Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1856-12-11
EDITORIAL Correspondence.
WASHINGTON CiTY, Dec. sth, /

In my rounds Of observation lihavea been
visiting the General Post Office, which, as it
stands prominent, If not chief among our insti-
tutions and the great elements of civilization is
worthy of more than passing notice itscemed
10 me as looked through the vast system of
our Postal arrangements, Of which this office is
the head, that the progress and present state of
news facilities, not only in this country, but
throughout the world, was a subject OF the great
est wonder and admiration. In our own eoun-
try, only as late as the year 1890, there were
but seventy-fiye Post Offices in the United
States, and the revenue was only about $4,000
per annum. At the close of the second war there
were three thousand, and the revenue was near.
ly half a million. In 1880 they had trebbled, and
now there are %, 800. From the compilations
of statistics at hand here, we find that New.
York, in 1889, yielded a revenue of but a little
over 5000, while now it is nearly 100000. tits
yet within the memory of young ainen. how
slow and tedious was the transportation oflet-
tiers from one part of the country to another,
under the old stage coach system. How uncer-
tain the system was by reason of the hindrances
of wind and weather. Now, almost every i'm
portant point has line of railroad running
through little towns and villages, and affording
them mails once twice day. New York
daily papers are sent off each morning by the
early trains, and are read at the tea tables
throughout all New England-the middle States
and theme Northern States of the SOUTH
The railroads have been the making of Metro
politan papers, and the bane of country ones
Three large dailies, by reason of their extensive
circulation and immense advertising patronage,
have been able to distance all competitions and
almost supercede other papers. This is one of
the incidentsof increased mail facilities ~
Prier TO 1915, the charge for letter going
over so miles was ten cents, and for going over
100 miles, 1877; and should there be enclosed a
bank bill or separate slip of paper twas rated
as7extra, and was double postage. A change
was made that year, by which the postage was
modified to five cents on aletter going not over.
500 miles, and ten for greater distance, while
theletter was rated by weight and not by enclo-
sed slips. This, to US, now seems but trifing
modification, yet it was considered material
then. The postage on newspapers was also
greatly reduced that year, Since that time, the
postage has been reduced towhat tits, and may
now be considered as within the reach of every
man. Yet it is hardly likely that twill stop
short of the adoption of the popular demand
for penny system, similar to that of Great
Britain. The reports for the last two or three
years have shownaluite "a heavy deficit, which
had to be supplied from the Treasury. This
is owing TO the Incredible sums paid for our
ocean mails, noneol which, 4 believe, pay, ex--
penses. Tile Collins line scarcely yields one
half OF what is paid to it which, Isthinl, is up.
wards of $500, ooo, for but tweHty-six, trips .
year. / have not the data before me, but L
think it would appear from the statistics which
examined, that the deficit is owing alone to
fused to extend the lease of the Collins line and
it is to be hoped that it viii hereafter be given
out to the lowest reliable bidder, just as it is on
land. 1t was only short time ago that Com
modoro Vanderbilt offered to carry the mail at
one-half of what was paid to the Collins steam
ers, and to forfeit the amount due for each trip
in case of a failure TO meet his contract
The Post Office building proper is a fine mar
bic structure, a04 feet in length, with wings 116
feet deep, situated on a commanding cminence
as TO the left, and about midway as you pass
down Pennsylvania avenue to the Presidents
house. The enlargement will soon be perfectly
completed. by which its capabilities will be
greatly increased The Department proper is
made up of the P. NJ. General, 5 assistants, and
s+clerks, who occupy the western division. The
eastern part Is used by the Auditor and his lilo
clerks The whole business of the Department
has been apportioned among four bureaus, call
ed, appointment, Contract, Finance and In
spection. The Appointment bureau is headed
by the 1st assistant P. N. General, who employs
lS clerks, whose business it is to attend to all
matters of establishing and disseminating routes;
choosing sites for offices; appointing, removing
and instructing Post Masters The Contract
bureau has been assigned to the I'd assistant,
who; with his % clerks, sees to the arranging
and giving out contracts and keeping the routes
IN operation. The Finance Office is under the
3D. assistant, who, with his % clerks, attends to
the quarterly returns of Post Masters, instructs
them where and how to pay over their balan-
ees, and issues drafts for the collection and
transfer of the general funds He also mana
ges the dead letter department. The Inspec-
ton bureaui is under the Chief Clerk and his 10
sub clerks, who investigate complaints of dep
relations on the mail, and attend to the distri-
button of mail bags, &c The AUDITORS office
more properly belongs to the Treasury Depart.
tnent, butts located, asa matter of conyeni-
ence, in the building. TIL 9 business of the of
nee is to attend to and examine the accounts of
Post Masters, and make quarterly settlements
with mail contractors
Such is the brief sketch Of operations as I
have been able TO CLEAN from the published state
ments 1t seems there are now about 5000
Postmasters in the country 1900 Mail Con-
tractors; 400 Route AGENTS 1000 Mail aiessen-
gers, carrying the mail from post-otfiees to dc.
pots and landings, &c; and about 90 special
agents If to these we add 1.-THE clerks in Offices,