Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-09

alone will be authorized 10 give the required GER
liicaie.
The proper dislribulion Of mail matter in a
country so vast as ours. with so many mail-routes
and 50 many post Offices, is subject attended
with great difficulty, and 70 which the attention Of
my predecessors has frequently been directed.
Letters, instead of having one or, al most, two
distributions, have been distributed four or i've
times before their arrival at the destined point The
consequence has been that the distribution and
delivery commissions have almost consumed the
postage; but the worst evil arising from this prac-
lice has been that great delays have been occa-
stoned, which have always been the subject OF
just complaint. To distribute mail matter proper
iy requires minute knowledge of mail arrange
ments, and this the department alone can have. II
the, postmasters at the various distributing post
Offices were permitted TO make their own dislri-
bullion schemes, with their necessarily imperfect
knowledge, great mistakes must occur, and, in
stead Of letter being mailed direct 10 the disiri-
button Office TO which belongs, il would be mail
ed from point 10 point along the route until 1t
reached its destined point. To prevent these de-
lays, and at the same time TO possess myself Of tho
local knowledge Of the postmasters al the distri-
buting post Offices, caused TO be forwarded 10 me
the different schemes of distribution. Some OF
Them found quite perfect, but the great ma
jority of them were very defective, and my only
surprise has been that greater delays delivery
Of letters have not taken place. lam now having
prepared distribution schemes for every distributing
Office in the country, aottng to each its proper dis
tributioR. sx s f
When they are completedthe postmaster al the
| mailing point can, by turning TO his scheme, and
looking 10 the counties and towns in each State
allotted 10 the various distributing Offices, be en-
abled TO mail direct. The department will like
wise have the important matter of distribution
under its exclusive control, and new mail arrange.
| ments are made, by railroad or otherwise which
would change the course Of distribution the diff
fereni Offices can be instructed accordingly. Much
| however, remains to be done. Every distribution
causes delay, and this must necessarily take place
under our present system once twice, which il
one great cause Of complaint that letters do moi
| reach their point or destination as soon as pas
sengers. When the letter is from one distributing
Office TO another the mail is direct, and il sent or
| its proper course there is good reason for any
delay. The mailing, indeed, should be direct
from every post Office in the United States tc
/ another, but, this under present system,
view as impracticable. With our existing regu
| lations, which prescribe that every postmaster
shall mail direct to the place addressed all letter.
for his own State or Territory. and all letters fol
post Offices in other States and Territories which
should not pass through distributing Office oil
their proper route 10 the Office Of delivery rigor
onsly enforced, and the new schemes of distribu
ton in operation at the various distributing pos
| Offices, j trust 10 be able TO give to our mail
greater speed and regularity. 4
The Auditor reports the expenditures of the de
partmeni for The last fiscal year at S. 577, 424 IL
for the following objects, viz:
/ Connen afion "a nostmastar. x1 707 7nQ O,