The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-03
Report OF the Postmaster General.

The Report of the POSTMASTER GENERAL,
accompanying the Message of the PRESIDENT,
presents voluminous exposition of the nature
and extent of the postal arrangements of the
country, the changes that have resulted from
the law enacted last session, and the additions
and Improvements that are yet needed to meet
the exigencies of our extended territory, and the
continuous enlargement of our political and
commercial relations.
It appears that at the close of the fiscal year
the Goth of June ast-six thousand one hun
dred and seventy mail routes were in operation
in the United States, forming an aggregate
length of 1876, 300 miles, and involving an an
nual cost for the transportation of mails of
$3.42l ,754. The total annual transportation
amounts to Sc, 272, 1852 miles, of which s, $685.
707 miles are performed upon railroads, at an
average cost of about eleven cents five mills
per mile; S, 454, 1882 miles in steamboats,. at a
cost of about eight cents three mills per mile;
1926, 5SS miles in coaches, at 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 statement exhibits an
increase of 3, 354 miles in the length of inland
mail routes, and of $547 i 10 in the annual cost
of transportation; but this comparison is ire
spective of the routes in 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 latter to $4,000 miles, at
of civ f,r
eign mail routes-threc of which are under
contract with the Post Office Department at
cost of about 500 $40 per mile; and three
under contract with the Navy Department at
cost of about $2.42 Clio per mile.
During the year $3.50 postmasters were APP
pointed, nearly half of them to fill vacancies
occasoned by designations; lS7 to fill vacan-
cies occasioned by death; 206 in consequence of
change of site; 500 on the removal Of prior in
cumbents and ,69S on the establishment of
new offices. The entire number of post offices
in operation is 1926; nearly 700 were es-
tablished and ESQ were discontinued during the
year.
The gross receipts of the Department for
the year described ii this report were So, 1885,,
493 q; of which $500 PAP 76 were derived
from letter Gncluding foreign) postage and
stamps sold, and $l035, 100 80 from postage
on newspapers, pamphlets, SC. To form
true idea of the revenue, however, allowance
must be made for the sum payable to the Br-
fish post office, and for the sun of additional
appropriations. With these deductions, the
ordinary revenues of the year stand at $6,55l,-
977 80; being an increase of $685. al over
the proper revenues OF the preceding year.
The expenditures during the same period
were $6,27s, 40l 6S; but this includes pay
ment to Britain and payment under an award.
The ordinary expenditure was $6,024 500 70,
showing balance OF receipts Of sos, 299 80.
The Report glances At the position of the post
office in this country half century since, and
the probable presentation to Congress
of the materials of an interesting history of our
postal system In 1870 the number of post
offices was IS, the extent of post routes ,875
miles, and the revenue $37 1886.
Within the last two years the cost of trans
has been much increased; and the
mail facilities, by railway and
on our rivers, will continue to add largely to the
expenses of the Department. Under the terms
Of the act of March last, the expenditure for the
of mails must be increased from
ten to fifteen per cent. per year, if the wants of
the country require it; and, unless some change
be made by Congress in the rule laid down for
the government Of the Department, other ex-
penses will necessarily increase at nearly the
same rate.
In regard to commissions paid to postmasters,
the Postmaster General expresses belief that
the allowance provided for under the order
made on the Goth Of October will be found in