The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-04
REPORT OF POSTMASTER GENERAL,
Posr OFFIos DEpARrMENr.

WAsHISGToN, November 20, 1854.
STA: At the close of the fiscal year, ending on the
30h day of June last, there were in operation within
the United States O. 40 mail routes their aggregate
length l96, $50 miles, and 5,544 contractor
were employed thereon
The annual transportation of the mails on those
routes was SO 272 252 miles, the annual cost thereof
Ss,42l,754, being about six cents four mills per
mile.
OF these SO, 272, 252 miles of annual transporta.
ton. S,56S ,707 miles required 10 be performed
upon railroads, at n cost of S955,0l9, being
about eleven cents five mills per mile 5,454, 9S2
miles IN steamboats,, at cost of S4oi,S95, be-
ing about eight cents three mills per mile; 10,
I2b,55S miles In coaches, at cost OF ,U4I 10y
being about five cents three mills per mile; and
1881 ,975 miles in modes not specified, at a cost
OF 1884 6S3 being about four cents sight mills per
mile
The mail service in California and Oregon had
been irregular in its performance, AND SO imper-
fectly reported that II was nJs embraced in the
last annual report from this Department and ia
not therefore included in the following statement
Of the general increase of transportation. The in
land service at the close of the last fiscal year. Tex
GLIDING that In California and Oregon, } when com
pared with the service at the close of the preceding
year, as stated in my last annual report shows an
increase OF 1854 miles in the length of mail routes
OF o,lo2 SOD in the number OF miles of annual
sportaton; and of SAT ITO in the annual cost of
transportation.
OF such increase of transportation the railroad
and steamboat service amounts 10 ,220 635 miles,
Of about 30 $40 per cent in the transportation and
about "a Alt per cent in aggregate cost the coach
service to 2 329 "a miles, an increased cost Of
1882, S72; being increase ofabout IOpcrcent
IN transportation, and % 40 per cent in aggre-
gate cost and the transportation in modes of ser
vice not specified TO ,096 miles at an increased
cost OF 81 ,49S; being an increase of about g. 10
per cent In transportation and 7. 10 per cent in
aggregate cost To this increase has been added
the service in California and Oregon, which is now
first reported with sufficient accuracy to be carried
into the annual statement.
The annual transportation in California at the
close OF the hscal year 537 476 mes, at an an
nual cost of s l30, 270. This service, when com
pared with that ascertaned TO have been in opera
ton prior TO the new contracts made under the
general lettings of April last, shows an increase in
the annual transportation of 1903 10 per cent;
and decrease in annual aggregate cost OF 10
per cent.
In California ia about twelve cents nine mills per
mile; in coaches about twenty one cents seven
mills per mile; and in modes not specified about
thirty one cents three mills per mile; while the
cost of similar service in the United States excud-
ing Oregon and the newly acquired Territories is
In steamboats,, about eight cents per mile in
coaches about five cents and two mills per mile;
and In modes not specified about four cents and
three mills per mile. The prices now paid in Cal
itornia are believed to be moderate compared with
the general prices upon the Pacific coast.
The annual transportation in Oregon at the close
OF the last fiscal year was (as be as
certalned) 81, 495 miles, at annual cost of 49,,
93s, or about sxty-fve cents and four mills per
mile. The present annual transportation in Ore
gon was increased, under the new contracts which
went into operation on and after the first day Of
July last, to 90, 800 miles, at annual cost Of
S40,44l; being an increase of ll9 $40 per cent
In transportation and of l03 per cent in aggregate
cost. OF this service 6,240 miles is to be per-
formed IN steamboats,, at an annual cost of So
600, under contract, made July IL, 1850, for the
remainder OF the usual contract term in that sec
ton, and OF the residue 500 miles ia to be per
a a.
$3.50 miles in modes not specified. at cost Of
$22,993, or about forty cents three mills per
mile.
There were on the 3Oth day of June last six for
eign mail routes, of the estimated aggregate
length oil lo,3i9 miles. The number of miles Of
annual transportation thereon is estimated at
6l5206.
The service on three of these routes is under con.
tracts with this Department. The annual trans
portatlon thereon is estimated at 100 592 miles, al a
cost OF $500 900, being about 50 09 10 per mile.
Inc service on the other foreign routes 10 under
contract with the Navy Department The annual
transportation thereon is estimated at 42l 1874 miles