The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1851-12-27
Repor, OF The po.tmn.,er l:cu-r.,,

The Annual Report Of the Postmaster General
i n Ion and able document. It gives a clear idea
OF the vast extent Of the Postufise operations of
this country, suggests some inp pcrtast improve.
ments, and abounds in useful statements.
IL tappears that an actual increase Of 1865 per
cent occurred during tho past fiscal year ia
American Postages. while the apparent increase,
on American and foreign pay menss 10 Ia. Depart
ment amounts to l6l per ceat Or In figures,
the receipts from American and Foreign rostagcs
Tor the fiscal year, exceeded those of the pre-.
ceding year s9Og223 s5, but excluding the
balances ACQUIRING to the British Postoficc in or.
der to indicate the lnsrease Of our own postagcs,
the amount reaches s997, Clio 20. During The
last quarter of the fiscal year sensible seduction
took place in domestic postage, attributable 10
the near approach of tina, period to the time Hxcd
by The act II March ard, 1850, TO cstablsk cheap.
er rates OF postage. a consequent DELAY IN
correspondence was a natural result. A similar
reduction was observed upon the adoption of the
reduced rates under the Act Of ls45. The claims
oi the franking privilege by certain members of
The present Congress also contributed to Ills
reduction.
The Report contains formidable aryav Of
hgures relating to the business Of the Denart.
ment during the year of which the important
points are as follows viz:
Number Of MBif Routes ClrO
Length OF Mail Routes miles l9a,e9O
Number of Contractors employed B5aa
Annual transportation Of Mails miles 52.s7o,e52
Annual cost Of Transaortnn ss4el15t
Niles of Railroad Transportation es6S7ol
Miles Of Steamboat Transportation 645l aso
Number Of Postmasters appointed s839
Number Of Postofices June |. 1851 l97o6
Gross Receipts of the Department S67s6493
lo'ai Letter Postage S1,s6a24s
Newspapers, Pamphlets, DC, Postage sl.OS5l3I
! Ordinary, Revenues of the year Sb5hlaIs
Increase over those ofast year S9a9OO6
Expenditures of the year $B,27s4ri
! Ordinary Expenditures SB,0a4s67
| At the close Of the half century the Postmaster
General deems it proper to refer to the origin,
/ history and progress Of the Postoifice Depart
ment This portion Of the Report Possesses a
I peculiar interest and value
! Wrhn the last two years the east Of Mai, trans.
/ portation has largely increased New contracts
for the northwestern and south western sections
involved nm Increase Of % per cent in aggregate
/ cost, and lO4 per cent, in service; while other
contracts IN the southrn secon the extension ard
"p"ning of the Erie Railroad increased mail fi.
clIlties on the routes leading from the Atlantis
cities to important points in the west, and upon
the western rivers added to the placins of two
steamers, the Franklin and Humboldt on the
New York and llvre line kave all cop,ribu, ed
to entail burdens on the revenues Of the Denar
mcnt. The Report refers. in this connecton. to
the subject Of compensntng Postmnstlrs. nnd
suggests the fsoPrlety of making Liberal PROVISION
for this purpose.
The question of Cheap Postage i; discrssr,l Mt
considerable length. The Postmaster General
compares tie results Of the system 10 Gregt
Britain with the reduced rates Of the United
States and believes that We are admonilpd ty
the comDarisnn not to attempt n further reiu5
+ ton until it shall be justified hy the rryrnnr,
lie suggests that the rates ofpnstage on ail prr-
ted matter can be rendered more uniform and
less complex by the adoption Of suitable rates,
without diminishing the revenue very materially.
The Special Agents of tie Department have
been actively cmplnyr Mr.. Hohbie was d..
patched TO Cuba and Panama to effect suitable
Mil arrangements for the West Indies, Soul,
America, aud points on the Gulf of Mexico.
These objects were temporal y attained, hut tire
increase OF corre- plude1ce will soon rener more
perfect arrangements d, srahle. Il is recomm,n.
ded that adequate provision be- made for the pay.
ment OF Mr. ll"bbles expenses, while he was
absent upon this mission. A. { Calif,rrin and
Oregon, contracts have been executed fvr he
contract terms, to md on the S0th June 1854
The Report also refers to the opening Of the
route now in operation by way OF Lake Nicara.
qua
The contracts with the Cunnri nni Collins
steamships the subject of postal communication
between the United States and Mexico. by line
of steamers running frcm New Orleans TO Vera
Cruz via Tampico; the conveyance of letter,
hitler from foreign ports without delivery al the
Postoffice; the necessity Of guarding the Mails
from Robbery, and the Increasing abuse of the
Frankng Privilege-are severally dwell. upon
and recommendations are made, in rela,in thereto
which will attract attention
! Certain improvements in tie organca,ion OF
the Department are suggested; and ths Report
concludes with recommendation for a thorough
: revision Of the laws which affect the government,
and officers Of the General Postoflice.-N. y
Z Times