Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-01-23

A
and liberal discretionary power vested in the de-
partment for the relief of applicants, who are now
shut out BY laws is recommended a change IN
the settlement of the accounts of the pension agents
is also recommended.
The reorganization of the Patent Office has been
perfected and its good effect already sensibly expe-
riepced Since the first of January last there have
been issued upward of eighteen hundred patents
and within the year the number will probably reach
two thousand. This is the result of the judicious
and excellent system that has been adopted, and
which enables the office promptly to examine and
dispose of every application that is represented.
1t will require a further appropriation to complete
the west wing of the Patent Office building. The
east wing cost $6o7, 200. The Secretary is of opn-
ion that the north part Of the building should be
commenced at once The estimated cost is $45O,-
600 without portico.
Changes are recommended in the judicial depart
ment Of the government. The number of terms OF
the United States courts held in the different States
is much greater in certain designated localities than
the interests of the republic require
The liberal and enlightened views of Secretary
McClelland in regard to the public buildings and the
public improvements in the District of Columbia
will not only be read with peculiar interest by the
city readers of the Union but they will meet with
the general approval of the whole country.
The report closes with able review of the opc-
rations of the Indian Bureau for the past year, &C
companied with some judicions suggestions Its
operations" says the Secretary, have been large
and important, embracing very great extent of
country and nearly all the Indians within the boun
daries of the United States. With the exception Of
q few tribes, the Indians have been we'll disposed,
and anxious to cultivate and preserve friendly re'a
tons with U.S. Several important treaties lave been
made, and other equally will be ready for sub
mission TO the Senate. Those already i'll force are
numerous and of varied characters"
As the Reports of the Commissioners Of the Land
Pension, and Patent Offices will shortly appear in
columns in full further illusions TO the business
of these bureaus is unnecessary for the present.
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
This able and carcfuy-prepared report will be
read with deep interest," As exhibiting colossal post
al system, with all its supcnlous qualifications, with
parallel in the history of the world The post
al operations of England France, Austria, Prussia,
Russia. and the other nations of the Old World,
sink into utter inS ynliicance when compared with
the postal operations OF our own country extending
as they do from ocean to ocean, from the great chain
of northern lakes to the Gulf of Mexico traverSng
the opposite coasts of half a continent spanning
isthnus which connects two continents, and employ
ing the nobest fleet of steamers the world has
seen in transporting the mails between the New and
Old Worlds. For the convenience of our readers We
give, in brief some OF the leading features Of this
valuable document.
Number of post offices in the United States on the
LIST of December, 1885, 2i,77O, of which 25S arc
of the class the poStmasters Of which appointed
by the President.
There 5.703 mail contractors, with mail routes
amounting to 227 9Os miles The total transporta-
ton last year of mails Ct l66 miles, costing
$5,3fo,2as, as follows:
Miles Price per mile
Not specified, 24,S73752 St cents.
BY coach, 1S,S59,llS 81
by railroad, l9,2c2,i 69 10i
BY steamboat, 4,459,S27 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
$40 route agents, 20 local agents, 9Sl mail mes
sengerS.
Statement is 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. ESince the
report was written daily mail has been put on this
route.
Extended and favorable notice is made of the mail
service iii the Territories the ishnus Of PAN
anna, and Oh the Pacific coast.
The Postmaster General states that he has
ceived abundant proofs of the usefulness of the reg
istration system, and of the necessity of perfecng
it by such means as experience may suggest.
The total expenditures of the department for the
last year amounted to -, Y6S 342 80. Total re-
ceipts, 1912 1876 l3.
During the last year there was received from let
c's, Stamps SOU, newspapers, pahPhietS, &c, &C.,
the sum of $6,473, 69S. The compensation to post
masters, clerk hire, &c. amounted to 81 476, 454 &c
The expenditures for transportation have much
increased during the last year, owing to the very
great extension of railroad service.
The business of the year 1856 shows an increase
of 80 per cent. over tho business Of the preceding
Year.
The onerous burden imposed upon the department
by the ranking privilege is dwelt upon at consider
able length. During month n T27 letters and
G93,5S pounds Of public documents were sent
through the Washington post Office alone. fpost-
age had been paid this matter it would have been
at the rate OF 81 ,3S per annnm.
The present rates OF postage on periodicals and
newspapers are not deemed adequate
Recommends making compulsory the payment by
postage stamps on books, mphlets, circulars, &c.
Under the present system great abuse exists.
In the estimates of the receipts and expenditures
for the current fiscal year the OF 81 1885, Isl is
given as the deficiency to be provided Tor by act of
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.
ceptabc manner
The increase of hostages, as compared with the
previous year, on mails conveyed by the Collins line
of steamships, was $l96.776.
The pay to and receipts from the Atlantic steam.
ships are thus given. after deducting the inland
postage: "
Contract pay. Mail receipts.
Collins line, $94l 800 $3T, 1926
Bremen line, 100000 76,O37
Havre line 10000 T2,7S9
Attention is again called to the large sums paid to
the Collins line of steamships for the transportation
of mails. The Postmaster General sees no reason to
change the views expressed by him in his last
port
Mention is made Of new line of Belgian steam
ships between New York and Antwerp, and the
pending convention TO fix the rates If postage be.
tween the two ports.
The rates Of postage on pamphlets and magazines