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


OUR POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS.
Annual Report OF the Postmaster General.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Dec. l, 1857.
To TIKI PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED SrArEs:-
SR-Since entering on the administration OF the
Post Once Department, l have ventured on
no new theories, nor attempted any innova
tions the well tried system established and prac
tised upon by my predecessors. | have contented
myself with endeavorng, as far as in my power, to
perfect existing arrangements, and extend its facil
ties equally and fairly to every portion of our widely
extended country. In examining its present condi
ton. it is worthy of observation that while the total
number Of Post Offices created during the twenty
years from 1927 to lS47 was but S,l46, the number
established in just half that length of time from 1S47
to 1857 was III 444. On the 3Oth Of June. 1927. the
whole number Of Post Offices in the United States
1000; In 1887, IL 1857; in ls47, 1915; and on
the 30th of June, 1857 26 SAG. During the last fiscal
year there have been l,725 Offices established and
704 discontinued, being net increase OF OH. The
number of postmasters appointed during the year
Was $3.50. OF these appointments 4.767 were to I'LL
vacancies occasioned by resignation; l6Sl by re-
moyal; 23s by death; 269 by change OF names and
sites and l,725 by the establishments OF new Offices.
The total number OF Offices at this time is 27l4s, of
which 36S OF the class denomnated presidential,
their incumbents being subject TO appointment by
higher class run four years from the date of con-
frmation, but those OF the lower are not limited.
TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS.
On the 30th OF June last there were in operation
1855 mail routes The number Of contractors was
6,576 The length of these routes Is estimated at
242 Col miles, divided as follows, viz -
Railroad. ........................ 2253o miles
STEAMBOAT. Observation-Disclosures. lo,Z4o
Coach ..,..s-............ 49,5ZS
Inferior grades NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. l554s7
The total annual transportation of mails was
74.906 OCT miles, costing $6622, 046, and divided as
Railroad, 24,267 s44 miles, at 59,s47-about
ten cents and five mills mile.
Steamboat, 4,5lS.ll9 miles, at 1891 ,998-about
twenty-five cents mile
Coach, l9.OsO.930 miles, at 81 ,4l0 s26-about Sc
ven cents and four mills mile
Inferior grades, u 029074 miles, at 81 sos, 375-
about six cents mile
Compared with the service reported on the 30th of
June 1885, there is addition of s59 miles to the
length of mail routes; 359S,l70 miles to the total
annual transportation about per cent, and
OF 1856 572 to the cost, or ITO per cent.
The aggregate length Of railroad routes has been
increased 1907 miles, and the annual transportation
thereon 2.456 GAS miles-ll 2l0 per cent; at cost
of SEAS, 45S, or ii $40 per cent.
The length Of steamboat routes il greater by 294
miles. and the annual transportation by 27T949
miles costing s3l 243 additional, or q per cent on
transportation, and Is 2-l0 per cent on the cost.
The expense for this species of service was in
creased, in one alone 2S,200, without any add
tional service, that is owing to the failure OF the
BY act of Congress 81 200 additional also allowed
between cambridge, Georgia, and Apalachcoa,
Florida without additional service. route put
in operation the Missouri river on the ls OF June
last at $S5 900 per annum, including side mails by
horse or coach, and regular land service during the
suspension of navigation. Steamboat contracts
also made between Paducah, Kentucky, and Cairo,
Illinois, at 6,0O6 per annum; and between Column
bus and Bay Port Florida, at 81 600; and fourth
weekly trip commenced between New Orleans and
ST. Francisvile. at IS 1928. On the other hand
n onHa I'd 49,
continuing service between Chattanooga, Tennessee,
and Decatur Alabama, and curtailing the Nashville
and Memphis route so as to end at Cairo, Illinois.
Such are the more prominent changes In the steam
boat service.
The length Of coach routes has been reduced ,l24
miles and the annual transportation A,O6l miles;
while the expense has been increased tI0,A70, or
about g. per cent, $4,000 less than would appear
from comparing the cost on 30th June last with that
reported 30th june 1856. the latter having been
short stated by that amount.)
In the States of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Della
ware Maryland and Ohio. where new contracts
took effect on lat July. 1856. the length OF coach
routes was decreased sos miles, and the annual
transportation 22s s76 miles at increased cost OF
s2a ,752 AT the same time the railroad service and
cost in those States were largely ncrcased-907
miles in length of routes and sll920s in the cost
In the New England States, during the past year,
the coach transportation was slightly decreased but
the cost increased GIL ,264-the amount allowed by
Congress TO failing contractor.
In Missouri there is a seeming reduction OF coach
annual transportation. and $43.lI4 in cost; but II
must be noted that the Missouri river contract above
referred TO- absorbed much coach service, which, TO
great extent. will continue SUCH although, under
the circumstances unavoidably reported under the
head Of steamboat transportation.
In Tennessee there is a disproportion between the
miles and cost Of coach service, the cost only being
increased This accounted for by allowance for
expedtng in the gap between the Virginia and Ten
and the East Tennessee and Virginia railroads,
and other changes.
A. loay Oh
ing special notice. In some there have been reduc-
tons hut in most Of them the coach service has been
somewhat increased
There is nothing OF note in connection with the
California, Oregon, New Mexico, Nebraska and Kan
routes,
Tie cost Of the Utah routes was increased sl7 500
by the allowance OF that additional pay, under ~ act
"a Congress, without any increased service, on the
route between Salt Lake and San Pedro
The additional length Of inferior routes only $50
miles. owing partly 10 the fact that during the
year ending 30th Juue last comparatively little new
service of this description was put in operation.
The large increase Of such service reported 30th
June 1856, arose from new routes established by
Congress, amounting to nearly 6,000 miles, In the
northwestern and southwestern sections alone, and
from other extraordinary service.
The increased cost tina. Of 30th OF June, 1856
tl24.40l), may Re explained by the additional ex-
pense under the new contracts commencing st July.
ls5G in the middle section Of the Union 1858 $3.50,
while there was decrease In the length OF routes
of this grade and the allowance Of eli 500 on the
Salt Lake and San Pedro route, without additional
service. must also be taken into account.
Ar already stated. the extension Of railroad ser
vice has been very great: and in order TO exhibit
this plainly the increase Is given separately in
five geographical sections As iOliows:- .,
rc,se ysran,1sr.saou. ess..
New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Delaware, Maryland and $500, 49,.
virginia. North Carolina,