The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-06

tno revenues OF the current year can De made, In
consequence Of the non settlement Of the post.
masters accounts for the first two quarters.
An idea of the amount Of free matter sent and
received At the Washington Office may be
formed from the fact that the two years ending
in July last this branch of business would have
Welded -, 24O, $40 at the rates then 10 force,
or xl.795,920 at the present reduced rates.
This does not include the free circulation of
newspapers, De. 1t is thought that the re-
ducsd rates OF postage on printed matter, and
the extension OF privileges TO publishers, will
diminish that branch OF revenue ut least $500,
600 per anDum. The result OF the experiment
now in operation satisfy the Postmaster Gen
eral that there should not be more than two, or
ut most three, different rates Of inland postage
on newspapers sent to actual subscribers and
that those on periodicals., and other printed mat
ter, including transient newspapers. should be
reduced in number, and more nearly assimilated
to the ordinary newspaper rates. This cha ge,
he thinks, can be adopted without materially
diminishing the revenue.
The Postmaster General dsapproves of the
disposition manifested in some quarters to urge
further reduction in our inland rates Of letter
postage, before the results Of the last reduction
are properly ascertained. He points out the
dissimilarty in the circumstances of this coun-
result of the system now in operation in Britain
adnonish US not to attempt further reduction
until justified by our revenues. Looking at
our entire circumstances, the sparse population
of immense sections, and the extent and expense
Of the area traversed by our mail routes, he con-
cudes that we have, beyond all question: the
cheapest postage in the world.
The new contracts for the supply Of innu-
merable articles required tor us in the depart
ment are described as more favorable than for
mer ones and an intimation is made that an
Improvement in the adhesive qualities of post
age stamps will hereafter be observable
An opinion is expressed-founded upon in
formation obtained by agents of the department
that, if the contractors be favorably disposed,
the mail between Washington city and New Or
leans can be expedited twenty-four hours; that
the time required between Washington and
New York can be reduced to eleven hours; and
that the mails from the South, leaving Washing
ton in the afternoon, may be delivered in New
York in time to be forwarded to Boston, Albany,
and West, along the Erie railroad, by the morn
ing trains from New York An effort will also
be made to preserve at New York close con
nexion of the trains carrying the mails which
leave Washington in the morning with the even
ing trains which take such mails beyond New
York. If the negotiation. now in progress to
effect these arrangements fail, the attention of
Congress will be called to other feasible modes
of expediting the great mails between the East
ern and the Southern States
An appropriation is recommended to meet the
deficiency OF salary allowable to the special
agents Of the department, and also to pay the
salaries OF supernumerares who have been en-
ployed in the dead letter Office More thar
1000 pounds of dead letters were received from
California during the last summer.
Congress is asked to legalize contracts that
have been entered into for mail service in Cali
fornia and Oregon land mention is made of other
contracts which have been formed with the Ia
cifc Steamship Company, and with the mail
steamers from New York to Havana. The
president Of the Panama Railroad Company had
given notice that, on and after the first instant
the company would be ready to transport the
mail across the Isthmus, and the Postmaster
General had agreedNo avail himself Of the ar
angenent-leaving Congress to authorize the
payment therefor.
The contract with the Collins line of mai
steamers, bet xeen New York and Lverpool, re
quires the performance of but twenty trips out
and back during the year.. As the English gov
eminent had made new arrangements by which
the weekly trips of the Cunard steamers were to
be continued throughout the year, il was deemed
highly important to continue the weekly trips OF
the American steamers also. Under these cir
cumstances, Mr.. Collins was requested by the
Post.ofhce Department to continue his trips,
with an assurance Of recommendation of ad-
equate compensation. If, therefore, the extra
trips are confirmed, it is earnestly recommended
that pro rata compensation, with such add.
ton, if any, as may be necessary to give to the
contractors fair and liberal compensation for
the extra service, be authorised by Congress.
The Postmaster General remarks that the " the
unrivaled qualities and speed of the ships OF
this line, and the very satisfactory manner in
which the service has been performed, estab-
fishing the superiority Of American skill and en-.
terprise in the construction of ocean steam
ers, and in ocean steam navigation, enttle the
proprietors of this line to the most favorable
consideration, and | cannot doubt that Con.
gress will make the appropriations recon-
mended"
II is limited that satisfactory propositions can
probably be obtained for line of mail steamers
from New Orleans, by way of Tampico, to Vera
Cruz; and the Importance of such an arrange
ment is described, in its commercial and political
aspects
Offers have been made to contract for mail
service from New York to Antwerp, from New
York to Genoa, from New York TO San Fran.
cisco by the Nicaragua route, from New York to
Galway, from New York to Venezuela, from
Philadelphia to Havana from Philade phia to
Antwerp, and from New York to New Orleans,
by steamers, in connexion With contemplated
railroad across Florida. These applications are
to be laid before Congress. Particular stress is
laid upon the proposition for line of steamers
from New York to Galway; and hope is en-.
tertained that the subject Of the establishment
of a line to Antwerp will be found to deserve
consideration, more especially as the Belgian
government is ready TO cooperate in the project
The renewed determination of Britain to in
sist upon an excessive transit rate on letters
passing through England, Is alluded to as a sub.
Ject of regret. The liberal spirit manifested by
the United States in lS4S, has not been recpro-
Gated and our convention with Great Britain
can he annulled by either of the two govern
ments, after one years notice to the other, 1t is
suggested that if satisfactory transit rates be
not soon agreed TO, this government should Sc
riousy consider whether The notice provided for