The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-12-31
ABSTRACT OF DEPARTMENT RE
PORTS.
Report of the Post Master-GcneraI.

tepOrt Oh the POst MaSter-Gcnerai.
Postmalter General Browns report is very
voluminous. Mr. Brown states that since he
entered upon the administration of the depart
ment, he has ventured on no new theories, nor
attempted any innovations on a well tried sys-
tenn. He calls particular attention to the fact
that while but Sl46 post Offices were establish
ed in the twenty years from 1927 to l947,
the number established in ten years, from l847
to 1857 was | ,444-being an increase of 3298
IN Just one hall OF The former period. Daring
the last fiscal year, 1925 offices have been es.
tablshed, and 70i discontinued, being net in.
crease of 1921. The number of postmasters ap-
pointed during the year was $500; of which
4T61 were TO fill vacancies occasisned by re-
sgnations. The total number of post offices in
the United States at this time is 27 l48 of
which 1863 are OF the class denominated presi-
Dental, the incumbents being subject to ap-
polntment by the President and S.nate. On
the Both of June last, 1883 mail routes were in
operation, with all aggregate length Of 242 60l
miles, OF which u $50 miles were by railroad,
lo,246 by Steamboats,, and az, ,329 by coach
The total annual transportation of mails was
74,9O6,O miles, costing S5, ,622,046 The cost
OF transportation was relatively as follows -
BY railroad, ten cents and five mills per mile ;
by steamboat, twenty-five cents d mile; by
coach seven cents and four mills mile. The
length OF rallroalrOutes has been increased 2207
miles, aud the length of steamboat routes is in
creased by 294 miles. The number of m1il con
tractors is 6576 rhe stag. ch s are going
more and more out of fashion during thi year
the length OF coach routes has been reduced
liza miles, aud the anuua tronsHDrtItion "a
O6l miles. The cost OF the Utah routes was in
creased $l750O, by the allowance of additional
pay, without Increased Service, on the route be-
tween Salt Like aud Stn Pedro. The extension
vi railroad service, (amDunlIuS to LBS 6l5
miles, is 81 forth in tabur form in the report,
wish an exhibit OF tht additional expense there
by incurred, amounting to S2l9,155 during tn
year. Con. arsd with th- service last year,
there app'ars decrsas. OF 79l miles in tn.
length OF routes, AMI of S23,03l mlss in the
annunl transportation, win the cost is increas-
ed Sl2O,O3l. In New York railroad trlnSpof-
tatiOn has increased 1913 1928 miles. while steam
boat servics has decreased l6l ,6G4 miles and
coach service has fallen Off 1881 miles but
with an Increased cost in the latter amounting
to Sl2,6l2 The receipts Of the department for
the year were 1853 9Jl, and the expenditures
Sll ,5OS 05S. Allowing for certain ,iecial pro
visions on the account of revenue aud expen.
diture, the dcFcit is stated at SO 453, us DO
lha increase ot expenses this year is per cent
III the amount of annual transports ion, and 9
7-lO per cent in cost
The estimates for 1858 are as follows Ex-
pendltures, Sl2 Ojo,247; revenu., $40 5Si ,07i;
leaving the sum Of 81 ,469 l73 to b. appropr-
ated by Congress to defray the expenditures of
the coming year.
The mail contracts with the New York and
Havre and Bremen lines OF steamships, have
been continued for another year, and tn. alop.
tloh OF u permanent contract with these liucs
is recommended. The Panama railroad com.
pany receives an annual compensation of Sl00
900 for mail transportation. the contract TO
continue ill oatobsr 1852 The temporary con-
tract with C. X. Garrison, for mail transporta-
ton between New Orleans and Vera Cruz rY-
pires June 30, 1853. The contract on the Pd-
cllic slda mast bs extended oae year. Tn. pos
tages on mails transported by the Collins line
during the year, were S2lO, ,463 03 previous
year. Si6l ,57j. The amount vi letter postages
upon mails exchanged during the year with
Great Britain was S574, r9l; of which S574-
l9i were collected in the United States. An
elaborate tubular statement is furnished, Of the
number OF letters and papers conveyed between
the United States and Great Britain during the
last four years--shOwing excess of British pos.
tag' collected in this country, OF Sl93 PSI last
year; a result disadvantageous to the depart
ment. The balance is every year largely against
us. The cause lies in the fact that nearly two
thirds of the Trans Atlantic mails have been
conveyed by the CIuard line, the British Gov
eminent thereby receiving nearly tOur-hiths of
the postage. Negotiations for a radical change
are pending
The subject of the adoption of plan OF money
orders, drawn by postmastars, is urged upon
the attention of Congress, with an aliuson to
former proceedings. The establishment of slb-
post offices in New York, Boston an Philadel-
phia, Is also announced with an intimltion that
the postmaster general had hopel to be able to
reduce the city delivery fee TO one cent but
this Was found imprdcticable in New York and
Philadelphia, as tie law requires that the en-
tire cost Of delivery shall be betrayed out of the
carriers receipts. In Boston, one cent pays
The system OF express agents to have charge OF
through mails is earnestly commended. In re.
gard 10 delays anu failures on the great mail
route from New Ore1ns to New York, the re-
port is very full. This line is composed Of six
teen links, each under separate contract. Tht
causes OF delays are reported upOn--Consisting
of railroad disasters, broken bridges, ice and
snow, &c.-and as q remedy, the closing of a
contract with the Florida railroad company is
recommended, whereby one party, instead OF
sixteen becomes the conraCtor-the mails to
be conveyed from NsW FORK to Netp orleans |
by sea in fpe days-an arrangement which, the |
postmastrrgene thinks, will Obviute not only |
the delays that attend land carriage, but will |
tend also to prevent robberieS and losses |
of the mails, as well as to effect the preserva-
tion oil mail matter from the damage it now |
frequently incurs. The company referred to
Offer to perform daily service during the year
for io6, 800. An extension of the great south |
ern route may be made to include The convey
ance OF the California mails. by the way OF c. |
dar hey, Asplnwall, Greytown,or Hudsacudlco. |
IN; report enters into particulars of the mail |
service on The Mississippi, and in regard to tn
settlement of the San Pedro claim of Mr.. Choir
penning, and then passes'to consi eralion OF
the proposals for Carrying the Overland Cali
tOrna n. u The contract tor this service has
been uwcrdrd to John BdtterfeId an Others
who engage TO convey the mails to ana from
San Frdncisco, each trip to Occupy twenty five
Il vs., the ting points to BE- 81. Louis aud
Mamphis-thrnce by way of Little Rock, Ar
kansas, to the Rio Grande, aud by way of E
Pdsu aud Fot Yuma to San Francsco--thr
contract to run for six years from Sept l6, 1883
at the yearly compensation of $500 900. In.
advantage of this FL PdsI route over The Al.
buqurqur are set forth at considerable lensrh.
The distance By the route selected. from NJ m
phis to Sm Francisc }, is .2l03 miles. This is