Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-17
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE POST OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT.

The ANNUAL REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER
GENE RAJ is long document, of some ten columns,
prese nng very interesting view of the operations
and administration of the United States Post Office
Esta blishment during the past year. Our limited
space, however prevents its publication at large in
this paper and we place it before our readers in an
abridged form.
The whole number Of post Offices in the United States
at the close Of the last official year. June 80, 1853
1920. OF this number go OF the highest class
the posmasers which appointed by the President
At the present date list December 1859 the total
Der of post offices is 226Ss During the past year con-
mencng ls July, 1852, 1898 post Offices were establish
ed 49 discontinued; and there were appointed to
Office during said year. besides the 1898 postmasters
the newly established Offices aforesaid 1850 upon re-
sgnaton 225 deaths lS2 change Of Site 81 where the
postmaster had moved away and 232l on removal Of
prior incumbent being s567 postmasters appointed du
ring the year ending S0th June, 1853.
At the close Of the fiscal year ending the Goth day
of June last there in operation within the United
States 1852 mail routes; their aggregate length was
2lI,I48 miles, and 6,5S3 contractors employed
thereon.
The annual transportation OF the mails on those routes
S92 542 miles the annual cost thereof 81
being about seven cents mills per mile
or these 81 S92, 542 miles OF annual transportation
l29S6,7O5 miles required to be performed rnil-
roads, at cost Of ST Col 32a being about twelve cents
1nree mills mile b,bS5 200 miles steamboats,,
cost OF $685. $685. being nine cents four mills per mile
Il $780, 326 miles in coaches at cost Of 81 200 95S be-
ing about five cents six mills per mile and 20 $780, 44o
miles in modes not specified, at cost OF 81 055 33, be-
ing about five cents per mile.
The inland service the close Of the last fiscal year
when compared with the service the close OF the pre-
ceding year. shows increase 459 miles in the length
of mail routes of Sl4 in the number Of miles of
annual transportation and of 1897 in the annual
of transportation
Of such Of transportation the railroad and
steamboat service amounts to 1893 miles, in
creased cost OF S452 36 being increase Of II 200
per cent in the transportation and about % per
cent in the aggregate the coach service 63 1896
miles at increased OF $ 912 being an increase
of about l20 per cent. in transportation and $40
per cent in aggregate and the transportation in
modes not specified to 49, 25 miles, increased cost
of S25 663 being increase Of about 4300 per cent
in transportation, and 49l00 per in the aggre
gate cost.
The annual transportation in California Included in
the foregoing estmate at the close Of the fiscal year
$50 SO6 miles, at annual cost Of Sl432l4, being
increase within the of 80 SIT miles 10 3d. per
cent Of annual transportation, and 1884, or IL l2lOO
per cent. in the cost thereof.
The annual transportation in Oregon at the close of the
fiscal year l0S PA miles, annual Of 45 j22
about AZ per mile OF this service 27S miles
is performed in steamboats, annual cost of 81 600
and the residue Of 90 1896 miles in modes not specified
ut cost Of $751; about 81 cents and mills per
mile.
There should be added to the other cost Of transport
tion above stated the compensation Of agents
$3.50 224o5 nail messengers, $50, S34 05; and local
agents Sill 1873 40-making in all $685. 57 additional
including the pay TO agents the foreign routes.
In table attached to the report Of the Second Asss
Postmaster General the length of railroad service
will be seen and the prices respectively paid each
pany. The sums paid to these railroad companies are
Fixed under the acts Of It'll July, 1888 January IS 1899
and March 81, 1916. Under the last mentioned act il is
made the duty Of the Postmaster General arrange and
divide the railroad routes into three classes and 10 paw
them according the size of the mails the speed with
which they conveyed aud importance Of the SER
vice. Considerable difficulty has always existed with
this branch Of the service Sums demanded from the
Department which, in justice to great public interests it
cannot consent TO pay The Importance Of the service
the public is the great question Of consideration the
head Of the Department. but If he and the presidents
and managers of the railroad companies do not view its
Importance alike the mail is thrown down. and tile pub
lie caused thereby most greyously suffer This done
sometimes, too, in the summary manner without
any notice being given by which the Department could be
prepared 10 put other service; and when this is done
whether designedly not the Department is sure
suffer The citizens Of the different States are deeply
interested in this question and if they wish continue
receive their letters and newspapers at cheap rate Of
postage they must not permit these companies to dictate
10 the Department their In Of the States
Of the Union provision has been inserted in the char
tiers Of the railroad companies providing for reference
In case Of disagreement between the Postmaster Gene
raj and the companies In neither Of the acts which
have cited is any power given to the Postmaster General
TO agree TO any such reference; and If they were
should very much doubt its policy In England this
agreement to refer has acted unavoraby TO the Govern
ment and see no why Congress- first giving each
company full opportunity Of being heard should not
hK the which they each respectively 70 receive
In England Also and in the other continental States
the time for arrivals and departures is SO liked by the
Post Office Departments best salt the public inter-
ests.
In ordinary mail contracts the time for arrival
and departure is entirely subject the order Of this
Department, by which il is enabled maintain I'M
broken link Of connection; but in the great majority Of
cases. though have been drawn and submitted
to railroad companies they have chosen sign them
The consequence has been that though receiving
pay, they may be said be entirely beyond the control
Of the Department. and the public interests have there
by greatly suffered.
After entering upon my duties as head Of the Depart
mail cars and Of the Of proper accommodations
and so garng these defects some instances that
he mail agents unable properly discharge their
duties, now becoming daily important owing TO the
increase Of way distribution. To remedy this evil had
prepared model Of mal-car which had transmitted
10 the presidents Of the different railroad comnsnas
but In very few instances have my wishes been complied
with La those where the contracts gave me the
power 10 build mailcar when the one in use was uu
suited to the purposes have ordered il TO be done and
the cost charged to the companies but in class
cases in which they have declined becoming parties to
any contract am remedies
While such have been Of the difficulties which
the Department has had encounter with these railroad
companies, that service with its necessary attendants
mail agents and mail messengers has absorbed more
than one-thrd OF the entire revenues derived from
hostages.
On the Goth Of September last there were in operation
within the United States POP railroad routes their ~
gregate length 134l09 miles aud the Of mai
transportation thereon 81 G45 1928, being the rat
Of Sl20.2G 40 per mile Including the pay Of mai
messengers and local agents the whole expense
this service is increased to 81 2C47S, $l393S G
rpila