The Democratic sentinel and Harrison County farmer. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1851-1852, 1851-12-24
Report Of the Postmaster General.


Report Of the Postmaster General.
The Annual Report Of the Postmaster
General is a long document, II gives an
idea of the vast extent of the Post Office OPP
e~ratons Of this country, suggests some i'm
portant improvements, and abounds in use
ful statements.
1t appeaTs that an actual increase OF 3 90
per cent. occurred during the past fiscal year
in American Postages, while the apparent
Increase on American and foreign payments
to the Department, amounts TO icy per cent.
Or, in figures, The receipts on American and
foreign Hostages for the fiscal year exceeded
those Of the preceding year sos, 223 s5i
but excluding the balances accruing to the
British Post Office, in order to indicate the
increase of our own hostages, the amount
reaches S997,6IO 10. During the last quar-
ter of the fiscal year, a sensible reduction
took place in domestic postage, attributable
to the near approach OF that period to the
time fixed by the Act of March Sd, 1850, to
establish cheaper rates of postage. A con-
sequent delay in correspondence was the ma
tural result. A similar reduction was OBJ
served upon the adoption of the reduced
rates under the Act of l845. The claims
of the Frakipg privilege by certain members
of the present Congress, also contributed to
this reduction.
The report contains q formidable array of
figures, relating to the business of the De-
partment during the year; of which the i'm
portant points are as follows:
Numebr of mail routes, 6,17O
Length of mail routes, miles, 1876, 900
Number of contractors employed 55,44
Annual transp'n OF mails, miles, So, 272, 252
Annual cost of transportation $3,421, 1854
Miles of Railroad transportation 1868, 7O7
Miles of steamboat transportation 6,454,982
Number of Postmasters appointed $3.50
Number Of Post Offices June /, 81 10, 796
Gross receipts of the Departm't Sc, 1856, 493
Total Letter Postage $5,369,243
Newspapers, Pamphlets, etc,
Postage $O,932,l31
Ordinary Revenues of the year $685. 78
Increase over those of last year 100000
Expenditures Of the year $~6,278,402
Ordinary Expenditures $6,024, SGT
At the close of the half century, the Post
master General deems it proper to refer to
the origin, history and progress of the Post
Office Department. This portion of the Re
port possesses q peculiar interest and value.
Within the last two years the cost OF mail
transportation has largely increased. New
contracts for the northwestern and south
western sections involved a increase of %
per cent. in aggregate cost, and Of 1914 per
- s
cent. in service; while other contracts in the
Southern section, the extension and opening
of the Erie Railroad, increased mail facilities
on the routes leading from Atlantic cities to
important points in the West, and upon the
Western Rivers, added to the placing of two
steamers, the Ftanklla and Hum6QLM, on
the New York and Ilavre line, have all con-
tributed to entail burdens on the revenues OF
the Department. The Reports, in this con
%nection, to the subject Of compromising Post
masters, and suggests the propriety of ma
king liberal provisions for this purpose.
The question of cheap postage is discussed
at considerable length. The Postmaster
General compares the results in Great Brit
ain with the reduced rates of the United
States, and believes that we are admonished
by the comparison nat to attempt a further
reduction, until it shall be justified by the
revenues. lie suggests that the rates OF
postage on all printed matter can be render
ed more uniform and less complex by the
adoption Of suitable rates, without diminish
ing the revenue very materially.
The Special Agents of the Department
have been actively employed, MIR. Hobbic
was dispatched to Cuba and Panama to eff
feet suitable mail arrangements for the West
Indies, South America and points OF the
Gulf of Mexico. These objects were tenn
porarily attained, but the increase Of cores,
poudence will soon render more perfect ar.
rangements desirable. 1t is recommended
that adequate provisions be made for the
payment of Mr., Hobbies expenses, while he
was absent on this mission. AS to Califor,
MIA and Oregon, contracts have been execu-
ted for the residue Of the contract term, to
end on the 30th of June, 1854. The Report
also refers 10 the opening the route now in
operation by way of Lake Nicaragua.
The contrasts with the Cunard and Collins
steamships the subject of postal communi-
cation between the United States and Next
co, by a line of steamers running from New
Orleans to. Vera Cruz via T~ampico; the con.
veyance Of letters hither from foreign ports
without delivery at the Post Office; the ne
cessity of guarding the Mails from robbery,
and the increasing abuses of the Franking
Privilege-are severally dwelt upon. and
recommendations are made in relation there.
to, which will attract attention.
Certain improvements in the organization
of the Department are suggested and thu
Report concludes with a recommendation
for a thorough revision Of the laws whicl
effect the government and off GERS of tn
General Post Office.
ED There is to be a public executio
at Louisa Court House, Virginia, on the lot
inst, and the shareholders are requested
by one of their number, to keep their slaves
at home that day, as the sight would dimin
ish their dread of crime and punishment.
EBg- The Lake Superior Journal is no.
printed at Detroit, having removed fror
$500" for the winter. The last number {
the paper states that the Lake Superior boat