Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-12-29
REPORT
of the Postmaster General.


The fact is prominently set forth that
irom and after the lst of July next, the
mails to be conveyed between New Or
leans and Washington in three and half
days. The expenses Of the department,
over and above its resources, have regular
ly increased ever since the reduction OF
r0StOges. 1t would, however, be enor-
m Geo ine oppose that this charge upon the
IT wIisi5 is TO progress in ratio proper
ton, 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, and there can be but little
further ctpense resulting from an over
land conneXion with California; Except
one other route, no other is now thought
of as likely to become necessary.
The Postmaster General proposes, in
lieu Of irankling privileges now allowed
by law to members Of Congress, that the
Secretary Of tho Senate, or such other off
GERS as may be designated for the purpose,
furnish the members with postage stamps
to be used on all letters, public doch-
ments, &c,, transmitted by them in the
mails, and keep an account of the stamps
furnished each member, to be paid for out
OF the contingent fund of the House all
letters, etc, to members of Congress to be
prepaid at the mailing Office.
A uniform rate of postage of five cents
on all distances is proposed, On the Both
of June last there were in operation
S,29G mail routes, the length of which is
estimated at 900, COB miles and cost ST.
705, ,4lS being an addition of lS.002 miles
to length OF routes, and 81, 1882 to the
cost III a year. The total estimates for the
current year are Sl0,Glj,9 ,947, and the total
expenditures Of the department in fiscal,
the year ending June 30th S12.722, ,47e,
The estimate of receipts and expendi-
lures for 1858 exhibits a deficiency of $3,-
$50, l27. The p. NJ. General says by the
time the contract for the California lines,
via Panama and Tehuantepec, expire in
Oct, lst 1859. it is probable that route by
Lake Nicaragua will have been opened
and in successful operation there. This
presents the question whether one two or
three of these routes shall thereafter bo
employed for mail purposes Tehuante.
pee route is shortest and at the same time
is most readily protected. But it will be
comparatively too new, and the time of
staging too long. While it is destined, no
doubt, to become transit of the first i'm
portanee, and will deserve the highest
patronage and encouragement, still it can
not supercede the necessity of ono or moro
routes through Central America.
1t is of the highest importance that the
route by Nicaragua should be re OPENED,
and its undis turbed use for .he transpor-
tation of the mails, passengers, troops and
munitions of war. secured by the solemn
frt1p nj Of lyn
this, in view of the unstable condition of
the local governments of the Central
America, the safety and security of trans
portation can hardly be relied on. As
calculated to furnish the requisite facili.
ties OF communication between Europe
and the Southern and Southwestern
States, the projecting lines between Nor,
folk and England, and between New Or
leans and Bordeaux, are among the least
important to be established. The POST
master General regards as highly import.
ant that the line 20 Vera Cruz should be
continued.
The whole number of post offices on
the Both of June last was 27,977, of which
400 are of the class denomnated Presi-
! Dental: whole number established during
| the last fiscal year, ., l2l; number dscon-
tinued, 73O: increase, 1891 number of
postmasters appointed S,284. OF these
4,j95 were to fill vacancies occasioned by
resignation, 90S byremoyals, 27S by deaths
w by change of names and sites, and 3
l2l on the establishment of new Offices
Whole number of offices, December H.
1858, 2S,573. On the 30th of June last,
there were in operation S,29G mail routes,
The number Of contractors was 7,0H.-
The length of those routes is estimated at
2GO,GO3 miles total amount of transpof-
tation 1906, ,49l miles; cost S7,79j. AIS.
Compared with the service reported 30th
Of June, 1857, there is an addition Of 49,
OO2 miles to the routes and Sl,l73,3S2 to
the cost. The total estimates for the cur
rent year are SI0jlj,G47. Tho total ex-
pcnditurcs for the fiscal year ending June
3Oth 1858, amounted to Sl2,722, 40. The
estimates ofrcccipts and expenditures in
lSjS-eXponditures Sl4,77G,520: means
Sll,O9l 1893; deficiency S3,GS2, III