New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-12-08

buquerque, to Stockton once month, at $4,000 per
annum.
Service commenced on this route on the LIST of DC.
oherlast and although sufficient time has not elapsed
to allow Of reports being made, tile General thinks
there is reason to believe that the contracts will be
fulfilled and the mails conveyed to the satisfaction of
the Department and the public.
EXPENSES OF THE DEPARTMENT.
The expenses of the department over and above
its revenues have regularly increased ever since the
reduction of hostages. but the Postmaster expresses
the opinion that it would be erroneous to suppose
that this charge upon the Treasury is to progress in
ratio proportionate to that Of the last few years
The postal system is now extended over the whole
country from the Atlantic to the Pacific and there
can be but little additional expense resulting from over
land connexon with California and the other Pacific
States and Territories.
The necessity OF conveying the mails by railroad
wherever they exist has Of late years greatly increased
the expenses of the department, in some instances
cited in the report nearly 100 per cent "but says
the report if it be desired to relieve the Treasury
from the acquisitions upon for the service Of this
department it will be necessary not only to reduce
expenses by disconnecng the mails from the trans
portation Of passengers and freight but to increase
the revenue by the imposition OF rates Of postage ap
preaching more nearly the value or cost Of transport
tation and delivery Of letters and printed matter"
The Report proposes that in lieu of the ranking
/ privilege now allowed by law to members Of Con.
gress the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk Of the
/ House furnish the members with postage stamps to
be used on all letters public documents and packets
transmitted by them in the mails, and keep an ac-
count Of the stamps furnished to each member to be
paid for oat Of the contingent fund Of each House. in
order that Congress may keepa watch over the prpi
/ leges granted to its members, and prevent abuses
which the department has no power to detect I'VE
entirely agree with MI Brown in the opinion that the
members of Congress need watchingtl The Re-
port says that the theory upon which the postal sys
TEN was founded originally did not contemplate the
idea Of the Government becoming common carrier
persons and merchandise, but that it has been de-
parted from 50 far that hundreds Of tuns Of book
matter are carried annually. In single instance
the transmission Of the books etc. Of one mem
her (from Utah) has cost the department nearly
/ $1,000!
The whole number of postofices in the United
| states on the 30th June last, was 27977 Of which
400 are OF the class den0mnated Presidential The
number established during the last fiscal wear was
I'LL and the number discontinued $50 being an in
crease OF ,59l The number OF postmasters APP
pointed during the year was 8 S24. OF these 4595
were to fill vacancies occasiOned by resignation g9S
by removals 2IS by deaths, 292 by change Of names
and sites, and 2l2l on establishment of new offices
The whole number of Offices on the LIST Of December
/ 1858, was 2S,573.
On the 30th OF June last there were in operation
S,296 mail routes The number Of contractors was
/ 7,04t.
The length of these routes is estimated at 2G0,603
miles, divided as follows, viz
Railroad .#.#s....... 2t43l miles.
steamboat ..,.,. lIO43 "
Coach ,... .,... ..,.. ,.......a $1,000 ="