The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-12-21
Postmaster Generals Report.

The Postmaster Generals Report Is a
long, able and business like document.
We make the following abstract:
The whole number OF Post Offices in
the United States at the close OF the last
official year, ending June 80. 1858, was
% 800. OF this number 255 are of the
highest class, the Postmasters of which
are appointed by the President.
AT the present date, December /, 1858.
the total number OF Post Offices is 22,688.
During the past year, commencing July
/. 1859. l 898 Post Offices were establish
ed; 479 were discontinued, and there We're
appointed to ofice@ during the said year.
besides the 1898 Postmasters to the new.
fy established offices aforesaid, 5000; $50
upon resignation. 225 on death, 1872 by
change of site. 81 where the Postm aster
had moved away, and 1891 on the re-.
moval OF prior incumbeni; being 1867
Postmasters appointed during the year
ending June 80, 1853.
At the close OF the fiscal year, ending
on the 30th June last. there were in opera
ton within the United States, 6.692 mail
routes. The aggregate length was 2l7,-
743 miles, and 1888 contractors employed
thereon.
The annual transportation of the mails
on those routes was 6l,892 SAG miles, and
the annual cost thereof, $4,495 968; being
about seven cents two mills per mile. OF
these 61.892,542 miles Of annual trans.
portation, ls,986,765 miles are required
10 be performed on railroads, at a cost OF
81 sol .82l, being about twelve cents three
mills per mile; 6.685.O65 miles in steam
boats, at cost OF 1852. 368, being about
nine cents four mills per mile; 2l $50 800
miles in coaches, at a cost OF y ,206 1853,
being about five cents six mills per mile;
and 90, ,89O,446 miles in modes not speci.
fled, at a cost Of $1.O55,313, being about,
five cents per mile.
The following passage relating to Cali
fornia expenses and revenue, shows the
disadvantages peculiar to the mail arrange
ments in that section: ss.=..,S
Our local mail service on the Pacific is
strongly marked by two peculiarities, es-
pecially in California-very high prices
and great difficulty in giving that people
the mail facilities which they require.
The present cost Of transportation in
ste amboats in California is about thirteen
cents eight mills per mile; in coaches.
about twenty cents per mile; and in modes
not specified, about thirty-four cents six
mills per mile.
These mail prices, however, are not out
Of scale with those of labor. living, and
commodities generally, in that region Of
country.
The most striking discrepancy appears
on comparing these prices which the gov
ernment pays in California with those
which il receives for the same work.
mean the rates of postage. The one is
graduated to the highest scale OF prices,
and the other to the lowest. For single
letter of J an ounce the department re-
ceives six cents when prepaid, and ten
cents when unpaid, and for each pound
of printed matter, which comprises very
large proportion of the contents of the
mails, about five cents pound; the cost
to the department for transportation across
the Isthmus alone being twenty-five cents
pound. The necessary consequence is
that the cost Of mail service in California
greatly exceeds the revenue it yields.
The expenditures Of the Department
during the last fiscal year. as stated by the
Auditor, amounted to $7,982,756, So.
The gross revenue Of the year from all
sources amounted to $5,946,724 70.
1t appears from the foregoing statements
that the gross revenue of the year ending
JunS 20, 1858, fell short Of the expendi-
lures during the year by the sum of $2,-
O42.O3 80. aa ss@s
The foregoing deficiency should be di-
minished by the sum. Of $53, ,5O4 48 due
the United States to the 3Oth Iune. 1858.
under the postal convention with Prussia.
and increased by the quarterly balances
due to Great Britain up to the same period.
! amounting 10 $l28,55O 79. This would