Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-18
REPORT OF TIE POSTMASTER
GENERAL.

hc report Ol lHc OSTMAslLh
ERAL is long and able document. 1t gives a
clear idea OF the vast extent Of the Post Office
operations Of his country, suggests some i'm
portant improvements, and abounds in useful
statements.
1t appears that an actual increase of 1866
per cent. occurred during the past fiscal year
in American Hostages, while the apparent in
crease on American and foreign payments to
the Department, amounts to Is l-2 per cent
Or, in figures, the receipts for the American
and Foreign Postages for the fiscal year, exceed
ed those of the preceding year 5000, 223 So;
excluding the balances dccruing TO the British
poSt-office, in order TO indicate the increase in
our own hostages, the amonnt reaches :997,-
6lO I9. During the last quarter OF the fiscal
year, a sensible reduction took place in domes-
tic postage, attributable to the near approach of
that period 20 The time fixed by the act of March
Sd 1850, TO establish cheaper rates Of postage
consequent delay in correspondence was a
natural result. A similar reduction was OBJ
served upon the adoption Of the e1uced rates
under the Act of l845 The claims of the
franking privilege by certain members Of the
present Congress also contributed to this reluc-
lion.
The report contains a formidable array of
OF figures relating to the business OF the depart
ment during the year; of which the important
points are as follows, viz:
Number of Mail Routes, CLIO
Length of Mil Routes, miles 1876. 300
Number OF Contractors employed, 5,54i
Annual transportation Of Mails,
miles, 1922. 252
Annual cost Of Transportation, SO .42l ,7J4
Miles OF Railroad Trans portation, 1868. 7O7
Miles OF Steamboat Transportation, 6,45h9S2
Number of PosInaSters appointed. 1899
Number OF Post Offices, June l, 1851, 1876
Gross Receipts of the Department, Sc, 1886. 493
iotl letter Postage, 1885,, 243
Newspapers, Pamphlets, Sc, Post
age, $l,O35,I3l
Ordinary Revenues of the year $6,55l 975
Increase over those Of last year, 1893, OO6
Expenditures Of the year, S6.27S, 4o2
Ordinary Eypendi ures, S6,O24, 567
At the close of the half century. the
Postmaster General deems it proper TO refer TO
the origin, history and progress OF the Post or
ice Department. THIS portion of the Report
possesses a peculiar interest and value.
within the last two years, the cost of Mail
transportation has largely increased. New con-
tracts for the NORTHWESTERN and south western
sections involved an increase of 20 per cent. in
aggregate cost, and OF 1914 per cent. in service;
while other contracts in the Southern section,
The extension and opening of the Erie Railroad
Increased mail facilities oa the sc,,teS lesdins
fsrom the Atlantic cities to important points N
the West, and upon the Western rivers, added
70 the placing OF two steamers, the Franklin
AMI Humboldt, ON the New York and Havrq
me haYe all contributed TO entail burdens on
The revenue OF the departments. The Report
refers IN tins connection, to the subject of com
peNSa''ng fostmasiers, and suggests the propri,
ely Of making liberal provision for this pIrrase
The question of Cheap Postage is discusses
at considerable Length. The Postmaster Gene.
raj compares the results Of the system in Gree,
Britain with the reduced rates in the United
States, and believes that we are admonished bv
me comparison not to attempt further reduc.
Iion until it shall be justified by the revenues
lie suggests that the rates of postage on all
printed natter can be rendered more uniform