, 1854-02-04

The army OF POStmaStcrS IN the United
States, ON the last of Juuc, 1888, was 22,-
32O strong-thcre ought to have been 3GG
more, since the Offices numbered that figure. |
During the year one-eloycnth Of the whole
number were established. The number of
Postmastcrs appointed during the year
was S,567-22j of these were to fill vacan-
cies created by death, 1921 to replace the
decapitatcd.
The aggregate length Of mail routes in
operation was 2l7, ,743 miles, the transpor-
tation over which costs seven cents and two
mills per mile. The annual transportation
of mails over these routes was 81 ,SS2, ,542 |
The transportation inCalilornia has incrcas-
ed One-siXth, and that of Oregon is equal to
one-Iifth of that of California.
The Postmaster General aludcs to the
grieyous suffering of the poor public when
ever the governmet insists on fair, instead
of eXtortionate payment to railroad compa-
nies. Sundry companies, not being used to
such treatment, throw down the mail and
invite the Department to carry i cheaper i'll
cheaper if they can.
The present cost Of transportation in
steamboats, in California is about thirteen
cents eight mills yea mile in cachos, about
twedty ceuts per mile and in modes not
specified, about thirty-four cents six mills
per mile while the cost of similar service
in the United States, excluding Oregon,
New Mexico and Utah, is in steamboats,,
about nine cents per mile, in stage coaches
about five cents and five mills per mile.
The prices paid for mail service in Califor-
MIA are thus pretty fair; prices charged for
mail matter are low enough. The Post
master mourns the existence Of another
vice. Hear him:
Notwithstanding the Government in
ours a heavy wrefundcd expenditure in
supplying the citizens of that State, with
his letters, newspapers, and other mail
matters, the citizen himself employs other
facilities for the conveyance of his letters,
and pays therefor at rate from 90 to 40I
fold greather than the Government charges
for a similar service The facilities refer
red to are the expresses. Government has
not been able to keep pace, in its organised
mail arrangements, with the movements of
the minor. His settlement is suddenly
made and rapidly eXtended-long before
the mail contractor and postmaster can be
provided. The eXpreSsmen are at hand,
and the wants of the miner are immediate.
} His orders are all sent by them to the cen
trail post-Ofiice, to which, not knowing
where his eventual location will be in the
gold region, he has directed his letters to
be addressed. The postmaster has favored
the eXpressmen in the prompt delivery Of
his letters, and has received in return
compensation much larger per letter than
any commission ever allowed him by the
Government. The expresses charge is 81
per letter, 80, and SO on, rising, in some
: instances, to $5 according to distance
Once commenced, the habit Of the miner
of relying on the expresses is continued,
long after the post office and mail routes
have reached the neighborhood."
He tells the reasons why. The upshot
of all of them is that Uncle Sam is slower
and not half so trusty as the express man.
We are not all fools. When the Depart
ment does its business as well for us at six
pense as private company does for dol
lar, then-not before-the Department will
get the carrying business.
!, Great hopes are entertained that the
$50,000 worth Of special agents lately ap-
pointed will do much service in preventing
mail depredations.
The expenses of the department for the
year crowded Ss,OOO,OOO Here are a few
items Compensation to Postmasters, ST.
4OO, 900; wrapping paper, $4l, ,453; mail
bags. $40, ,30S; stamped envelopes, $40, ,30l
The revenue of the year was IS, $40, 724, of
which letter postage was four and half
: millions Thus the gross revenue of the
year ending June 80, 1853 fell short of the
expenditures during the year by the sum Of
$2,Ol2, ,O3l.
1t is recommended to amend the law, SO
, as to increase the remuneration of postmas-
tcrs. Absolute prepayment is recommend
ed. 1t would save time and labor and
tighten the burdens of halfpaid deputies.
The quarterly returns need simpliiication.
: 1t is estimated that the expenditures of the
current fiscal year will amount to $S, 49,
6Ol.
The cost of service between New York
and Aspinwall was 1884, $40; between As
Ipinwall and Panama, $S5, ,3l4; Astoria,
via San Francisco to Panama, $346, $50.
The number of letters sent by the New
York, New Orleans, Aspinwall and Pacific
mail steamship lines was 2,707,533 Ire
Bile the number of letters were sent to this
country by the Cunard than the Collins
steamers, from England, partiality which
is not evident in the mails dispatched in
the United States for England. Great
Britain is rich enough not to be so mean.
-
REPORT OF THE SECRErvRY OF War;
The report commences by stating that the
authorized strength of the army as now
IpOSted. is l3.S2l. officers and mon. hut the