The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-12-13
TIE DAILY DISPATCH
POSTMASTER GENERALS RFpop =

oEs,esdse lengtn OF the mail routes at the close
| OF the fiscal year-30th June-vas o11Ss1
miles; the annual cost of transportation "a
939,91l, or about 40 cents per mi,e. Ths
routes have been increased in the year to the |
| extent OF IL 1894 miles, at an annual increase
OF cost of $5lS,2l7.
| Of the six foreign mail routes, three are un-
der contract with the Post Office Department,
three with the Navy Department. The annual
cost OF the former is $400 0C0 of the latter 81
49625O, including the additional compensation
voted to the Collins line. The conveyance Of
the mails across the Isthmus of Panama last
year cost % cents per pound.
The gross receipts Of the Department during
the year were $6,925,971, of which 81 ,226,7
were derived from letters, $7S9 .246 from news.
papers and periodicals, $104 ,35S from letter.
carriers. From the total must be deduced the
sum payable to the British post Office, amount
ing to Sl0l,9oS. The receipts, foreign and do
mestic, show decrease of 81 1888 334 as COM
pared with the previous year, attributable to
| the reduction OF rates made by the act of March,
1851. Although this falling off conflicts with
the calculations of the more sanguine advo.
Gates of cheap postage, the Postmaster General
reasons against return to hig her rates. To
secure for the experiment fair trial, however,
he urges the necessity of securing to the De-
partment all the receipts which the law has as.
signed for its support. He refers TO the present
| Illegal practice of transmitting letters by ex-
press or oheI private conveyance; but states
that letters may be so sent when enclosed in
| the stamped envelopes now in course of prepa-
ration.
Ailudlng to the proceedings of the association
formed in London for the purpose of promo
| ting cheap and uniform system of inter-
national postage, the Postmaster General,
| while admitting the desirableness of the OBJ
Jec,, regards its adoption as inexpedient in the
imperfect state Of our foreign postal arrange
ments.
| The total expenditures during the year were
$7,Il8,459, of which 81 ,225,3ll were for the
transportation of mails, 81 l,296,765 compen-
sation to postmasters, Si56,594 extra COM
pensation to the same, $54S,9l6 for clerks
for offices, and $lO4,3a5 for payments to letter
carriers.
Thee expenditures are estimated at SS.-
745,777 and the receipts at 81 7,417 200; leaving
a deficit Of 81 ,327 1886 to be provided for by d.
rect appropriation from the treasury. A larger
appropriation will probably be necessary.
The report draws attention TO the extremely
unsatisfactory performance of the mail service
between New York and Washington explain.
ing that it arises from want of unity on the
paTi of the railroad companies interested, and
of accommodation on the pant of the companies
RAINING between New York and Philadelphia.
! The Postmaster General suggests that Con-
gress should consider if it cannot remedy the
evil by the exercise of its power over the es-
tablshment Of post roads; and this suggestion,
we are sure, will receive the hearty support of
the citizens interested in the route. The man.
ner in which the service has teen performed
during the past week is as disgraceful as it is
ineonvenieDt.
| Preliminary arrangements have been made
for carrying out the intentions of Congress in
regard to providing for duly mail service be-
tween Louisville and Cairo, st. Louis and
= Cairo, Cairo and Memphis, and Memphis and
III LNts ~f = Al
the arrangements when completed will meet
the just demands of that section of the coun-
try. 1t is expected that the great through line
, from New York to New Orleans will be rem
dered more expeditions next year by the com.
pletion of the Wilmington and Manchester rail-
f road.
The failure of the contrac tor to fulfil efficient
| service between Salt Lake city and Sacramen
to, in California, has led TO an arrangement
with another contractor, who is to establish
: and maintain fortified ost at Carson's Valley.
The whole amount OF posiages on matter
received and sent by the Collins line Of steam
ers during the year, was $226,867; by New
! and Bremen line, $77.2I9; by New York
and Havre line. $80,S04: by Charleston and
8 Havana line, ,sll,s5s. The performance.
Of the Collins line are spoken OF in terms OF
E strong commendetion. The Troprietors OF the
r Bremen and Hayre lines desire increased re-
muneraton to enable them to perform addition
| al trips, and to meet the requirements OF the
service by changing the terminus Of tie route
i from Havre to Antwerp. The Postmaster Ge-
It neral alludes TO the Increasing trade with Ger
e many, and the immense number Of emigrant:
7 from th country, as reasons for tavorably con
- sldering the application.
Owing to the recent postal convention be
tween the United States and Prussia, the lar
: ger part of the continental (Europeanl cores
- pondence, which formerly went ria Eremen
,e is now sent ola London, Ostend, and AK Ia
"a I gboneue advantageous postal ar
rangement with Belgium is anticipated
France, too, proposes q ,nostai treaty with th'
United States, and the establish .'ant OF un'o'
r. line OF mail steamships direct between wy
g York and Havre. Under an arrangement wIf
y Britain, plans have been matured for regular
mail arrangement between the United states
Is aud the West Indies generally, and points on
the coast of Mexico and northern coast o
South America, at which the British mail
= packets touch. The postal arrangements with
n Canada and New Brunswick operate adva.1
q ,ageously, AMI are TO be extended TO Nova SEQ
; tia.
d The inconvenient and burdensome eharacte Ell
: of the existing acts of Congress respecting the
" allowance of additional commissions to post.
b masters is pointed out in letter by Mr.. Far.
: reilly, the Auditor, who recommends repeal
n of the provision requiring the present mode oi
q settlement. and return to the old system oil
uniform rates of commission on the amount o
postage collected. In this recommendation the
Postmas ter General concurs. The Auditor
: also recommends that postmaster should be
e allowed a small compensation Tor delivering
!. from his office TO a subscriber each newspaper
o not now chargeable with postage.
Attention is directed TO large class of con
tractors on special routes, and mail messen
j gers, on whom the reduction Of postage ha:
: operated with great hardship.
b Estimates by the auditor-embraced id ihi:
p reporl-show that the total number Of paid enc
unpaid letters which passed through the pos
Offices in the United States during the year
: was 81. .79O ,524; OF which 4,421 ,5i7 wers con
d yeyea by European steamers; 1882 by Ha
!, yana steamers; | .495 ,5G by California sieasn
era. Tire dead letters numbered more thar
100000. The newspapers and other packa
ges of printed matter chargeeble with postag