American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-12-17
DOCUMENTS
Accompanying the Message OF the
President,
Report of Postmaster General.

hePOrI OF postmaster Generai.
The fact is prominently set forth
that from and after the 1st of July
next the mails are to be conveyed
from New Orleans and Washington
in 81 days.
The conveyance Of the letter mails
overland between the Mississippi and
San Francisco, the Department re-
ports the conclusive and triumphant
success of the route. The Tehuante-
pee route service has been commenced
under such auspices as, it is believed,
promises complete success. The
Utah route has beenso improved that
trips through, between st. Joseph
and Placerville, are performed once a
week in 38 days. Routes have been
put in operation from Neosho, Mis-
souri,, to Albuquerque, N. NJ, and
from Independence, Mo-, by Albu-
querqueto Stockton, California both
monthly.
The Postmaster General says that
the expenses of the Department., over
and above its resources, have regular
ly increased ever since the reduction
Of postages. 1t would, however, be
obviously erroneous to suppose that
this charge upon the Treasury is to
progress in ratio proportionate to
what it has been for the last few years.
Our postal system is now extended
over the whole country, from one
ocean to the other. There can be
but little further expense resulting
from overland connection with Cali
fornia and the other Pacific States and
Territories. Except one other route,
commonly called the northern route,
from st. Paul, in Minnesota, to SUIT
tie, in Washington Territory, no
other is now thought ofas being like
ly to become necessary. The esti-
mate for the transportation Of the
mails for the next fiscal year, 1859
go, when completed, over and above
the anticipated revenues, may, there
fore, be regarded as the maximum
which will be probably be required
for some time to come.
The Postmaster General proposes,
in lieu of the franking privilege now
allowed by law to members of Con-
gress, the Secretary of the Senateand
the Clerk Of the House ofRepresenta-
iivcs, or such other officers as may be
designated for the purpose, furnish
the members with postage stamps to
be used on all letters, public docu-
ments and packets transmitted by
them in the mails, and keep an ac-
count of the stamps furnished to each
member, to be paid for out of the con-
tingent fund of the house. 1t is fur
ther proposed that all letters and
packets, except newspapers, address
scd to members of Congress, shall be
prepaid at the mailing office. In
this way the Department would be
compensated for the service rendered, :,
without resort to the inconvenience
Of keeping daily minute account of
the postage chargcable on such mail
matter.
10 avoid dissatisfaction and the
practical Inconvenience ofhaving diff
ferent rates of postage, regulated by
distances, it is respectfully submitted
whether one uniform rate Of five cents
Tor all distances would not enlarge
the usefulness of the Department,
and diminish, if it did not entirely
prevent, such heavy drafts on the
'reasury, and best promote the inter-
est and convenience Of the people.
The whole number of Postofiices on
the 30th of June last was 27,977, of
which 400 are of the class denomina-
yea Presidential whole number cs-
ablished during the last fiscal year,
Sl21; number discontinued, 730, in
crease ,801; number Of postmasters
appointed, 1884. Of these 4,5g5
We're to fill vacancies occasioned by
reslgnations, 998 by removals, 278
oy deaths, 292 by change of names
and sites, and 2,121 on establish
,,neht Of new Offices. Whole num-
pcr of Offices, Dec. / 1858, 29,5T3.
.on the 30th of June last there were
~ operation 8,2D6 mail routes. The
number Of contractors was 7,044. 49,
the length Of these routes Is estima-
yea at 260, 1903 miles; total amount
81 transportation, 1876, ,4o1 miles,
and cost, $7,795, ,418. Compared
With thc epryico rcnnricd 2Otb ~