Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1856-12-13
FROM yyHsIIINGTOS.


The Postmaster Generals report shows
the following:
On the 18th Of June 1856, there were 25,-
565 Post Offices being an increase OF 4,Gt4
On the l4th Of June there were in opera
ton nearly 5000 mail routes, the total length
of which was estimated at 235,6i2 miles,
costing S6035,474 These mail routes were
divided us follows: % 1873 miles railroads :;
1881 steamboats, 50,453 coach and nearly
$4,000 inferior grades.
The increase during the last fiscal year
was nearly 10000 miles railroad 332 steam
boat; /; 1880 coach, and $4,000 miles inferior
grades.
In Nebraska and Kansas 20,23S miles were
added to the length of the routes.
Between the lst of July, 1852, and the lst
Of July 1856, the railroad service was iucrca-
sed l0,lI7 miles, exhibiting the fact that
within that time this description OF service
was more than doubled.
On the lst Of December, 1856, the length
of the railroad road routes had increased to
q, $40 miles The total cost for this service
to that dale amounted 10 S2.403, I47.
The whole cost Of the inland service on the
lst Of Jaly was SG52603G.
lie alludes TO the Panama Railroad Com
pary seizing on the occasion of the withdraw
al OF the steamers via Nicaragua, to force the
department to pay what be considers an ex-
orbitant price across the lsthmus, and recon-
mends regular contracts with them rot ex-
ceeding 100000 per annum, and Il contract
not exceeding 100000 per annum, via the
Nicaragua Ur Tehuantepec route so as to
give weekly mail
The California expenditures for the year
1856 were Sl0,500,2S6, and the gross revenue
including annual appropriation for the free
matter, $3.50, ,S2l. The deficiency is S.
$4,000.
lie recommends the abolition of the frank
ing privilege, and compulsory prepayment on
all transient printed matter; also the repeal
of the act of lSi5, which gives the PoStmas-
ter General discretionary power to make new
contracts for ocean steamship service. lie
alludes to the fact embracing the branch from
New Orleans TO Havana that there are now
four ocean steamship lines running out OF
New York at an expense to government Of
81 ,i9S,000 per anuum, and as that there is
no reason why one part of the country should
be preferred TO the exclusion Of othe RS.
Among other points, it is stated that nego-
| tiations are in progress with a view to the
reduction of the British transit charge on
United States closed mails and the rate OF
postage between the United States and
Great Britain from twelve to fifteen cents a
! single letter.
The quantity OF lands sold for cash during
the fiscal year was over nine aud quarter
million acres, and the receipts therefore S5,-
! S2l,4l4.
The total amount Of lands disposed Of was
over 39000000 acres.
The Secretary suggests the necessity oI
further power being granted TO the Conimis.
sioner OF Pensions to suspend, diminish and
| discontinue pensions when the reason for
granting them has wholly or partially ceased
The number of patents issued within the
year will probably reach two thousand five
hundred.
The report says that during the present
Administration tfty-two Indian treaties have
been negotiated, twenty of which remain tC
be acted upon by the Senate BY these trea
ties the Indian title has been eXtinguisheC
to nearly 75,000000 acres. The aggregat,
money consideration therefore is Sll, ,lS4,
203 80.
The Indians within our bounds are suppo
sed to be about 100000. The colonization
Of the Indians has already been attended wit.
the happieSt results, aud give promise of stea
dy progress in ameliOration oil their physica
aud moral condition.