Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-12-15
Postmaster Generals Report.

We give this morning the annual report of the
Postmaster General. 1t is a long ably and care
fully prepared document, and cannot fail to excite
feeling of admiration, if not SURPRISE its clear ex-
hlbit of the successful workings of a postal system
without parallel in the world for simplicity and ex
tent. Fol the convenience of the reader we make
up the following abstract:
There are 3.548 post offices in the United States {:
the annual compensations of 257 of which amount to
81 900 and upwards During the last year, 1,842
Offices established and GA discontinued. Num-
Der of postmasers appointed during the same time,
6,618. Removals, 1877. Number of mail routes,
6,697. Number of mail contractors, 5167. Total
annual transportation of mails SO 387 O05 miles at
a cost of S4630,676 thus, q ,267 603 miles by
modes not specified, at cents per mile; 90 500 $50
miles by coach, at cents per mile ,433 1899 miles
by railroad al II cents mills per mile; 5795, 483
miles by steamboat, at cents mills per mile In
crease In the transportation during the past year p
per cent
The expenditures of the department during the past
year were $8577 424 2, and the revenue S6955 $50
%. To the former must be added S133, 4S3 So bal.
due foreign offices, which would leave the total
deficiency for the year 1854 at S1,755 351 % The
deficiency for the year 1853 was $2.117O78 20
leaving difference in favor of 1853 of S36l 1856
The increase in the of 1854 compared with
the revenue of 1853 is 500 399 48-or about 10 per
cent.
The Postmaster General alludes at considerable
length TO the difficulties between the department and
|
satlon for carrying the mails. The companies he
says, alege that the government should not ask or
expect them to perform for it any service at less
rate than that paid by individuals for similar services
This principle. he contends, he has always been
willing to recognise III the adjustment of prices
What is now required, he believes is that the rail
road companies should be paid according to the bulk
OF the mails, the speed with which they are convey
ed, and the accommodations required The sums
pald by express companies no fair criterion for
j a g hnV oFn NM I'D h..
pay any price demanded of them and assess ii upon
their customers. England, France Germany and
Canada pay less 10 railroads for mail service than is
paid by the United States Complaint is made OF
the insufficient accommodations, as a general rule
for routeagents. Allusion is made 10 the habit al
irresponsible parties obtaining, by gross misrepre
sentatlon mail contracts, and subsequently throwing
them up because of failure on their part to sell the
same at profit. remedy for this fraud is sugges.
ted. ."
Owing to causes not within the control of the de.
partment the expenses OF The current year will
~ exceed those of the past year They are estim a.
ted at ~ ,921 33. This increase will be owing
10 the additional compensation of postmasters and
the enhanced prices demanded by contractors to the
last lettings.
A uniform plan OF registration is Ewarmy recon.
mended as an additional protection for the safe dev
cry al letters OF value. The want of such a safe
guard has long been felt and as the cost of its main
tenance will fall directly upon those who will cheer
l"y pear 'ne expense, We see no good reason why il
should not be incorporated into our postal system a:
one of It's principal features
During The three years commencing July l. 1851
o22 W postage stamps and stamped envelopes
nave nave been issued by the department, of which S..
G92, 301 were sold ~
For the last year the cost of the service on the va
rLous United States mail steamship lines. and acros:
the sthmus, follows Collins line, twentv.s;
round trips, 5000; New York and Bremen, elev
en- round trips, SlS3,333 &c New York and Havre
eleven round trips, $l37 500; Astoria and Panama
via San Francisco, twenty-four round trims, S34s