The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-13

TUE NATIONAL MAIL SERvICE.-The annual re-
port Of the Secretary of the Navy which we
publish this morning contains large amount
of interesting information, in addition to the
usual business and statistics of the Post Office
Department Prominent among the subjects pre-
scented for the consideration of Congress are the
propositaShs in regard to our foreign mail ser
vice. the regulation Of the money order system.
and the establishment of an overland mail
route to our possessions on the Pacific
1t should be one of the principal objects of
mail service, to make such liberal arrangements
with American steamship companies as will
enable them to compete with those of England
and other countries As speed il essential in
promoting and facilitating mail communi-
cations between Europe and the United States.
the preference should be given to the fastest
vessels in the awarding Of contracts A libe-
raj policy on the part of our government in this
matter will prove one Of the most effective
means of procuring both safety and speed, and
at the same time of converting the balance of
postal receipts, which is at present against us, in
our favor
We are pleased to perceive that the report
recommends change in the money order sys
tem which. under the present arrangement. il
entirely inadequate to the purpose II was in
tended to subserve. Those who have had occa-
sion to remit money by mail know how utterly
useless il Is in this respect. AT the same time
that you are obliged to pay for the mere privi-
lege Of having your letters registered, there is
no security whatever for their safe delivery.
and If they are lost, as not unfrequently hap
pens, the department Is not responsible for
the contents. II Is proposed, in lieu of the pre-
sent system, to adopt that pursued by the Bri-
tish Post Office Department, which RENTS sums
of money not exceeding twenty-five dollars
by means Of orders drawn upon one postmaster
ly another. This plan has been In operation
in England since 1889. and has been attended
with the most encouraging success We trust
that some system viii be devised by our govern
ment, by which the citizen a. well ~ the Post
Office Department, may be the gamer.
The establishment Of an overland mail route
to our possessions on the Pacific coast Is dis
cussed with much interest, and it's necessity
urged with much force in this report The
most available and best route proposed-be-
cause open at all seasons Of the years. said to
be that To- III Paso to Tucson. Fort Yuma and
San Diego, California. The great advantage Of
an overland route consists at present not in the
rapidiiy Of communication 80 much as in the
development and population Of that portion of
the country through which it may pass. The
points selected as post stations will form the
nucleus Of towns and villages; and as they
will doubtless he chosen Ia the best and most
advantageous localities, they will, necessarily,
bc the first localities TO attract the settler in the
great West II Is to be hoped that every rea-
sonable encouragement will be given to those
WHO may apply for contract to carry the
MI. aysglaad, f9g TIC gsasons presented,