Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-12-05

] deem II al much importance 10 JUST economy, 1nC u
understanding OF naval expenditures that there
should b. entire separation OF the appropriations Tor
the support OF the naval service proper from those Tor per-
mlnont improvements at navy yards and stations. aud
from ocean mail service and other special OBJ ecs
assigned to the supervision OF this Department
The report of the Postmaster General, herewith com
muncatej presents ma Interesting view OF tho progress
operations and condition ofhis Department
Al The close of the ias: fiscal year. the length Of mail
within the United States wss 1876 300 miles; the an
nua transportation thereon So, 272 252 miles; aud the
nus cost Of such transportation s3,42l754.
The length Of the oreg mail routes ia estimated Al H..
$40 miles: aud the annual thereon al 200
miles The annual of this service s s472. 1871 of
which s44S937 paid by the Post Office Department, and
s,Oa3,a57 is paid through the Navy Department.
Til. annual transportation wiikia the United States Tex
Guiding the service California and Oregon which
for the frs. ,e reported aud embraced in the tabular
of the Department. exceeds that OF the pre-
cedipg year S55 miles, at increased cost oil s547
Ito.
The whole number of post offices in The United States
on the 3Oh dey OF June last, 9796. There L.
G9s post Offices established ADD 256 discontinued during
the year
The gross revenues of the Department, for the fiscal
year including The appropriations for the rauked matter
of Congress- OF the Departments and officers Of Govern
men; and excluding The foreign postages collected for
and payable British post Office, amounted TO sG,727.
S66 rs.
So0,599 49, paid under award of the Auditor in pur
suace of resolution Of the last Congress for mail service
on the Ohio and Mssiss rivers in 1892 and 1888 and
the paid the British post office for foreign posta
ges COLLECTED Tor and payable 10 that cce) amounted
Sc OIL SEC TO- leaving balance of revenue over The
propes sxperdi' of The year Of SI03,299 90.
IT, receipts Tor postage during the year (e1cludns The
iorc.n 'os"ee collected fer end payable 10 the British
past 'ic) qn,cunlei % :6,3IJ7i7 81 ;;s Increase
Of $50 Gi07 -, SGj-p0 per cent he like ,ec 7's
for the preceding year.
TIE reduction of postage under the OF March last,
did not take effect unit, the of the pre-
sept fiscal year The accounts for The first quarter under
the operation of the reduced rates will DOT b1 settled
before January and reliable estimate Of the re-
ccips for the present year yet be made II is be-
l!eycd. however hat they will fall far short Of those OF
the last year. The surplus OF the en- hand
however, large ;ha further appropriation from
the treasury in aid o! Inc Of the Department is
required Tor the fiscal year. but additional ap
preparation for the year ending JuGc 3d. 1885, Will pro-
baby be !ound necessary when The receipts OF The hsi
quarters OF tho fiscal year fully ascerIaiDed
In his last annual report the Postmaster General recon-
meuded reduction OF postage tn rates which be deemed
low cca be p,udentiy adopted, unless Congress
prepared 10 appropriate fom the treasury. for the
uopor Of the Department, sum more than equivalent
the rs services performed BY for the Government
Tho Recommendations of the Postmaster General in
spec, letter postage except letters from and TO Cali
forna and Oregon substantially adopted by the last
Congress He recommends adherence to the presen,