law.
tho Luz on,. ~ estimated expenditures for