The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-04
THE REPUBLIC.

tional Government founded under the Constitution
of the Union.
The first Congress assembled under our present
Consti uttOn passed "Au act for the temporary es-
Enlistment Of post office" approved September
%, 1889 This act directed the appointment Of a
Postmaster General, and to continue in force
until the end of the next session of Congress. I'm
der ts provisions Samuel Osgood, of Massachusetts,
was appointed, by President Washington, Postmas-
ter General of the United States, and this was the
hrst appointment to that office. Thirteen other
persons have since been appointed. OF these there
were appointed from Kentucky three; from Con-
necticut, Ohio, and New York, two each; and from
Pennsylvania, Georgia, Tennessee, and Vermont,
one each.
The earliest reliable statistics of the General Post
Office those for the year 1870, when the number
of post offices was seventy fve the extent of post
routes 1915 miles; aud the revenues of the Depart
ment $37 1885. The subsequent progress of the
Post Office Department can be traced in the tables
hereto annexed marked and c.
In connexion with this brief reference TO the pro-
gress Of the Department, it may not be improper
to state that there in the possession of the De-
parmen materials for an interesting history of the
origin and progress of our post office system, and
that II 10 intended, if time can be found TO com
plete the arrangement of them, 10 present these
materials to the present Congress in such form
will perhaps induce their preservation.
The cost Of transportation has been much in
creased within the last two years. The
tracts, made under the letting for the northwestern
and southwestern sections, embracing the States
Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Missis-
sppi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, and the
Territory of Minnesota, which letting took place
In April 1852 increased the annual cost of trans
portation from the lst day of July, 1850. about
1896, 600; and the subsequent failure Of bidders
and contractors, together with the new arrange
ments usually consequent upon the change OF SER
vice which follows letting, added largely to the
increased cost of this service. The rates of such
increase about ~ I5hs per cent in service
and % per cent. in aggregate cost. Much of this
increase is doubtless attributable to the unusual
scarcity and high prices OF the coarse grains in
that section during tho year 1850.
The new contracts for the Southern section, Gem
bracing the States of Virginia, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida which were
made under the lettings in April last, show in
Cup TO the 30th day of September) of 947 TOT
miles Of annual transportation, and OF $6l al in
the annual cost, over the transportation and cost
under the contracts which expired with the Both
day of June, 1851; being an increase of about .
36l00 per cent. in service, and 97-l00 per cent in
aggregate cost.
The opening and extension OF the New York and
Erie rniroad-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 Cincinnatithe increase of mail facilities the
routes leading from the Atlantic cities TO important
points in the West-the greatly increased mail ia
cilities the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and in
almost every section of the Union-have added,
and similar improvements Will continue to add /,
largely to the extent and consequent expense of
mail transportation. The placing of the steamers
Franklin" and Humboldt on the New York
and Havre line has also added S $50, 900 per annum
to the cost of the foreign mail service, chargeabe
upon the revenues of this Department.
Until the passage ofthe act of March 3, 1851, the
increase in the cost of transportation, occasioned
by the increase and extension Of the service, had
been almost entirely within the discretion of the
head of this Department. That act declares that
emo post office now in existence shall be discon-
tinued. shall the mail service any mail
route in any of the States Territories be discon
tinued diminished, in consequence OF any
diminution of the revenues that may result from
this act and it shall be the duty ofthe Postmaster
General to establish new post offices, and place
the mail service any mail route estab.
lished, or that may hereafter be established, in
the same manner though this act had not pass
ed" And there having been large surplus to
the credit fthe revenues of the Department at the
time ofthe passage of the act, it would seem to have
been the intention of Congress that the Postmaster
General should continue and increase the service
the same extent if the old rates of postage and
a large annual increase in the revenues had con
tinued. BY adopting this rule, the expenditures of
%rT1prp II - Statement of The 17u,D bey. of posf