The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1856-01-18
Postmasfer Generals Report.

Dg- We are under obligations TO Hon. JAMES
CAMPBELL, the accomplished Postmaster General,
for copy of his Report for 1858, and regret that
have not space at present to publish eatire II
is generally admitted TO be of the abest papers
ever issued by the head of that Department-cUn-
tains an immense amount OF information and makes
many valuable suggestions in reference TO the future
operations of the Post Office. W. indebted to
the "PennSyvanian'' for the following synopsis Of
the Report:
''Uuder the management of Judge CAMpBELI., the
postal arrangements of the country have been in
continued state of improvement, and now stand
coniessedy superior 10 any other portion oi their
history. The Judge has brought his practical mind
bear upon the subject liz all Its manifestations, and
the country is enjoying the benefit OF his keen
observation. With our postal operations those OF
Europe in extent, are comparatively nothing, and
the amount of supervision necessary almost Incedi
ble Perhaps no man in the Union Is better qualif-
ed for the position than Judge CAMPBELL, and none
could devote time TO its business than he has
done since he took charge Of the department Strict
his attention to the duties al the office. he
=quires the from his observation-disclosures
The regularity and security which everywhere pre-
walls in the Post Office arrangements throughout the
whole county. Tue amount OF labor expended upon
the Report, in order 10 give IL such precision it
exhibits, must have been immense.
The Postmaster General, with that resoute de-
termination of purpose TO take of the public in-
tereSt for " hlch he is remarkable, has called
tertion the sIaring monopoly that exists, IN the
Collins line osieameTs, and shows its great detri
ment 10 the commercial interests of the country, as
we'll its leech-like and to be satisfied hold
upon the public treasury. That Company made a
contract with the United States originally, TO carry
the mail for d certain sum 10 Liverpool and back,
and bound themselves TO build five Ocean Steamers,
and maintain and subsist Mail Agent and four pas
sed Mldshipmen For tins they were TO receive
a -.
ii be presumed that before applying 10 Congress-
their estimate of expenditure and expenses
We're carefully made. But four steamships have been
built by the Company, and oneith OF the contemplated
expenditures for building and running the additional
ship, has been saved by the company, besides being
relieved of the support of the Mail Agent and four
Passed Midshpmen. With all these adrantag es in
lis favor, the Collins Company have been an nually
before Congress for more iavors, and have actually
obtained from that body-we say nothing about the
applied to abtan It--what the Postmaster
very properly calls ga gratNity OF about nuiioa
aNd a huLf of dOiiarS." We heartily commend Judge
CAMPBELL for his 6rmness in recommending that no.
tice be given the Collins line, that the runous con
tract shall cease in March next.
fragrant wrong has been done people by the
besowa OF this large ''gratHitg' upon the Collins
line. Besides the outrage upon the treasury, the
company has been enabled by the means obtained
TO stile all competition. The great capitalist and
steamboat ewneT, Commodore VANDERBILT, has made
proposal 10 Government to build large number of
superior steamers, and carry the mails for one-hali
the price received by the Collins line; and those
who know hun BEST will be satisfied that he means
precisely what he says. So long as the contract is
maintained with the Collins Company, other lines
Of steamers will be established; but once give the
notice that competition will be received aud it will
not be year before superior lines will spring up
greatly 10 the advantage OF commerce and the
try. We trust hat the Postmaster General '. i'll
urge the ending OF the contract with the Collins line
in March next, that the country maY have the
benefit to be derived from honest competition.
We learn from the Postmaster Generals Report,
that the number of post Offices in the United States
the lst of December, 1855, was . 40, OF which
ass are OF the class the Postmasters OF which are
appointed by the President
There are 5,703 mail contractors, with mail routes
amounting 227 sos miles. The total transporta-
slon last year OF mails 81 40i, ,lCG miles, cost
ing Sj,3i5,23S, as follows: