The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-12-25
Abstract OF the Postmaster Generals
Report

On the 18th Of June, 1856, there wcr,
2j56j post Offices, being an Increase of 1854
in tour years.
On the 18th Of June there was in operation
nearly 5000 mail routes, the total length Of
which was estimated AT 235,si2 miles costing
| S603j,i1i. These mail routesl were divided
~ follows :-22 1928 miles of railroad: ll.95l
Of steamboat; 50,453 coaches and nearly l5i.
900 inferior grales. The increase during The
last fiscal year was nearly 10000 miles of rail
road; 3J2 OF steamboat. $50 Of coach. aud
$1,000 inferior grades. In Nebraska and
Kansas l0,23S miles were added to the length
Of routes. Between the LIST Of July, 1888,
and the lat of July, 1856, the railroad service
was increased 1917, miles. exhibiting the fact
that within that time this description of ser
vicc was more than doubled. on the LIST OF
| December, 1856, the length OF the railroad
routes had increased to 81 $40 miles. The to-
tai cost for this service, at that date, amounted
to s2.l03,141. The whole cost OF the inland
service on the LIST OF July, was S6,526,02s.
The Postmaster General alludes TO the Fan
anna Railroad Company Selling on the occa.
sion Of the withdrawal OF the steamers via Nj.
caragua. TO force the department 10 pay what
he considers an exorbitant price across the
lsthmustand recommends regular contracts with
them, not excceding $4,000 per annum, and a
contract not exceeding 100000 per annum,
via the Nicaragua or Tehuantcpec route, so as
to give weekly mail.
The California expenditures Tor the year
1856 were SIC, 500,2s6, and the gross rvcnue,
including annual appropriations tor free matter
Si,620.32l. The deficiency Is SD 900.
lie recommends the abolition OF the frank.
ing privilege, aud compulsory prepayment "a
transient printed matter; also, the repeal Of
the act OF ls45, which gives the Postmaster
General discretionary power 10 make new con
tracts for occan steamship service. lie alludcs
10 the hct-cmbracing the branch from New
Orleans TO llavana-that there are now four
ocean steamship lines running ont Of New York
At an expense 10 government Of 81 .49s 900
pr annum. and says there is no reason Why
Que part Of the country should he preferred 10
the exclusion Of Others,
Among other points j, is stated that ncgota-
tons arr in progrss with view TO thu nduc
Ion OF the British transit charge on Uni'ed
81 It's closSi mails, and the rate OF postage be-
TWEEN the United States and Great Britain TO
twelve cents single letter.
COMMON SsxsE.-The Richmond Enquirer
says "the South never embracd Mr.. BrcRASsN
as The instrument of slavery propasandlsm !
they did not supper, him with any idea tina, b
was 10 be the exclusive ohampioo u southern |
interests. They supported him on the primo
pies OF the Cincinnati platicrm. aud the pSsi,-
2, o, his public l,Dc. They took him up a. the |
man with whom to tsa, back the invasion Of
black republicanism AMI thy eoudsicd In him
bccs ise 81 his known moderation Of temper and 1
his fidelity to thu eompacts S the constitution.
they expect OF him Wis and impartial admin
.s,raticn OF the Government ard tina, is the
'u,n total of their 5cuands