Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-01-25


There are sos mail contractors WIN mail routes
amounting to 227, eOs miles. The total transporta-
ton last year of mails was 81 ,4Ol LOO miles, costing
SIS, 345, 238, as follows:
Not specified, 24,879,752 81 cents.
Bv coach, 1S,859,l18 81
Ry railroad, 19,202,469 lO3
By steamboat, 4,459,82 Ia
Compared with the business of last year, there has
been an increase in the railroad service and decrease
in the coach and steamboat services.
Connected with the transportation service there
are $40 route agents, % local agents. 9S1 mail mes
sengers.
Statement was made of the failure of the Illinois
Central railroad to comply with their agreement to
enter into contract for the transportation of daily
mail between Cairo and New Orleans. [Since the e.
port was written a daily mail has been put on this
routel
Extended and favorable notice is made of the mail
service in the Territories, the isthmus of Pana
me, and Ga the Pacific.
The Postmaster General states that he has received
abundant proofs of the usefulness of the registration
system, and of the necessity of perecng it by such
means experience may suggest.
The total expenditures of the department for the
last year amounted 10 $9,96s,342 &c. Total receipts,
$7,342139 13.
During the last ear there received from let
ters stamps sold, newspapers, pamphlets, &C., SC,
the sum of S6472, 698. The compensation to post
masters clerk hire, &C., amounted to $2,476 454 %.
| The expenditures for transportation have much in-
creased during the past year, owing to the very great
extension of railroad service.
The business Of the year 1855 shows an increase
of 35 per cent over the business of the preceding
year
The onerous burden imposed upon the department
by the ranking privilege is dwet upon at consdera,
BILE length. During one month 77,727 letters and
6935O8 pounds of public documents sent
through the Washing ton post office alone. If pos
tage had been paid this matter il would have been
at the of 81 1856 per annum.
The present rates of postage on periodicals and
newspapers not deemed adequate.
| Recommends making compulsory the prepayment
by postage stamps on books, pamphlets, circulars,
SC Under the present system great abuse exists.
In the estimates of the receipts and expenditures
for the current fiscal year the of $1,18S Isl is
Congress-
The report states that the service on the several
mail steamship lines during the past year has gener
ally been performed with regularity, and in an &C
ceptable manner.
The increase of postage as compared with the pre-
vous year, mails conveyed by the Collins line of
steamships, $l96776.
The pay to and receipts from the Atlantic steam
ships are thus given, after deductng the inland pos
tage
Contract pay Mail receipts
Collins line $841 800 1871, 1926
Bremen line 900 76,037
Havre line $4,000 1879
Attention is again called to the large sums paid 10
of mails. The Postmaster General sees reason to
change the views expressed by him in his last re-
port.
Mention is made of new line of Belgian steam
ships between New York and Antwerp, and the pen
ding convention to fix the rates of postage between
the two ports.
> The rates on pamphlets and magazines between
the United States and Great Britain, either side
are, for works not weighing two ounces, two
> cents over two and sixteen ounces, foul
= M hlet oh
nor periodical sixteen ounces can be sent ex
cept at the letter rate Books likewise subject Il
q letter rate
The report closes with the following excellent ad
{ vice: " The postal establishment is one in whIct
every citizen is most deeply interested, and all should
aid in rendering it perfect possible. Instead o
denuncation, in the event of mistake, carelessness
- or accident, a general rule, certainly the wise
would be TO advise the department OF the wrong
y committed and leave it to apply the remedy"
/. ANNEcDoTE OF THE REV. DR.. PLuMER.-.Th
Pitsburg Herald tells the following anecdote Of tn
Rev DR. Plummer, late of this city:
During a visit to the Hot Springs, certain oc
N casion he invited by the company gathered Their
y to preach for them the Sabbath. He consented
e. The ball of the hotel prepared for religion
I'd Worship and the audience assembled. The speake
1T announced his text, and began his discourse; blu
y was mortified to find that by some of the younge
and more frivolous of his hearers of both sexes, III
whole performance was looked on as a good Joke
and to be treated accordingly. Some smiling
tn some were whispering and an unseemly evity pre-
vailed throughout the congregation For few min
IA utes he endeavored to withstand by simple pre-
at sentatiOn of the touch but to purpose Stoppin
We short in his DISCOURSE he at arrested their atten
I'M ton by the question " My friends do you know no,
a these Hot Springs said TO have been discovered
| will tell you. Many years since, an old Dutch
man and his SOL were passing along down the va
ley, where the road now runs that you out there
ne pointing 10 it through the window'' when, OF
serving the Spring they stopped their team to watf
ed to the spring, and dipped it in, when some of til
water dashed up on his hand and scalded him. II
ny stantly dropping the bucket he started for the
running, and calling to his son, in the greatest
las sternation. & Thrive on, Hans trive on He'll a
not far from dish place - AT this his audient
burst out laughing-when, Immediately assuming
look of deepest soemnity and dropping his voice
e the low tones that in him like muttered thunder
u he made the application : tell you, my friend
al He'll is not far from this place. There mo
ht smiles in that congregation That day. Some wi
IN heard it, said it seemed to them as if the terrors
ed the Day of Judgement had come.
FIRST View OF HAvANA.-On the left hand Ri
Notifications massive as those of Malta or Gibralte
ate wrought into the dark grey rocks of the Moro,
too ing along the many hued hill sides of the Cabanu
ar glittering throughout their lengthering lines wi
ny the white uniforms and shining bayonets of the Sc
n5 neIs who guard the proud flag of Spain, that 90
bv geous banner of blood and of gold. On the rio
e stretch irregular of part-coored building