The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-07

less than that under the contracts which expire,
30th June last, and the service isin all respect
more satisfactory than the old.
The shortest time by the river between Cair,
and New Orleans has been four DAYS
BY land the time will probably be two DAYS
while the expense for the new service, both bN
the river and land. will be S57,290 per annun
within that Of the river service alone up to st july
last.
GRrAr OVERLAND MAIL RourE-The CONVEYANCE
of the letter mails overland between the Mississippi
river and San Francisco commenced on 18th Sep.
tember last and the Department reports the
conclusive and triumphant success of the route
The depaI ture and arrivals of mails were noticed
with unbounded demonstrations Of JOY and exulta
tion.
TEHrANTErEC RoUTE.-A contract has been made
fer conveying mails from New Orleans bv the
lsthmus Of Tehuantcpec. to San Francisco semi
monthly, time fifteen days. The service actually
commenced 9th October, under auspices which,
it is believed, promises complete success
UrAn RorrE-Thc routes between St. Joseph
Missouri, and Salt Lake City. and between Salt
Lake City and Paceryille, California have been 50
improved that trips through between st. Joseph
and Placerville are performed once a week in thirty
eight days. This service has elected from citizens
of California public demonstrations Of n most en-
thusiastic character
Routes have also been put in operation from Nco-
sho, Missouri, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and
from Independence, Missouri, by Albuquerque, to
Stockton, Caitornia-both monthly.
The Expenses OF THE DEPARTMENT. The expenses
of the department, over and above its revenues
have regularly 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
California and the other Pacific States and Territa-
ries. Except one other route, commonly called the
northern route. from St. Paul. in Minnesota to
Seattle, in Washington Territory, no other is now
thought of as being likely to become necessary
The estimate for the TRANSFORMATION of the mails for
the next fiscal year lS59rGO, when completed over
and above the anticipated revenues. may therefore
be regarded as the maNium which will p. .obably be
required for some time to come.
If, however, Congress in its wisdom shall not be
willing to see such an amount made chargeable to
the Treasury in future, the following suggestions
as to the means of keeping the expenses within the
revenues OF the department, are respectfully sub
mitted.
An act of Congress should be passed explanatory
of the act of March. 3, 1915, which makes it 'thc
duty of the Postmaster General in all future let
tngs OF contracts for the transportation of the
mails to let the same, in every case to the lowest
bidder rendering sufficient guarantees for faithful
performance, without other reference to the mode
of such transportation that may be necessary to
provide for the due CELEBRITY certainty, and secur-
ty for such transportation" And to make the
law more emphatic, it should provide that the Post
master General shall not in any case whatever ac-
cept bid for mail service having any reference
to the conveyance of passengers or freight of any
kind other than regular mail matter.
The effect of such Legislation would be to subsi-
tute stages with two horses on routes where four
horse coaches are now employed, while stages in
their turn would give place to the buggy, and in
deed, oftcntimes to horseback conveyance. In the
few cases where lOur-horSe vehicles would be ne
cessary, on account of the large amount of mail
matter the difference between the cost of passenger
coaches and the palmer and cheaper wagon, sulii-
ceut for conveying the mails, would be very con-
Siderable and so, also. prOpOrtiOnae saving would
result in the case of stages when changed to plain
cr and cheaper conveyance of equal capacity.
If the whole transportation of the mails were
thus arranged by means of what are commonly
called and known Star bids it would ac-
complish a reduction in the transportation ac-
count of probably one million of dollars per an
mum.
horse mail coaches would not necessarily lolcw; for
wherever the number of passengers would make it
profitable contractors would still employ coach SER
vice. Whenever the travel on any route offers no
such inducement. there exists no obligation on the
part OF government to pay an extra sum for mail
service in order to promote the convenience of
travellers.
The rapid extension of railroads has contributed
most largely to swell the expenditures of the de
partment. Wherever a new road is Openrd it be
comes necessary to convey mails on it, and almost
invariably at a rate of pay far above that coach
routes, while in many instances, the latter must be
continued other service provided for the Offices
which are not reached by the railroad, thus dOub-
ling the expense.
As an example it may be stated that the railroad
service between Cumberland. Maryland. and Wheel
ing, Virginia, including route agents and mail
messengers. now costs S44,995 per annum.
Service is also necessary on
the old stage route at --- $500 per annum.
Total S50,s95 per annum.
Before the completion of the
railroad the highest pay
for conveying the through
mail on this route S27,6OO per annum.
Increase 3,295 per annum,
nearly 100 per cent.
But if it be desired to relieve the Treasury from
the acquisitions upon it for the service of this de
partment, it will be necessary not only to reduce
expenses by disconnectng the mails from the trans
portation of passengers and freight but to increase
the revenue by the imposition of rates of postage
approaching more nearly the value cost of trans
portation and delivery of letters and printed mat
ter. a move in this direction was made at the
last session Of Congress by the introduction of bill
in the Senate having for its chief objects the raising
of the threecent rate upon letters to five cents, and
the abolition Of the discount now allowed by law
for the payment of newspaper and pamphlet pos
ta@c quarterly or yearly in advance.
1t is believed that the effect of this bill would be
10 Edlst Iilt revenue lIuU lSldHeS ABOUT DUUUUU
without taking into view the provision it contains
in relation to the transmission of public documents.
The immense masses of heavy books and documents
sent through the mails to all parts of the country
devolve very considerable expense upon the dc
partment for larger means Of transportation than
would be required for the ordinary mails. This cy-
pense, it is true, is compensated in part by the
nual appropriation of 500, 600 from the treasury
by the acts of March 3, 1S47 and March s. 1851;
but this allowance is not believed to be one half of
postage.
The dscontnuance modification of the frank
ing privilege having been suggested by several of
my predecessors as means of increasing the re-
venue the Postmaster General presents for con-
such modification of as it appears tc me
can be readily adopted without subiectng mem
bers OfCOngress to the charge Of postage on their
personal or official correspondence 1t is proposed
that in lieu of the franking privilege allowed
by law to members of Congress the Secretary of the
Senate, and the Clerk of the House, or such other
officer as may be designated for the purpose, fur
nish the members with postage stamps to be used
on all letters, public documents. and packets trans
mitted by them in the mails and keep an account
Ot the stamps furnished to eacn member, to be paid
for out of the contingent fund of each House. 1t is
further proposed that all letters and packets eN-
cepts newspapers addressed to members Of Congress-
shall be prepaid at the mailing office. In this way
the department would be compensated for the ser
vice rendered without a resort to the Inconvenience
ofkecping daily minute accounts of the postage
chargabe on such mail matter.
1t is evident on the slightest reflection, that
the whole theory on which the Post Office Depart
ment was originally founded has been in a great
measure departed from. Its great function for
many years, the Transmission Of mail matter
proper. such a letters newspapers, light pamph
lets, from one part of the country to the other.
The idea of the government becoming a common
carrier of persons and merchandise was never en-
tertained. But what is the Transmission Of the i'm
menSe mass Of book matter, amounting annually to
hundreds of tons, but merchandise, whether sent
from private book establishments or from the two
houses of Congress? In single instance the trans
mission Of the books, &c, of one member from
Utah) has cost the department between six and
seven thousand dollars.
Why cannot these be forwarded under the direc-
ton Of the Secretary of the Senate and Clerk Of the
house, either by the ordinary modes Of conveyance,
or by the application of postage stamps other
mail matter? Another consideration furcibv i'm
presses itself on the mind in relation to this depart
ment Many ocean steam lines have been cstab-
lished not really to meet the postal wants Of the
country, but to give aid and assistance to grow
ing and expanding commerce. The department
could have returns in postages that would at all
for their eXpenSiveness still, as 1t was
of the first Importance to our commerce and agri-
culture to have such lines, the duty of establishing
them it was thought, had as well be devOlved upon
the Post Office Department as on any other.
The great necessity and propricty of establish
ing connection with our distant possessions the
Pacific, both by sea and land. was universally ac-
The route by Panama has never re-
paid in postages half its expense; yet the nation has
been, in her trade and commerce. remuncratcd a
thousand fold. So of the great overland routes the
main one Of which has been established BY the ex-
press enactment of Congress. None of the latter
can ever make postal returns at all proportionate
to their cost but through their agency nearly one
- h., 4