M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1858-01-07
Respectfully, -
THO'S H. BENTON.
Report of the Postmaster Gcner-
nl

Postmaster General Browns re.
port is very voluminous. Mr.. Brown
states that since he entered upon the
administration of the Department he
has ventured on no new theories mol
attempted any innovations on a we'll
tried system. He calls particular at
tention to the fact that while but s
LAG postofiices wore established in the
twenty years from 1927 to 1S47, the
number established in ten years, from
1S47 to 1857, was II, ,444-being ar
increase of 4,29S in just one.balt Of
the former period, During the last
fiscal year 1,725 Offices have been cs-
tablished, and 704 discontinued, be-
ing a net increase of 1921. The
number of postmasters appointed du-
ring the year was $3.50; of which
4,767 were to fill vacancies occasioned
by designations. The total number OF
postoffices in the United States at this
time is 27,14S, of which 36S are OF
the class denoninated Presidential,
incumbents being subject to appoint
ment by the President and Senate
On the 30th of June last 7,SSS mail.
routes were in operation, with an ag-
gregate length of 242, ,G01 miles, Of
which %, $50 miles were by railroad,
15,245 by steamboats, and 49,329 by
coach. The total annual transporta.
tion of mails was 74;90G,067 miles
costing S6,622,0 ,046. The cost OF
transportation was relatively asfoIlows
BY railroad, zen cents and five mills
per mile; by steamboat, twenty-five
cents a mile; by coach, seven cents
and four mills mile. The length of
railroad routes has been increased 2,
207 miles, and the length of steam.
boat routes is increased by 294 miles.
The number of mail contractors is 6,
576. The stage coaches are going
more and more out of fashion,; during
the year the length Of coach routes
has been reduced i ia miles, and the
ANIMAL transportation 24,061. The
cost Of the Utah routes was increased
1880, by the allowance of addition
al pay, with out increased service, on
the route between Salt Lake ard San
Pedro. The extension Of railroad ser.
vice, (amouting to 2,45S,G4S miles,)
is set forth in tabular form in the re.
port, With an exhibit Of the additional
expense thereby incurred, amounting
to $248,45S during the year Com
pared with the service last year, there
appears a decrease of791 miles in the
length ofroutes, and of S23,034 miles
in the annual transportation, while
the cost is increased $120,044. In
New York, railroad transportation has
increased 293, 1913 miles, while steam.
boat service has decreased 161, ,664
miles, and coach service has fallen Of
143 1854 miles, but with an increased
cost in the latter amounting to $12
642. The receipts ofthe Department
for the year were S7,353,S51, and the
expenditures 81, ,507,057. Allowing
for certain special-provisions on the
account otrevenue and expenditure, the
deficit is stated at S3,453,718 40.--
The increase Of expenses this year is
per cent. in the amount of annua
transportation, and 8 7-10 per cent il
cost.
The estimates for 1853 are as fol
lows: Expenditures $12,053, ,247; rev
enue S10,684,075; leaving the sum Of
$1,469, ,173 to be appropriated by Con
gress to defray the expenditures Of the
coming year.