Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-01-20
Government Reports.
From the Washington Republic.
POSTMASTER GENERALS RE.
PORT.

POSTMASTER GENERALS RE-
p. PORT.
On the lst November 81, ,l0l pos, Of
fees were in operation in the United
States. The aggregate length of mail
routes at the close of the fiscal year
30th June-was 2l4,2S4 miles; the an
nual cost of transportation S3,939,97I,
or about 6 7-l0 cents per mile. The
routes have been increased in the year
to the extent of 1894 miles, at an an
nual increase of cost of S5IS,2I7.
Of the six foreign mail routes, three
are under contract with the Post Office
Department, three with the Navy De-
partmenL The annual cost of the for.
mer is 100000; of the latter, 81, 1885,.
$50, including the additional compen-
sation voted to the Collins line. The
conveyance of the mails across the Isth-
mus of Panama last year cost cost %
cents per pound.
The gross receipts Of the Department
during the year were $6,925,97l, of
which S4,226,792 were derived from let
ter postage, s7S9,246 from newspapers
and periodicals, SlO4,3 ,355 from letter
carriers. From the total mus, be de-
Quoted the amount payable to the British
post office, amounting TO SOL, ,95S.-
The receipts, foreign and domestic, show
decrease of Sl,33S,33l as compared
with those of the previous year; attribu-
table to the reduction Of rates made by
the act of March, 1851. Although this
falling off conflicts with the calculations
of the more sanguine advocates of cheap
postage, the Post Master General rea-
sons against return to higher rates.
70 secure for the experiment fair iiial,
however, he urges the necessity of Sc.
curing to the Department all the receipts
which the law has assigned for its sup
port. He refers TO the present illegal
practice Of transmitting letters by ex.
press or other private eonveyance; but
states that letters may be sent when en-
closed in the stamped envelopes now in
course of preparation.
The total expenditures during the
year were $7,lSS,459, of which S4,-
225,3ll were for the transportation of
mails, Sl,296,765 compensation TO post
masters, $456,594 extra compensation
to the same, S54S,9l6 for clerks for
offices, $l04,355 for payments to letter
carriers.
The expenditures for the current fs.
cal year are estimated at $S,745,777,
and the receipts at S7,4l7,790; leaving
a deficit of 81 1927, 1856 to be provided
for by direct appropriation from the trea-
sury. A larger appropriation will prob
ably be necessary.
Abiding 10 the proceeding of the as
sociation formed in London for the pur-
pose of promoting cheap and uniform
system OF international postage, the Post
Master General, while admitting the de-
sirableness of the object, regards its
adoption as inexpedient in the imperfec.
state of our foreign postal arrangements.
Preliminary arrangements have been
made for carrying out the intentions OF
Congress in regard to providing daily
mail service between Louisville and Ca.
iro, ST. Louis and Cairo, Cairo and
Memphis, and Memphis and New Or.
leans; and belief is expressed that the
arrangement, when completed, will meet
the just demands Of that section Of the
country. 1t is expected that the great
through line from New York TO New
Orleans will be rendered more expedi-
lious next year by the completion of the
Wilmington and Manchester railroad.
The failure of the contractor to fulf |!
efficient service between Salt Lake City
and Sacramento, in California, has led to
an arrangement with another contractor
who is to establish and maintain forti-
fed post at Carson's Valley.
The whole amount of postages on
matter received and sent by the Collins.
line of steamers, during the year was,
$28S,S67 by the New York and Bre-
men line, $77,2l9; by New Pork and
Havre line, $S0,S04; by Charleston and
Havana line, o. 1888. The performau-
ces of the Collins line are spoken of in
terms of strong commendaiion. The
proprietors of the Bremen and Havre
lines desire increased remuneration to
enable them to perform additional trips
and 10 meet the requirements of the SER
vice by changing the terminus of the
route from Havre 10 Antwerp. The
Postmaster General alludes to the in
creasing trade with Germany, ard the
immense number of emigrants from that
country. as reasons for iavorably consid-
ering the application. Owing to the re.
cent postal convention between the Uni
ted States and Prussia, the larger part
of the continental (European) correspon-
dence, which formerly went via Bremen
is now sent via London. Ostend and AK
la Chapelle. An advantageous postal
arrangement with Belgium is anticipated.
France, too. proposes a postal treaty
with the United States, and the establish.
ment of a union line of mail steamships
direct between New York and Havre.
Under an arrangement with Britain,
plans have been matured for regular
mail arrangement between the U. States
and the West Indies generally and points
on the coast of Mexico and northern
coast of South America, a, which the
British mail packets touch. The postal