Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-12-18
Report of,l,e Postn,astes Gencsal

would be relieved from the care Of 1t.
Report Of the Postmaster Gene'al 4
The Annual Report ofthe Postmaster Gen
eral is long and able document. 1t gives
clear idea of the vast extent Of the Post Of
fee operations of this country, suggests some
important improvements, and abounds in use
fui statements.
It apaaars that an actual increase of 1855
per cent. occurred during the past fiscal year
in American Postages, while the apparent IN
crease in American and foreign payments TO
to the Department, amounts to 49, per cent.
Or, in figures, the receipts from American
aud Foreign Postages for the fiscal year, ex-
ceeded those of the preceding year 5000 ,223
S5; but excluding the balances accruing to-
the British Post Office, in order to Indicate
the increase of our own postages, the amount
reaches S997,6 10. During the last quar-
ter of the fiscal year, a sensible reduction
took place in domestic postage, attributable
to the near approach Of that period to the time
fixed by the Act of March 81, 1851, to estdb-
lish cheaper rates ofpostage A consequent
delay in correspondence was a natural result.
A similar reduction was observed upon the
adoption of the reduced rates under the Act
of 1915. The claims of the Franking privi-
I iege by certain members of the present Con-
gress also contributed to this reduction.
The report contains formidable array of
figures relating to the business of the Depart
ment during the year; of which the important
points are as follows, viz: G-sp
Number of Mail routes Ea. CLIO
/ Length of Mail routes, miles 196,29O
/ Nanber Of Contractors employed, 5,544
/ Annual Transp'tion of Mails miles So, ,272, ,252
4 Miles OF Railroad Transportation, S,56S, ,70S
| Miles of Steamboat Transportation, 6, ,454 ,9S2
| Number Of Postmasters appointed, $3.50
| Number of Post Offices June l. 1851, 1876
/ Gross receipts ofthe Department., &G, ,7S6, ,493
Total Letter Postage, $5,369, ,243
Newspapers, Pamphlet, &C., sai
Postage, 81, 1,035, Isl
Ordinary Revenues OF the year, $6,55l,97
Increase. over those of last year, %999,006
Expenditures Of the year, S6,278,502
Ordinary Expenditures, $6024,567
! At the close of the half century, the Post
master General deems 1t proper to refer to- the
| origin, history and progress OF the Post Office
! Department. This portion of the Report pos
sesses a peculiar interest and value.
Within the last two years, the cost OF Mail
transportatonhas largely increased. New CON
tracts for the northwestern and southwestern
sections involved an increase Of % per cent.
in aggregate cost, and 10.4 per cent. in SER
vice; while other contracts in the Southern
section, the increased mail facilities ON the
routes leading from the Atlantic cities to I'M
portant points in the West, and upon the
| Western rivers added to the placing of the
two steamers, the FrGnklia and Humbo5t, on
the New York and Hayre line, have all
contributed to entail burdens on the revenues
Of the Department. The report refers, in
this connection, to the subject Of compensa-
ting Postmasters, and suggests the propriety
of making liberal provision for this purpose.
The question OF Cheap Postage is discussed
at considerable length. The Postmaster
General compares the results Of the system in
Great Britain with the reduced rates of the
United States, and believes that we are admon-
ished by the comparison not to attempt fur
ther reduction, until it shall be justified by
the revenue. He suggests that the rates OF
I postage on all printed matter can be reAdered
more uniform and less complex by the adop-
ton of suitable rates, without diminishing the
revenue very materially.
The Special Agents Of the Department
have been actively employed. Mr. Hobhie
was despatched to Cuba and Panama to effect
suitable Mail arrangements for the West In
dies, South America. and points on the Gulf
of Mexico. These objects were temporarily
attained, but the increase of correspondence
viii soon render moro perfect arrangements
desirable. 1t is recommended that adequate
provisions be made for the payment of MIR.
Hobbies expenses, while he was absent upon
this mission. As to California and Oregon,
contracts have been executed for the residue
of the contract term, to end on the Both 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 subjecs of postal communica-
ton between the United States and Mexico,
by line of steamers running from New Or
leans to Vera Cruz via Tampco; the convey
ance of letters hither, from foreign ports with
ont delivery at the Post Office; the necessity
OF guarding the Mails from robbery, and the in
creasing abuses of the Franking Priviiege-are
severely dwelt upon, and recommendations
are made in relation thereto, which Will at
tract attention.
Certain Improvements in the organization
of the Department are suggested; and the
Report concludes with a thorough revision of
the laws which effect the government and the
officers of the General Post Office.
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Paragraphs with Comm eIsts.
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