The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-30

nsnee under the Supervision of he Third Assistant John
Marion, esq assisted by n clerks so much OF
the iseal operations OF the establishment the law does
not devoive upon The Auditor Il prescribes the mode in
winch ihe postmasers shall pay over their balances,
MAKES uaits Tor the collection and transfer OF Its funds
and issues warrants the treasury to pay balances
ported by the Auditor 10 be owing This Office also
ceves the quarterly returns of postmasters and has
charge Of all business relating 10 dead letters and The
issue OF postage stamps The Inspection Bureau ander
he care OF The chief clerk John oakiord esq aided by
sixteen clerks, examines all reports from pos,ms aud
others touching the performances OF mail contractors, with
a view 10 holding them 10 faithful compliance with
then obligations, L also makes periodical reports TO
the Auditor OF all deductions from their pay for den-
quent performance, and takes cognzance of all matters
connected with mail depredauons and the issuing OF
mail bags, locks, and keys
Post Once Department, as above stated bul OF the
Treasury Department, collects debts due the estab-
shment adjusts and settles the accounts OF its mail
contractors posmastes, and other agents, and generally
al claims originating under orders OF the Postmaster
General No other executive office al Wa shing,on
compare with il IN amount OF labor Ii numbers IO3
clerks, appointed by The Secretary OF the Treasury
classed as oows Pay clerks, 10; examiners Of post
masters e,nrns, A book keepers IL registers, COL
lecllon clerks, lS; miscellaneous TO-
The following individuals have presided this great
bureau since Its organization, viz:
Charles Gardner, appointed July 2, 1886
Elisha Whiltlesey, appointed March 10. lS4l.
M 81 G. Clarke. appointed December 20 lS43
Peter G Washington. appointed March 30. ls45.
J. w Farrelly, appointed November s. lS40.
w. F. Phillips, appointed April T. 1853.
Messrs. Whitllesey and Washington proved very eff
cient officers. The latter made valuable improvements
in the mode OF arranging and preserving It's books and
papers. a 4,
posriders and clerks in post Offices number nearly thir
ty thousand embracing % ,320 local postmasters, 209
travelling ones, (roue agents railroad nes) $500
mail contractors, 900 mail messengers, employed at rail-
road depots and steamboat landngs ls special and 26
local ageats Its inland mail-oules divided into four
geographical sections, and let 10 service for periods OF
osr years One OF the sections being placed under con
tract each spring. the entire circle kept in constant
ton Of the posmasiers, those whose Offices produce
revenue OF vi 900 year, of which there 1858,
appointed by the President and Senate the others by the
Postmaster General For the convenience Of the con-
tract and accounting business, the offices further
classified under the following denominations, viz Dis
rbuton, special, collection, draft, and deposite. The
ally located the gaeways Of States other large mail
districts, is to consolidate, assert. and despatch by the
most direct lines the packages coming TO them from diff
feTen quarters The special Offices exceeding 5000, are
generally situated in retired locations, of any public
route and have 10 pay mail supplies of what
they make Those styled collecon--over II 7,000-are
under instructions hand their quarterly 10
The contractors furnishing them with the mail. The
draft otices-abont 1,o00are directed 10 retain their
poslages to meet special drafts made on them BY the au
horities al Washington Those denominated depoeite
nearly as manyplace their balances periodically in des
ignated repositories se ~
The present energetic postal Chel and his able Assist
ants manifest commendabe socitude TO nfuee the
most practicable vitality into every branch OF the bust
ness nlrused to their SUPERVISION The Office OF Post
connected power
and patronage has peculiar trials owing the fact that
no man, however wellmeaning and sagacious dis
pense this patronage to the satisfaction of ALL or, how
wachful and energetic, prevent amid the multitude
agents attached the postal service. numerous daily
Deficiencies and malpacces in duty. which give rise TO
much public annoyance and bring down the head Of
the department loud complaints both the part OF the
press and oil individuals The fact that Judge Campbell
took charge of the establishment at period when its ex
pendtures considerably exceeded its whereby
he precluded from giving effect many meritoous ap
pcatons from different sections OF the Union for increase
OF mail facilities, must, Judge have augmented the ord
nary difficulties oil the position. 8a 1A #st
Several reports from the department 10 Congress with
few years past have alluded to serious defeeis In
postal system-parcuarly its arrangements for mail
billing mail dstIbuuoD and securing the
OF posmasters In ANAL, compac,ly settled country,
like Great Britain from which we derived theory
these subjects is easy TO apply proper corrective,
which accordingly done there few years ago. But
owing TO the widely scattered condition of the population
OF hr United Stales and the constant changes going
in the locations OF its post offices and The direction OF ills
routes, IDsurmonntabe obstacles have opposed them
selves TO all plans suggested for reforming the matter
this side of the Atlantic A serious additional impedi-
meni TO The efficiency of the American Office grows out
OF the TACT that has not in all cases, the British and
French postal departments have, entire control the
times oi arrival and departure OF the railroad mails,
Notwithstanding however, this opening for improve
ment. the operations OF the General Post Office consi
ute, bn,ed in the outset OF this article, account
OF their vgor and magnitude subjec, for general
sralga,lon, The New York evening papers Paper are pc,
Weldon, North CarolIna-,he former 81 and the latter
Ash miles distant and the following day in Chicago and
Charleston Similar instances oil ceeny the despatch OF
the mail bags in other quarters OF the country
Almost the entire distance from Maine TO Texas and
from Massachusetts, TO Iowa, immense quantities OF
ers and printed matter daily forwarded by its agencies
with all the velocity aainable by the iron horse and
steamboat paddle regular mail conveyance by coach
and horseback, rs mado month from the banks of
the Rio Grandeio those of the Missouri, about 1900
miles, through districts till recently ssed only by half
breed Indians and mbecile Mexicans From the lat
ter point the posi- riders again periodically take up
the line OF march another 1000 miles over bound
less uncuvaed prairies and gigantic mountain ranges,
rarely uodden except by the foot OF the red man,
10 remote possessions the Pacific, frustfying
the coil in their passage with the seeds OF Intellect
ual, social, and moral culture. well polenty aid
ing TO dispel the gloom OF savage barbanty. The rail-
road and steamboat lines conveying the Departments
mails II formed iato single route would grds The
and its routes, il united in like manaer, would
nearly encomyass II again The tide of enlightened po-
cal sentiment waited TO the Old World by the latter
promises mightitr influence in emancipaing its
from the thradom of despotc civil Institutions than
oIutionsry bayonets or imperial armies effected.
go by GREEN d SCOTT, Auctisnesrs.
nRUsTEEs SALE OF VALUABLE rROPERTY.-on Mon
Of April will oncr for sale, pnhc
front c the premises by virtue OF deed Of
Joseph Peck and wife to tho uhscber bearing date the