Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-05
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ABSTRACT or TtiE KEp0aT Of THE rosf.
MASTER HENERAt

nous exposition OF the nature and extent OF the postal
arrangements OF the county, the changes that have re-
suited from the law enacted last session, and the addi-
lions and Improvements that are yet needed to meet
! The exgencieS OF our extended territory, and the con-
tnuous enlargement OF our political and commercial
| relations
1t appears that at the close OF the fiscal vear-the
seth OF June las-six thousand one hundred and sew
envy mail rou in operation in the United States
forming aggregate length OF l96, 800 miles, and in
volving annual cost for the transportation of the
mails Of S342l 754. The total annual transportation
amounts to 53,212252 miles OF which e,568,7O7 miles
are performed upon railroads, at an average cost
of about eleven cents five mills per mile; Asa 932 miles
in steamboats,, cost of about eight cents three mills
per mile; l9,236,5SS miles in coaches. about five
cents three mills per mile and 1881 ,975 miles in
modes not specified, at about four cents eight mills per
mile. As compared with the previous year, this state.
men exhibits increase of 1884 miles n'ths length
of inland mail routes and OF SAT ITO in the annual
cost of Transportation but this comparison is irrespec.
tive of the routes 10 California and Oregon. In the
former State the annual transportation amounts to 537
476 miles, and the annual cost to $3.50, 270 in the lat
ter TO $3.50 miles, at an annual cost OF $40 Ill
There six foreign mail roues-three OF Which are
under contract with The Post Office Department at a
cost of about 90 10 per mIe and three under
contract with the Navy Del arment at cost OF about
! $2.42 10 perme.
During the year $3.50 pos masters appointed,
| nearly ha of them to fill vacancies occasloned
by resiguations 1877 to fill vacancies occasoned by
death; 206 in consequence of change OF site; 500 on
the removal Of prior incumbents; and l,69S the
tab shnlent OF new offices. The entire number Of post
In
tablished and 256 discontinued during The year.
The gross receipts of the Department tor the year
described in this report were $6S6 493 %; OF which
$5,369,242 rs were derived rom letter tncodiog for
eign) postage and stamps sold and 81 OBS 1870 SO from
| postage on newspapers, pamphlets, &c. To form
true idea OF the revenue, however, allowance must be
made Tor the sum payable to the British post office,
| ana the sum OF additional appropriations With
these dedu the ordinary year stand
at St 55 97 80; being Increase of $999 Ill over
the proper revenues Of the preceding year.
In Jit,,ra- J,,;nr, tbo
So,218 ,aol Is; but this includes payment to Brain
and payment under award. The ordinary expen-
ture was Sc o24 566 10, showing balance receipts
| OF SOB 299 SO.
The Report gances at the position of the post office
In this country half century since, and intimaes the
probable to Congress OF the materials of
an interesting history of postal system. In 1890
the number OF post offices was 10, the extent OF
post routes l,S75 miles, and the revenue S37 935
Within the last two years the of transportation
has been much Increased; and the ever-lncreaslng
mall faclles, by railway and on our rivers will con-
tlnue to add largely to the expenses Of the Depart
ment' Under the terms OF the act OF March last, the
expenditure tor the transportation OF mails must be
Increased from ten tt per cent per year, the
wants OF the country require it, and, unless
change be made by Congress in the rule laid down
tor the government OF the Department, other expenses
will necessarily increase at nearly the rate.
N regard to commissions paid to postmasers, the
z stmaster General expresses belief hat the allow
ance provided tor under the order made on the 18th
OF October will be found incommensurate with the
lncease ct labor required under the new law.
year amounts 81, 123449 63, which are he met
by the balances now standing TO the credit of the De-
parment, the receipts from posages, and the appro-
priaons made by the acts of March, 1917 and March
1851 The succeeding year will necessitate further
aid from the Treasury. AT present. reliable estl-
mate OF the revenues ofhe current year be made
In consequence OF the non-settement of the posmas
ters' accounts for the first two quarters
An idea OF the amount of free matter sent from and
received at the Washington office, may be formed
from the fact that, for the years ending in July
branch business welded
ZIG $50 at the raee then in force, 100 92O the
present reduced rates. This does include the free
circulation OF newspapers, and so forth 1t IS thought
the reduced rates OF postage on printed matter, and
the extension of privileges publishers, will dmn-
ish that branch OF revenue at least 500,000 per
num- l he results OF the experiment now in opera
ton satisfy the Postmaster General that there should
not be more than two, at most three, different
OF inland postage on newspapers sent TO actual sub.
scrbers; and that those periodicals and other prn-
ted matter, including transient newspapers, should be
| reduced in number, and more nearly asslmllated
| to the ordinary newspaper rates. This charge, he
thinks, can be adopted without materially dimlnsh
| Ing the revenue
| The Postmaster General disapproves of the dspo-
son manifested in some quarters 10 urge further
reduction inland rates of letter postage, before
the results OF the last reduction are properly
tanned. He points out the dlsslmllaTity the crcum-
ances OF this country and Great Britain, and MAIN
tans that the results ct the system in operation
in Britain admonlsh us not to attempt furer reduc
ton until justified by our revenues. Looking at
entire circumstances the sparse population of I'M
mense sections, and the extent and expense of the
area traversed by mail routes, he concludes that
we have. beyond all question: the cheapest postage in
the world.
The new contracts for the supply of innumerabe
articles required for in the Department are de-
scrlbed as more favorable than former ones; and an
lnmaton is made that an Improvement in the adhe-
slVe qualities OF postage stamps Will hereafter be OBJ
servabe.
An OF inion is expressed--founded upon information
obtained by agents of the Deparment-that if the
contractors be tavaurably disposed the mail between
this city and New Orleans can be expedited twenty
tour hours; that the time required between this city
and New DIRK can be reduced TO eleven hours; and
that the mails from the South leaving here in the af-
ternoon, may be delivered in New York in time be
forwarded to Boston, Albany and West along the
Enc railroad, by the morning trains from New York
An effort will also be made TO preserve at New York
close connexlon of the trains carrying the mails
trains which take such mails beyond New York. If
the negotiations in progress to effect these ar
| rangements tall, the attention of Congress Will be
called other feasible modes oil expedtlng the great
mails between the Eastern and Southern States
An appropriation Is recommended TO the def
cheney of salary allowable to the special agents of the
Department, and also to pay the salaries OF supernu
meraries who have been employed in the Dead Letter
office More than 900 pounds of dead letters were
RECEIVED from California during the last summer.
Congress is asked to leeallZe contracts that have
been entered into for mail service in California and
Oregon; and mention is made Of other contracts
which have been formed with the Pacific Steamship
Company, and with the mail steamers from New
York to Havana. The President of the Panama
Railroad Company had gwen notice that, and after
the first instant the company would be ready to trans
port the mail across the lshmus and the Postmaster
General has agreed TO avail himself OF tie arrange
ment-ieaving Congress to authorize the payment
| therefor.
The contract with the Collins line of mail Steamers
between New ork and Liverpool, requires the per-
Torrance of but twenty trips and back during the
year. AS the English government had made new ar
rangements bv which the weekly trips OF the Cunard
steamers were to be continued throughout the year.
was deemed highly important to continue the weekly
trips of the American steamers also. Under these cir.
cumstances, Mr. Colias requested BY the Post Of
ice Department to continue his trips, with an asslr-
ance OF recommendation OF adequate compensation
IT, therefor the extra trips confirmed it earnestly
recommended that pro rata compensation with such
addition, if any, may be necessary give to The
contractors far and liberia compensation Tor the extra
service, be authorized by Congress. The Postmaster
General remarks that "lhe unrivalled qualities and
speed OF the ships Of this line and the very satisfactory
manner in which the service has been performed, es-
tabl'shi0g the superiority of American skill and en-
erprlse in the construction of ocean steamers and in