The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-19
OUR POSTAL AFFAIRS.
Annual Report OF the Postmaster General.

Annual Report OF the Postmaster General.
Posi- oY1cs DEPARTMENT, Dec. 4 1858.
To TIN PRESIDENT THS UNITED STATES:
Sui have the honor submit following report OF
the operations and business Of the Post oace Department
since my communication you Of Isl OF December last,
AGENTS
In my last report allusion was made TO improve
ments which expected to result from the employ
ment of express agents TO accompany mails the great
routes from New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore
ward.
Such service has been in operation long enough to
demonstrate that its importance estimated
Agents start with the great mails morning and evening
from New York for the Wesi-thc latter going through
without change 70 Cincinnati, the former to Cleveland
and being held 10 strict accountability for all mail bags
placed under their charge
Similar agencies are established between Cincinnati
and st. Louis and those between Baltimore and CINCINNATI
and Philadelphia and Cincinnati referred 10 last year,
have continued in successful operation. The latter
route is just changed so as 10 make Chicago instead
of Cincinnati, terminus, and the express mails Will be
conveyed through about thirty SIX hours between Ph2
oelphia and Chi ago. The Cincinnati mails for the Pha
depha route will he in charge OF the New York express
agents between Crcstiie and Cincinnati.
Tie advantages Of keeping mails under the constant
supervision OF the agents Of this department. for the
iopges, distances practicable 10 be rum apparent
that some OF the usual shorter routes for agents in de
sections have been consolidated and further changes
OF this sort viii be made from time 70 time as FAR "a con
with the proper assortment OF mails Tor Offices
willie may be found necessary To increase the mum
Der Of express routes Tor delivering closed bags without
reference 10 the exchange OF mails between the smaller
Offices.
The number Of such bags, already very great must be
multiplied more and more il order to avoid the delays in
clden 10 distribution the way between remote points
aud nothing short OF the divided attention of agents
directly responsible 10 this department can insure
for the mails such regularity and safety the
pubic have the right 10 expect. The govern
neut having by law the monopoly Of the mail
service. should spare efforts expense to place it
above the reproach which has attached OF being be
hind Individual enterprise as TO certainty and speed, and
less adapted T. tie wants Of trade and commerce in their
widely eAteeed ianihcons "ich can oniy ~ satisfied
with mail - stem combining all possible clements aud
appliances to make perfect As lar as human agency
NEW YORK An NEW ORLEANS ROUTE.
On me Isl DAY Of July last IN arrangement took effect
by which mails were to b. conveyed between Washington
aud New Orleans IN four and ha days. by way Of Rich
mond and lynchburg, Virginia; Bristol Knoxville, Chat
lapooea and Grand Junction, Tennessee, and Jackson,
Mississippi, all by railroad, With the exception Of
gap OF ninety miles in Mississippi, between
he unfinished portions Of the Mississippi Central
Railroad, which supplied by stage service. so
as the time il concerned coming north, (from New
Orleans TO WashuEton) the whole service has lately
been performed With but few interruptions, although IN
the beginA there some unexpected difficulties
connected with tie stage portion Of the ronte. Gong
south, the schedule contemplated the running Of cars BY
night from Canton 10 New Orleans but the early appear
Of the yellow fever cpide me, and ITS great
,rulenco nteposed serious obstacle in the OF this
service the railroad company considering il ruinous 10
their interests approach the infected district, except
during the day time. The mails thus necessarily
deaScl over night twelve hourSl al Canton and deli
Veed New Orleans twelve hours behind the stipulated
tine. Assurances have, however been given that such
delay shall no longer continue. and i j. not doubted thai,
the contract schedule will be fully complied with.
nsuring the delivery OF mails from Washington at New
Orleans within four and half days.
The parties to the foregoing arrangement haze further
stipulated tina, from and after LIST july next the time shall
be reduced twenty four hours making the communication
between Washington and New Orleans IN three days ami
a half, or between New York and New Orleans within.
four days
The mail service in general between New York and New
Orleans during the past year, has been rather more
exempt from the delays and rrcgnl,r by which i has
usually beea characterized and there is scarcely doubt
that very great improvements will he effected during ta
year by the completion OF continuous and direct
airoad connect on through Virginia, Tcnuessee AMI Mis-
sssippl that Is, VIA Goonsve nstca 81 Richmpni) to
1ynclburg thence 70 Knoxville. tennessee, ind direct
Chattanooga (omiting Dalton Georgia. thence Grand
Junction, and over the Mississippi Central and New Or.
leans, Jackson and Great Northern railroads.
! last year referred 10 routes established by law,
and advertised by this department., from CEDAR Key,
Florida, TO New York, in steamers being dssgaed
IN connection with d railroad course OF construction
the peninsula Of Florida from Fenandna to Ceiar
Key. 70 constitute new route from Svw York 10 New
Orleans with 4 view 10 the speedier aud more certain
tansmisson Of the great Northern aud southern mails
communicated proposals which hat been received
convey mails between New YORK and New Orleans IN
days coupled with tie condition that pay would be de
manced for any trip not performed within tina, tme and
called attention the subject OF pubic
est Ny views OF this route remain unchanged: but
owing 70 the unfinished condition q the railroad well
the large expenditure of money Involved progress
has been made In the negotiations Of the subject.
railroad would be nearly completed that the
great through mails between Cairo and New Orleans
would be conveyed much more expettously and rcgu.
larry than be done, IN the nature things, by steam
boats.
Ills improvement, has not We, been effected By, inror
nation has been received within a fcw days which
defs certain hat the railroad communication will be
opened before the end Of this year.
Anticipating this state Of usncs the department; az thu
lettings Of contracts divided tlc Mississippi river rolts
follows
Prom 3, LOUIS, via Cairo, to Memphis, three ,ncs a
week.
Prem Nashville, via Cairo 70 Memphis thrca times a
week the two routes running alternate days mtSirg
s3x iris weekly zach way between Caro- and Memphis.
Prom Memphle H. New Orleans SIX times < Meek. with
additional weekly trip between MempA aud Sapo
eon, and four additional weekly trips between = Fran
clSyic and New Oricais
The eos, o. tie. NAL service by ,h,~e routes
between Caro- and New Orleans ! SCOOPS per
sunufn, which amount, compared with the cost
Of the steamboat service operation up 3p,h jane
st between tn points (sss2 3Jl, shows saving
81 sica,sis per annrm and 1t < peculiarly gratifying, in
v.w II tie g-ca; recacon 81 cost T. state. a. am
b,i % 90, that The Seryic- III all respects
tsiscor. titan the oh. II perorrnc Min ibr utmost
possible regularity, nni afort- every idcy that be
reasonably EXPECTED ~ tie people who directly nte
rc.isd ~ The hNshtfp river mail.
The thoItesttne ~ the river between CAIRO ami Scw
DTlcaix has hssu Tour days.
The a,clAsed railroad service Va Jackson aud Grand
Junction. tennessee. aud Canton. Nsss pfi. w probably
~ p,rfsmed Gays each way and al CO., ufabog
fll2 325 Icr Tbs sum, al led tile expcne OF
he liver mails Utcr the rtw coniracs, "a lst
JOS last (s2e2 els, makes Tor bot, ihc land AL river
$3.50 pr anuum, leaving si net - q -.
80 rr annum ovcr the cost ~ The rscr ncs alone ~
OVERLAND NAIL BORN.
A The last ssssou ~ Cpngress reported luy the steps
Inst tsd been taken 70 carry tito cu tn at II Con
gees approved - Il March, 1857 authorizing tn Post.
VcLcTll ~ contract far TIL cJavryance II
urs letter NAL between the VI 4sIW river and S,n
ffs0oisoo.
TIE or,rsct wls executed On ~ lela d $ ptember,
'sb5 ana sriy Voc commenced within ie twelve maathg
name.y o. y, lJth ~ sePtcmhar lsb'' agroaby . the
~ cepertucn, \ happy ~ a-oo.soe H. conclusive