The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-12-21
Abstract Postmaster Generals Report.

The Gross revenue OF the Post Office de-
partment for the year ending June 30, 1860,
was IS, SIS, ,067 so, and the expenditures
SO ,l90, ,609, ,99,-thc largest part of which,
or fourteen and half millions, was for
transportation of the inland mails, including
payment to route agents, local agents, and
mail messengers. The transportation Of the
foreign mails ~ cost S469. .4l3, and Of the
California mails S46S ,S04,97. There should
be deducted from the apparent expenses OF
the department for the year the sum Of $4,-
296, ,009, ,26 for transportation, &C., in 1889.
There were in operation on the Both June,
1902 mail routes, whose length is estimated
ut 2I0, ,594 miles. The total annual trans
portation of mails was 14,72i,77G miles.
The length of railroad routcs has been in
creased II 10 miles Of steamboat routes d.
minished. 4233, and OF coach routes dimin.
ished, SiGi. Compared with the service OF
1859, there IL decrease Of l9,45S miles in
the length of mail routes, Of 1888. Cos
miles in the annual transportation, and OF
5000 ,047 in tho cost.
The whole number Of post Offices in the
country On the first Of December, was % $50.
At the formation Of the government in 1889
there were but IS post Offices in operation.
The increase Of business in the department
indicates the growth of the conntry in O
striking manner. In 1900 there were 9O3
post Offices In 1910. 1900: in 1890, 4, 800:
in 1880, $3.50; in 1910, l3,46S in 1850,
lS.4l7.
The estimated expenditures of the depart.
ment for 1861 arc Sl4,S55, ,53j %, the esti.
mated means arc 50 ,6SS, 1884, GO, leaving an
estimated deficiency Of 81, ,266. 600 63.
The report gives some curious statistics.
The number Of quarterly accounts of pay
ments to bo handled in year Is ll3 ,396.
Their bulk is such that over 400 thrce-bush-
el sacks are required 10 contain the accounts
OF a single quarter. The post bills weigh
1900 pounds each quarter, which are care
fully opened, and those with Enclosures Of
value registered and returned to their owners.
The number Of valuable dead letters sent out
is 2i.OOO annually. Out Of 5000 dead let
ters there were but 6S4, for the non-dcliyery
OF which tho department is blameable, 65I
having become dead because not prepaid.
The increase in the number Of letters convey
ed by mail over the proceeding year is about
twenty millions. =
In addition to the tri-monthly Pacific
mail by the ocean, there are three overland
postal communications ut the annual cost, NJ
now misunderstanding the ocean services
ut $3.50, ,0O0-of 81 .a02 ,3Sl. The receipts
from them arc lers than 100000. In view
of this extremely limited revenue, as com.
parcd with the outlay, and OF the Tact tna.
these routes were established and maintained
m inly for the advancement Of certain ma
tional objects not at all postal In their cnar'
aeter. the Postmaster General renew: the 10,
oommendation contained In his last ANNUAL
report. that they shall at once be po' upon
the public treasury:
..,,;ce established by act oi Congress. June
os. isGO, has been contracted for by the
owner % Of tho steamer Isabel, for $40 900 Per
snnum, these being no other bidder. The
report says, however, that the revenue DO