Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-12-08

be adopted without materially diminishing
the revenue.
The Postmaster General Jisapproves Of
the disposition manifested in some quarters
10 urge a further reduction in our inland
rates Of letter postage, before the results Of
the last reductionar are probably ascertained.
He points out the dissimilarity in the cir
cumstances of this country and Great
Britain, and maintains that the results ofthe
system now in operationin Britain admon-
ish US not to attempt a further reduction
until justified by u revenues. Looking
at our entire circumstances, the sparse
population Of immense sections, and the
extent and expense ofthe area traversed by
our mail routes, he concludcsth that we have,
beyond all question, the cheapest postage
in the world.
The new contracts for the supply of in
Vulnerable articles required for use IN the
Department are described as more favor
able than former ones and an intimation
is made that an improvement in the adhe
sive qualities of postage stamps will here
after be observable.
An opinion is expressed-founded upon
information obtained by agents ofthe De-
partment-that, If the Contractors be IA
vorably disposed, the mail between this
city and New Orleans can be expedited
twenty four hours. that the time required
between this city and New York can be
reduced to eleven hours and that the
mails fiom the South, leaving here 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
morning trains from New York. An eff
fort will also be made to preserve at New
York a close connection Of the trains car
r,ing the mails which leave here in the
mornirg with the evening trains which take
such mails beyond New York. 1.-THE ne
gotiaiions now in progress to effect the ar
engagements fail, the attention of Congress
will be called to other feasible modes of
expedi;ing the great mails between the
eastern 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 ofsupernumeraries
who have been employed in the Dead Let
ter office. More than 1000 pounds OF
dead letters were received from California
during the last summer.
Congress is asked TO lcgalize contracts
that have been entered into for mail service
in California and Oregon; and mention is
made of other contracts which have been
formed with the Pacific Steamship Com
pany, and with the mail steamers from New
York to Havana. The President Of the
Panama Railroad Company had given no.
tice that, on and after the first instant, the
company would be ready to transport the
mail across the Is,hmus,and the Postmaster
General has agreed TO avail himselfof the
arrangcment-leaving Congress TO author
ize the payment therefor.
The contract with the Collins line of
mail steamers, between New York and
Liverpool, requires the performance Of but
twenty trips out and back during the year.
As the English government had made new
arrangements by which weekly trips ofthe
Cunard steamers were TO be continued
throughout the year, it was deemed highly
important TO continue tie weekly trips Of
the American steamers also. Under these
circumstances, Mr.. Collins was requested
by the Post Office Department 10 continue
his trips, with an assurance Of a recommen-
dation ofadeqnate compensation. If, there
fore, tie extra trips are confirmed, 1t Is
earnestly recommended that a pro rata
compensation, with such addition, if any,
as may lie necessary TO give TO the contrac-
tors a fair and liberal compensation for the
extra service, he authorized by Congress.
The Postmaster General remarks that the
unrivalled qualities and speed Of tie ships
Of this line, and the very satisfactory man
ner in which the service las been perform
cd, establishing the superiority OF Amen
can skill and enterprise in the construction
OF ocean steamers, aud IN ocean steam nav
%en,i;'c the proprietors of this line
to the most favorable consideration, and |
cannot Doubt That Congress will make the
appropriations recommended"
1t Is hin'cd that satisfactory propositions
can probably be obtained for "A line ofmail
steamers from New O.lcans, by way of
Tamrico,t TO Vera Cruz; and,he importance
Of such an arrangement is described, in its
commercial and political aspects.
Ohers have Lecn made to contract for
mail service from New York to Antwerp,
from New York to Genoa. from New
York 10 San Francisco by the Nicaragua
route, from N. York 10 Galway, from N.
York 10 Venezuela, from Philadelphia to
Havana, fom Philadelphia to Antwerp.
and fon New York to New Orleans. by
steamers, in connection it'll a contemplated
rail- Odd across Florida. These applica-
tons are to lie laid before Congress. Par
stress is laid upon the proposition
for Il line Of steamers from New York To
Galway; and a hope is entertained that the
sui ject Of the establishment Of a line to
Antwerp will be found to deserve consid-
Grafton, more especially as the Belgian
government is ready to co operate in the
The renewed determination ofBritain to
insist upon an excessive transit late on
letters passing through England is alluded
10 as a subject of regret. The liberal spir-
it manifested by the United States in 1918
not been rcciprocated and as our con-
with Great Britain can be annulled
by either OF 'hetwo governments, after one
years notice TO the other, it is suggested
that ii satisfactory trarsit rates be not soon
agreed to, this Government should serious
ly consider whether the notice provided for
IN the treaty shall not he given.
Attention is called TO the extent to which
the revenue Of the Department are preiu-
diced by the operations of express com
ranies; and the revision Of the laws appli.
cable TO the subject is proposed, with the
view Of making it highly penal for persons
or companies 10 carry letters on certain
specified routes outside of the mails. OH