The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-07

Annual Report OF the Postmaster General

The whole number Of post Offices in the United States
On the goth Of june lSS4 vas % 54s or this number
amount to one thousand dollars upwards and the ap
pointments at these offices therefore made by the
President by and with the advice and consent Of the
Senate agreeaby to the provisions of the act of 1885
The number Of Offices established during 1.-THE last fiscal
year was ,842, and the number discontinued GA
snowing net increase in one year OF 22s The num-
ber Of which tho SITES and have been changed in
The course Of the year was 49, The number Of post
4lS5 we're appointed to nil vacancies occasoned by
signarions; 1877 by removals. $50 by Deaths 294 by
change Of names and sites; and 1892 establishment
The total number of Offices the LIST of December,
On the Both June last there in operation 6,697
mail routes. The number of contractors was 5,i67.
The length OF these routes is estimated at 2l9 1856
The total annual transporationu of mails was g. 3s7
600 miles, costing e3o676 and divided as follows,
miles by modes not specified, at 81, sa3
about cents per mile.
$50 miles by coach, at u oe5, about cents
$50 miles by railroad, at si,7dsslo, about II
5,7s5, 4ss miles BY steamboat, at sass,las, about
Compared with the services of the 30th June, 1853
there Is an increase of 494 4s3 miles Of transporta
ton or about "a per cent, and of 1854 los cost being
about three per cent.
The increase Of railroad service is 24t6 6s4 miles, and
the expense 2S1 being 10 per cent in ransporta
tion and not quite per cent in cost.
The increased transportation by modes not specified
Of 1920, or 3 IS 100 per cent
The transportation by coaches is less by aao7 e6
miles or about per cent though at increased cost
Of So, 137, or $500 per cent
The unprecedented extension of railroads superseded
much coach service The increased cost for dimin-
shed aMmount of such service may be accounted for
from the fact that the new contracts in New England
At largely enhanced rates, increasing the aggregate
expense, while the amount OF service was largely
anced.
The steamboat transportation during the past year
was reduced $50 $50 niles or 1874 per cent at reduced
cost OF $l43, $50, or 20 10 per cent.
This accounted for by the discontinuance of service
between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston,
South Caroline savanah Georgia, and Charleston, and
the Arkansas and White rivers owing the failures Of
the contractors.
Several steamboat we're also dispensed with at
the lettings o, contracts for New England and New
York.
The portions of service in the foregoing estimates
chargeabe 10 California 591, Gao maes of annual
transportation costing Sl42 923 and varying but slight
l from last years report Steamboat transportation,
l2O miles, at 81 600; coach transportation, TIA OF
mics at $5ls5; modes not specified, transportation
25S,4s miles, at $50, 74s.
In Oegon the service is folTows-Steamboat IS 03}
miles at ST. COO modes not specified, 1855 miles at
s215l; total transportation 1877 ops miles; total
S45, ISL The annual transportation by steamboat
Increased 1890 miles during the year, without addi
The following table exhibits the ex tension of railroad
service during the year, separately in five groups Of
States
Mae9
annual
Length trGnspor- addition
If route tdtion. al cost.
New England and New York, go 971 BAL $29,4SS
New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland, and
Ohio. .... -. 1919. 342 1880 l5,5ls
Virginia, North Carolina
South Carolina, Georgia.
and florida. ............ 32S l35, 221 sc, sos
Michigan, Indiana, Illinois,
and Wisconsin. .......... COS I1o,952 i4,214
Kentucky, Tennessee, Ala
bama Mississippi, and
L0uisan a. ............... lol 7550i 11,23f
The lettings for the year embraced the States of Ala
bama, Mississippi, louisiana Arkansas Texas, Mis-
souri,, Kentucky Tennessee, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan
indiana, Illinois, California and the Territories of
gou, New Mnxieo Utah, Washington and Minnesota In
some OF the States and Territories found the mail fac
Mites greatly deficient not at all such the wants
and requirements OF the people absolutely demanded.
After careful survey Of each State and Territory
trade and population seemed to require
comparison of the service under the contracts
commencing LIST July last in operation the 30th
September with that under the expired contracts in the
southwestern and southwestern sections Of the Union
shows that the annual transportation Of mails has been
Increased 800 $50 miles at increased of 1885,,
373 per divided among the several states and
Territories, as follows
liner d.sTs J~.rrs al