The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-12-06
PUBLIC DOCUMENT.
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT.
Posr OFPIcE DEPARTMENT
Decemher 4 1854.

POST OfPlCE DEPARTMENT
December 4, 1854.
The whole number of post Offices in the United States
nm the 30th Of June 1854 was 2354s. Of this number
267 are offices the annual commissions from which amount
10 one thousand dollars upwards and the appointments
AZ these offices therefore made by the President by aud
with the advice and Of the Senate agreeaby the
provisions OF the act Of 1886 The number of offices esth
shd during the last fiscal year sI2 and the number
discontinued GA showing net increase in year OF
?2s Thu number of which the sites and have been
changed in the of the year 400 The number OF
postmasiers appointed during the year sGs Ofthese
als5 appointed to fill vacancies occsioned by resg
nations 3TT by removals. 320 by deaths 294 by change
of and SITES and lel2 on establishment of new of
fees.
The total number of Offices the LIST of December 1854
WAS 23,925
On the 3Oh June last there in operation 6697 mail
routes The number of contractors was 5,l6I.
The length Of these routes is estimated at 2l9a35 miles
The annual transportation OF mails was 63 900
miles costing S4G30676, and divided as follows, viz
2l26I603 miles by modes not specified at SlO92 s33,
about cents per mile, lH
2OsaO59o miles by COACH at 81 290o95, about cents
per mile.
I54383sa miles by railroad, at sI,75selo about IL
cents mills per mile.
57954e3 miles by steamboat at S4s9,l3s about cents
4 mills per mile
Compared with the services of the 3oth June 1853 there
il an increase OF 463 miles of transportation about
q per cent and of Sl34Tos cost being about three per
cent
The increase of railroad service is 2466S4 miles and
the expense Sl57sl being 10 per cent in transportation
and not quite per cent in cost.
The increased transportation by modes specified is
3I miles, about per cent, at cost of $3.50 or
3 3j-l00 per cent
The transportation by coaches is less by 439 796 miles
or about per cent though increased of $685.
1871 or sS-l00 per cent
The unprecedented extension of railroads superseded
much coach service The increased for diminished
amount OF such service may be accounted for from the fact
that the new contracts in New England and New York
commencing st July, 1853 made at lyenhance
rates. increasing the aggregate expense while the amount
of service was largely reduced
The steamboat transportation during the past year
reduced Ss95s2 miles, or l5s per cent at reduced cost
Of Sl43,230 or 20 1-lO per cent E.
This is accounted for by the dscontnuanee of service
between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston
Detroit and Buffalo, and the suspension of service the
Arkansas and White rivers owing the failures of the
contractors ..4 n
Several steamboat routes were also dispensed with
the lettings Of contracts for New England and New
York
The PORTIONS of service the foregoing estimates charge
able TO California J9l $50 miles of annual Transports
tion costing 933 and varying but slightly from last
years report.
Steamboat transportation l59,l20 miles, at S2l ooo.
Coach iT4026 miles, at $50, lS5.
Modes not specified transportation 25S4s4 miles at 1885,
Fia
n Oregon the zersiee is as follows
Steamboat SO OBS miles, at 81 1900.
Modes not specified 9S,9Ss miles at 81, l5l.
Total transportation l37, ,026 miles
Total cost Sl5,l51.
The annual transportation by steamboat increased
l0I6o miles during the year without additional pay
The following table exhibits the extension Of railroad
service during the year. separately in five groups of States