Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-12-09

There were in service on the so Of June last 236
agents, at compensation Of $l6l, 600 per annum q
local agents. at SIS 400 per annum; and 968 mail
sengers at 1902 l31 80 per making total cost
of $3.50 80 per to be added to the other cost
| of transportation, stated above at "a, 6SO,4I6
Pursuant the act of Congress Of the 9th of August
1854 invited proposals the 3lst of August for
veying mails from Cairo, Illinois, to New Orleans and
back daily, in steamboats, Only one bid was received
within the prescribed time, 10th November and that
being for $500 600 did not feel myself at liberty to
accept it. second bid at much reasonable rate
was received after the regular time had expired.
There great mail lines in operation with
which to the proposed at Cairo The time
is however not distant when the necessary connexions
will be effected by the completion of the Illinois Central
Railroad to Cairo and Of the Ohio and Mississippi road
its point of intersection from the east with the Illinois
Central am informed that by the lst of January the
Illinois Central win be completed and that by the 1st of
July the Ohio and Mississippi road viii make its eastern
connexion with that road The chain of railroads be-
tween the Atlantic OF various points and the Mississippi
river, thus completed will attract largo and important
mails which are now conveyed other routes, and most
materially enhance the Importance Of steamboat route
between Cairo and New Orleans Moreover II is
able anticipate such increase Of trade and travel in
the same direction win go very far towards sustaining
line of boats thus reducing the cost of mail service
At present the principal if not the only support of the
line would be from this Department. and have there
but await developments to be expected enabling
me TO negotiate much advantageous both to
the public and this Department In the mean time mails
regularly conveyed heretofore by the trip between
Louisville and New Orleans and st. Louis and New Or
leans.
have also contracted for separate service between
New Orleans and Vicksburg Vicksburg and Napoleon
and Memphis.
There were in operation on the 30th September last
$50 railroad routes Their aggregate length was 62l
miles, and the of mail transportation thereon was
ST. 1928 747.89. Add to this the sums paid mail messen-
gers route and local agests and the whole cost of this
service will be 50, 196, 24989.
1.-THE Postmaster General next alludes at considerable
length to the difficulties between the Department and
railroad companies relative to the rates OF compensation
for carrying the mails The companies, he says, aege
that the Government shouldro ask expect them to
form for any service at less rate than that paid by in
dviduals for similar services. This principle he con-
tends he has always been willing to recognise in the adj
justnent Of prices What is required, he believes,
that the railroad companies should be paid accordrg
the bulk of the mes the speed with which they are con-
veyed and the accommodations required The sums paid
by express companies fair criterion for they
are uninfuenced by competition they pay any price
demanded Of them and assess upon their customers
England France Germany, and Canada pay less to rail-
roads for mail service than paid by the United States
Complaint is made Of the insufficient accommodations
general rule for route agents Ausion is made to the
habit Of irresponsible parties obtaining, by msrep
resenation mail contracts and subsequently throwing
them up because Of failure their part to sell the same
l.st
The Auditor reports the expenditures Of the Depart
ment for the last fiscal year at 1857 H. for the fol-
lowing objects, viz:
Compensation to posmasters ,707, 70S 30
Extra compensation to postmasters by the
act Of March 8, 1851 .................. $1,000 97
Ship steamboat, and way letters 1850 81
Transportation OF the mails, including the
mails to Bremen, Havre, and Havana,
and the mails across the isthmus Of Pa
mama 5,401, Ss2 so
Wrapping paper Observation-Disclosures. 40,463 Sc
Office furniture for post Offices. 5929 ~
Advertising .....,........ l03,S63 81
Mail bags ............ 48S61 81
Blanks ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1916 81
Mail locks keys, and stamps. ........... 1000 n
Mail depredations and special agents.... 4S769 81
Clerks for Offices (of postmasters) ..... 63l l38 70
Official letters received by postmasters... AT w
Postage stamps .......... 1864 81
Stamped envelopes Observation-Disclosures. 47418 II
Postage stamps of old issues redeemed... 81 IS
Payments to letter carriers. .."... l35,96S %
Compilation Of post routes. 1000 00
Miscellaneous payments ,................. l536l1 96
Payments for British mails ............ 94,54l 39
s,577, 424 II
The gross revenue of the last fiscal year, including for
eign hostages and the annual appropriations from the
Treasury granted by the acts Of Sd March, IS4 and 3D.
March, 1851, in compensation Of mail services rendered
to the Government, amounted to So 5o5, 5o622, VIZ:
Letter postage 2T7, 40 so
Postage stamps sold. Observation-Disclosures. 2, l46 4I6 OF
Newspapers and pamphlets &c., 48 Is
Fines, other than from contractors...... IL 30
Emolument accounts of postmasters- Sl,9o2 At
Letter carriers I3o,a6S 52
Recovered from falling contractors ........ 400 90
Deadetter money unclaimed. 4,346 IL
Miscellaneous receipts 3,1G6 90
=-.. 6255, 586 %
Annual appropriations above stated..... 100000 90
6,955,5s6 %
The revenue as above stated includes the balance against
the Department of 1888 565 81 resulting from postal