The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-11
S47,52l IS

Congress having, by the second section of an act
approved 3lst August, 1852, authorized the Post
master General, upon certain conditions, to enter
into contract for the transportation OF the mail by
steamers plying between Boston and Halifax, a
postal arrangement is now in process Of compile
ton with the province of Nova Scotia, by which
the postage this route will be the same as Is now
paid by the way of New Brunswick.
In pursuance of the requirements Of an act APP
proved August 80, 1852, advertisements have been
published for proposals for mail service, by ocean
steamers between New Orleans and Vera Cruz, via
Tampico, embracing also (for the purpose OF OBJ
tanning information) extension of the service
to Acapulco, and thence to San Francisco. These
proposals to be opened, and decision made
on such portions of them are authorized by said
act (that is for service from New Orleans to Vera
CRUZ on the Sd Of January next. The Depart
ment will of course, await the directions OF Con.
gress, after the information is obtained, as to the
remainder Of the route.
By the eleventh section of act approved
August 81, 1852, provision is made for daily mail
service by suitable and safe steamers between
Louisville and Cairo, St. Louis and Cairo, Cairo
and Memphis, and Memphis and New Orleans.
X il deemed important, not only to the cites
enumerated, and to the intermediate places on the
rivers to be covered by this service, but due to the
great and increasing West, that these lines should
be SO established fully to secure the object con-
templated, to wit, certain regular, safe and re-
liable daily service upon these several routes. The
relative position OF the western section OF our
Union, its present Importance and prospective
greatness, alike demand that lis people should be
provided With the best postal facilities that the De-
partment can supply. To accomplish this 1t has
ght Information from various sources to the
quirements of the service, and will soon advertise for
such as WILL it "a believed, fully carry into effect
the intention of the act, and meet the just demands
of that interesting section Of our country
With the last annual report from this Depart
ment were published interesting tabular state
ments of the extent and increase of its business at
the several periods of five years, from 1870 70 1885
inclusive, and for each year from 1910 to 1851 in
elusive.
The extent and cost of steamboat aud Of rail-
road service were not separately given in those
statements, nor have they been 30 con tanned in
any published report from the Department. prior
to 1913. Since that time, however, in the annual
exhibit from the contract Office OF the mail service
in operation at the close of each fiscal ycar, the
two kinds of service have been separated The
annual increase of both kinds, in extent ard cost,
strkinglv illustrates the steady and rapid growth
IF our country. submit the following statement
of the extent and cost Of EACH at the close Of each
focal year, from lS4S to 1852, inclusive:
lS4S. lS49. 1850
Miles of steamboat
service ....... 1886 800 4,0S3,976 4.lO9, 9Sl
Miles of railroad
service. 1927 400 4,s6l,l lit 6,524 1893