Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-09
pnbIit 40ramtat.

Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Dec. z

PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Dec. A. 1854
The whole number OF post Offices in the United
States, on the Both of June, 1854, was 81 54S OF
this number 257 Offices the annual commits
sions from which amount 10 one thousand dollars
or upwards, and the appointments at these Offices
are therefore made by the President by and with
the advice and consent OF the Senate agreeaby
10 the provisions Of the act OF 1896. The number
OF Offices established during the last fiscal year
was SAP, and the number discontinued CID,
showing net increase in one year of l,22S. The
number OF which the sites and names have been
changed IN the course OF the year was 400. The
number OF postmasters appointed during the year
was o,OlS. Ofihese, 4, lS5 We're appointed 10 fill
movas; 800 by deaths 294 by change of names
and sites; and ], $40 on establishment of new
Offices.
The total number Of Offices on the ist of De-
cember, 1854, was 23,925. " s%sG9 &&H
On the 3Oth June last there were in operation
o,0s1 mail routes The number Of contractors
The length Of these routes is estimated at 2l9,-
935 miles.
The total annual transportation of mails was
o35SIOOo miles, costing $4,630,676, and divided
as follows, viz:
O92s3 about s cents per mile
2O,SsO.53O miles by coach, at 81 200, 095 about
cents per mile
l54s3 $3.50 miles by railroad, at 81 1858 about
IL cenis4 mills per mile
oIs24s3 miles by steamboat, at s4S9,l3s, about
cents mills per-mile.
Compared with the services OF the Both June
1913 mere - an increase Of 1.49l,463 miles Of
transportation, or about 81 per cent, and Of S134
7OS cost. being about three per cent.
Inc increase of railroad service is 24466Sl
miles, and the expense S157.2SI, being 10 per cent
in transportation, and not quite per cent in cost
The increased transportation by modes moi
specified is 377,l57 miles, or about per cent, al
cost OF S37, $40, or $500 per cent.
The transportation by coaches is less by 49,
100 miles, or about per cent? though al an In
creased cost of $50, 81, or $500 per cent.
The unprecedented extension Of railroads super
seeded much coach service. The increased cos
for diminished amount of such service may be
accounted for from the fact that the new contracts
IN New England and New York, commencing Isl
Juiy,lS were made at argely-enhanced rates
increasing the aggregate expense, while tbs
amount OF service was largely reduced.
Ihe steamboat transportation during the pas
year was reduced SS9,5s2 miles, or l5a per cent.
al reduced cost of $142,230 or 20 7-l0 per cent
This is accounted for by the discontnuance o
Charleston, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia
and Charleston, and Detroit, and Buffalo, and the
suspension OF service on the Arkansas and White
rivers, owing 10 the failures of the contractors.
Several steamboat routes were also dispensed
with at the Lettings Of new contracts for New
England and New York.
The portions of service in the foregoing esii
mates chargeable TO California are sol $50 mile.
al annual transportation, costing Sl42 1893, anc
varying but slightly from last years report.
Steamboat transportation l59, 100 miles, al S2l,
600,
Coach transportation l74,o2e miles, at s35,
lS5.
Modes not specified, transportation 25s,4s4
miles, al $50, 74S.
In Oregon The service is as follows
Steamboat, IS OBS miles, al $1,000.
Modes NOT specified, qS ,9SS miles, at 81, ISL.
Total transportation l37, 026 miles.
Total cost S45,l5l.
The annual transportation by steamboat wa
increased l0,760 miles during the year withou
additional pay.
The following table exhibits the extension 0
railroad service during the year, separately, in
five groups OF States: