Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-12-18

we desire to make special reference at some future
time, which are prohibited from doing to-day
for want Of space in eur columns.
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
The report of the Postmaster Generel makes e
pamphlet of fifty lone large octave pages. We would
be glad to give it entire once to our readers but
the daily pressure of Legislative proceedings upon our
columns ssuch that we are obliged to abridge every
thing else. We now give an abstract of the docu-
ment intending hereafter to make copious extracts
The Washington Union well says of the document
that sit is full of Statistics showing the rapid ex
tension of the system and the increased facilities for
the transmission of intelligence required by the
country. 1t contains intrinsic evidence of the abi
ity with which Governor Brown has conducted this
important department Of the government At no
period has its administration been more acceptable
TO tie country at large.
The number Of post Offices established during the
year has been ,725; the number discontinued, 7O4
netincrease, 1021. During twenty years, extending
from 1927 to 1S47 the number of post offices created
was LA; from 1s47 to 1857, half that length of
time, the number was Il, Az In thirty years they
have increased from 1000 to 26,5s6, the number
now existing. During the year $3.50 pOstmasters
were apponted-4,767 to fill vacancies caused by
designations, l,6Sl by removal 238 by death, 800 by
change of name and SITE and 725 to fill new Offices
The transportation statistics show that on the 3Oth
June last there in operation 1888 mail routes
with length of 242 COL miles, Of which D. $50 are
railroad lines. The total annual transportation was
74,906,O67 miles, costing S6622, DAG, giving aver
age of about ten cents and five mills mile by rail
road, and by steamboat about twenty-five cents
mile. The increase in the length Of mail routes
the previous year is about 1853 miles, with an
addition of about 9710 per cent. to the annual cost
The tabulated results Of the service to the Doth
Of September are as follows Miles in length 81 408
miles of annual transportation, 1884 l2; cost,
S1,O9s, 749. Compared with the service on the Both
of June last, there appears to be decrease of 79l
miles in the length of routes, and 823084 miles in
the annual transportation while the cost is increased
Sl2O,O44
The net expenditures of the department for the
fiscal year ending June so, 1857, are stated to have
been ST., 507 ,67Ol6. The revenue for the same
period, including the permanent annual appropria-
tions made by the acts of March 8, 1S47 and March
B. 1851, was S. O58, 95I TG-being So 49, 1870 less
than the expenditures.
For the fiscal year ending June 80, 1858, the ex-
penses are estimated at S12, O53, 247. The at
the disposal of the Postmaster General to meet
these expenses including the balance on the books
of the Auditor the gross revenue, and the balances
of appropriations available, amount to $40, 5S4,O74
leaving deficiency of 81, 400, l73 to be provided
for.
The report urges the adoption of a system of mo.
ney orders, to provide for the remittance of sums
not over SIS in amount.
The ocean and foreign mail service is considered
at some length. The contract for carrying the
mail between New York and Bremen having expired,
a temporary arrangement has been made for its
continuance for one year at a considerable reduc-
ton on the former rate of pay. The Postmaster
General thinks the present fit opportunity to
inaugurate a system of self-sustaining ocean mail
service The existing postal arrangements between
the United States and England operate nuequay
upon the former, and negotiations pending for
a radical change. A postal convention has been
concluded with France, and also with the Hansea-
tic republic OF Hamburg.
improvements have been made in the letter-car-
rier system in New York. Boston, and Philadelphia,
providing for the delivery and collection of letters
several times day If the system works well, tits
proposed to extend it to all the principal cities Of
the Union.
Arrangements are being perfected to secure the
more regular transmission of the mails on the great
through routes. Additional agents are employed on
several of the long routes whoseduy it is to receive
the mail pouches one end of the line, giving his
,ceipt, and accompany them to the other. These
a arrangements are now being tested on few of the
leading routes, and. if they succeed the system viii
b. extended to all through routes.
The consideration of the measures necessary to
b. adopted insure greater speed and regularity
I le transmission of the mails between New York
aud New Orleans, occupies large space in the re
port Under the present arrangement, sixteen
erent parties are employed in the service, with
separate schedules each of which must be exactly
complied with, to insure the performance of the |
through trips in contract time. The time prescri-
bed in the contract schedules for the performance
o. the through trip, is six days. but the instances
Ia which this speed is actually attained constitute
r lher the exceptions than the rule Numerous &C
cideuts conspire to interrupt its regular transmits
sion. Proposals had been received for carrying a /
mail between New York and New Orleans across
the Peninsula Of Florida but as the railroad con-
Meeting Fernandina and Cedar Key is yet unfnish-
ed contract had not been included. The trans
p Jrtation of the mail between these cities by tie
route-by steamship from New York to
Fernandina by railroad to Cedar Key, and thence 10
New Orleans by steamship-Would avoid many of
the causes of interruption and delay TO which the
land route is subject
There will De no necessity for a much longer con-
tinDAnce of the through mail by the Mississippi river
from New Orleans to Cairo. By the Both Of June
next 1t is believed that the railroad from New Or
leans to Jackson Canton &c, will be so far compile
ted that with or two short stage lines between
the unfinished portions the mails may be conveyed
over it in nearly half the present time, and with
nah more certainty andregularity
Fines and deductions for the year, amount to
SISS,746 81
The report concludes with description Of the
route adopted for the overland mail service to Cali
for.ia, and consideration of the reasons which
induced the selection Of tie Southern route This
is one Of the most interesting portions of the report
and is the ole from which we shall make our princi-
pal selections hereafter.
SUPREME COUIT-DECEMBER TERM, 1857.
FOURTH CrprT-TT-porrrTv