Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-06

limited be useful, and when the increase OF the mall
service before the adoption of the of the Uni
ted States is compared with its subsequent extension
fail perceive that the prosperity efficiency
andaue of this Department chiefly to be ascrbed to
the National Government founded under the Constitution
of the Union
The first Congress assembled under present Const-
passed San act for the temporary establishment OF
post Office approved September %, 1889. This act
directed the appointment OF Postmaster General, and
continue in force until the end of the next session
of Congress. Under its provisions Samuel 0sgood OF
Massachusetts, appointed by President Washington
Postmaster General of the United States and this the
first appointment that Office. Thirteen other persons
have since been appointed OF these there appoint
ed from Kentucky three from Connecticut Ohio, and
New York two each; and from Pennsylvania, Georgia,
Tennessee and Vermont EACH
The earliest reliable statistics of the General Post Office
those for the year $780, when the number post Off
seyentyfye; the extent of post routes 1915
miles and the Of the Department $37, 1886.
The subsequent progress of The Post Office Department
he traced in the tables hereto annexed marked
and c.
In connection with this brief reference to the progress
the Department may be improper to state thahere
in the possession of the Department materials for
interesting history Of the origin and progress of
post Office system and that it is intended if time be
found to complete the arrangement OF them, to present
these materials the present Congress in such form will
perhaps induce their preservation.
The cost Of transportation has been much increased
within the last two years The contracts, made
der the letting for the Northwestern and Southwestern
sections embracing the States of Michigan, Indiana, I
nois Wisconsin Iowa. Missouri Kentucky Tennessee Ala
bama, Mississippi Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas,
and the Territory Of Minnesota which letting took place
in April 1850 increased the annual cost of transport
taton from the 1st day of July $780, about $3.50, 900;
and the subsequent failure of bidders and contractors
together with the new arrangements usually conse-
quent upon the change OF service which follows let
ting added largely the increased cost of this service
The rates of sch increase about 10 45hs cent
in service and 20 per cent in aggregate cost Much of
this increase is doubtless attributable to the unusual
city and high prices of the grains in that section
during the year 1850.
The contracts for the Southern section, embracing
the States of Virginia, North Carolina South Carolina,
Georgia. and Florida which were made under the let
tngs in April last show increase zap to the Both day
of September of 707 miles of annual transportation
and of SOL 94 the annual cost the transportation
and cost under the contracts which expired with the 10th
day of June, 1851 being increase of about II 3600
per in service and 97-10O per in aggregate
cost G
The opening and extension of the New York and Erie
railroad of the railroad from Cleveland to Columbus,
and of other railroads in the different sections of the
Union; the establishment of two daily lines carrying
the mail from Baltimore by the way Of Cumberland,
Wheeling and Columbus to Cincinnati the increase of
mail facilities the routes leading romthe Atlantic cities
important points in the Vest the greatly increased
mail facilities the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and in
almost every section of the Union have added and SINH
lar improvements will continue to add largely to the
epacng of the Franklin" and Humboldt
the New York and Havre line has also added $780, 900
to the cost Of the foreign mail service charge
able upon the revenues Of this Department.
Until the passage of the act of March 3, 1851 the in
in the of transportation occasoned by the in
and extension of the service had been almost
treywn the discretion of the head of this Department
Thatac declares that "no post Office in existence
shabe discontinued shall the mail service any
maroue in any of the States Territories be dscon