Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-12-10
Reno.t OF the rostnaster General.

further Improvement.
Report OF the Postmaster General.
We have before us the report of Hon. A. V. Brown
Postmaster General made the President of the United
States and bearing date Dec 4th, 1858. From it
CLEAN the following particulars
The expenditures OF the Department in the fiscal year
ending June 3Oth 1858, amounted to $l2,722,47O OIL
and the revenue to 486792 Sc to which is to be ad
ded the permanent annual appropriation of 100000
granted to the department by the acts Of March Bird
l847 and March Bird 1851, for the transportation and
delivery of free mail matter for Congress and the
uve departments thus making the whole revenue of the
year amount to 49, l86792 &c. which falls short of the
expenditures as adjusted on the Auditors books, $4,
534, 843 70.
The expenditures for the fiscal year ending June Both
1859, arc estimated at l477652O 90, and the total
means for the same year at $ll ,O96,393 co. these
means being derived from gross and appropra
lions already made. This leaves a deficiency Of means
for the service of 1859 Of $3,G82,127 90.
The whole number of Post Offices on the LIST Deem
ber 1855 was % 573. The number established during
the year was 2l2l and the number discontinued $780,
being an increase Of ,391 There in operation
the 1st of June last 1926 mail routes, with aggrc
gate length of COB miles, and an annual transporta
ton of mails amounting to 1865 49l miles, at cost
of 7795 AIS Compared with the service reported
the Both June 1857 this is an addition of 8002 miles
to the length of mail routes 3859424 miles to the total
annual transportation and of 81 1882 to the cost
showing an increase of I'll per cent in service and of
TAG per cent i'll cost.
The Postmaster General speaks approvingly OF the
appointment of express mail agentsrefers to the new
Western route between New York and New Orleans,
gia the Virginia and Tennessee Railroads. etc., upon
which the stipulated time has generally been made going
North but not going South owing to certain
ferred to- The mail service generally between n. York
and New Orleans has exhibited an Improvement. The
2. NJ General still favors the Fcrnandna route, but
owing to the unfinished condition Of the Railroad, as
we'll as the large expenditure OF money involved pro-
gress has been made in negotiations on the subject.
The St. Louis and New Orleans route, and the Over
land route to the Pacific referred to, and the
try congratulated upon the triumphant success of the
latter The service the Pacific route Uia the 18th
mus of Tehuantcpec, actually commenced the 9th of
October 1865 and many advantages expected to be
derived from it in time and money. The Utah route is
! referred to.
The Postmaster General alIudes at length to the
expenses of the Department which have so largely out
grown its income. This is accounted for in three ways
First the rates Of postage below the actual scale
CURED to raise the necessary amountsecond the trans
mission of tons of merchandise mail matter under the
franking privilege. In single instance, the transmits
sion of the books etc, of one member rom Utah has
cost the Department between six and seven thousand
dollars. Thirdly many steamines have been es
tablished not really to meet the postal wants Of the
Country but give aid and assistance to our growing
and expanding commerce. The Department could have
no returns in hostages that would all compensate fol-
| their expensiveness.
1t is suggested to make the rate uniform at 7e cents
for all disances-to have books and other things like
those sent by the member from Utah, forwarded
chandze by the Clerk of the House. and kept out of the
mails and finally that the development of commerce by
steamship lines should be make national charge, and
not made to fall exclusively the Post Office Depart
ment.
,s Tho 1Vorranton Np9cS saws the IouTnnl has made