Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-01-05
1yERNIs OF ADVERTIsTNG.
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1859.
POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT,

POSTMASTER GENERALS REPORT
Hon. j. Holt, Postmaster General, in his report,
dated Dec. Sd, 1862 opens with feeling reference to
the loss which the depal tment sustained in March last
by the death of his deeply predecessor and also
by that OF the Third Assistant Postmaster General
long and so honoraby connected with the admnisra
ton of the postal revenues In addition to these pain
full losses the department has had to encounter difficult
ties oceasioned by the failure of Congress to pass the
customary appropriation BILL With very excep-
ons contractors and Others had met the crisis with
courage and lofty public spirit and the mail service
had been carried during the last nine months as cor
daily at any former period Parties had gone on,
relying upon the faith of the Government, until their
credit is exhausted and it is now the duty of Congress
to provide for the prompt payment of these just claims
against the department, with interest thereon.
From this report learn that the gross revenues of
the department during year ending jane aoth
1859, were $7,966,464 OF. These, with balance on
hand on first July, 1858, Of $608,313 06, and with
$3,590946 40 drawn from the Treasury under various
appropriations, and $627 26 of bad debts collected
made up the total receipts of the department to $12
16937O 68.
The total of actual expenditures paid) and liabili-
ties contracted during thc year, amount to $15 1884,
o92 &c. being excess of $6996O69 26 over the rev.
of the department, and of 296,O0 26 its
available receipts from all sources Of the gross amount
of total receipts, 71O,23l 20 is made up of balances
due from postmasters and late pcstmasers which have
been accumulating since l845, and can only be made
available as they are collected.
The total expenditures for the year ending June 3Oh,
1860, are estimated at $l5O38,627 62. The revenue
is estimated at $8287 223 co. this revenue with the
balance standing to the credit of the department. and
the receipts from divers appropriations makes the means
of the department for the year ending June 30h 1860
$1O,222 534 81, leaving deficiency of for the
year 1860, of $48l6O92 H. Adding to this the un-
available item of 7lO23l 20, the actual estimated de-
fciency for the year 1860, will be $5,526324 90.
The expenditures for the year ending june 1861 are
timated at $15665135 O4. The revenue at $86167l1
o. which with receipts from other amounts to
$96767ll 90, leaving estimated deficiency for 1861,
Of $5,988,424 O4, these estimated deficiencies being
predcated upon the nonadopton of certain suggested
reforms. If these are adopted the Postmaster General
thinks that the deficit for 1861 would not exceed ST.
342,473 80.
There were 1872 pol ,92O stamps, and 3O2eO,3OO
stamped envelopes issued to posmasters during the
year ending June 30th, 1859.
| pOoO
routes but an increase of AZ per cent in the annual
transportation. The length of the Railroad routes is
26OlO miles. The whole number of post Offices is 2S,-
$50, an increase of 562 within the year.
! About 100000 letters actually conveyed through
the mails reached the Dead Letter Office during the year.
OF the letters containing valuable enclosures it appears
that the great proportion have been either misdrected
held or postage addressed to transient persons The
| of fOund in daadla tha
was $45719 IA, of which Sal 143 IA was restored to
its owners.
The Mississippi River routes do not pay and are
drain on the treasury, and are mostly useless.
The various routes for carrying the mails to and from
the Pacific at the beginning of the year cost at the rate
of So 184697, and the receipts from them were but
| $780, 747 &C. Much of this has been curtaed The
Tehuantepec and overland routes cost enormously and
pay next to nothing. One line cost $l96448 and paid
$6Ol 90! He recommends the discontinuance of the
overland route, and that via Tehuantepec The con-
tract with Isabel to carry the mails from Charleston to
Havana expired the 30th june and was not renewed
The amount paid was $4,000 per annum-the posta-
ges received were but $l0,O36 66.
In order to bring the expenses of the department down
to the limits of its revenues, and make it really sefsus
tanning the Postmaster General recommends the cut
ting OIL OF all Improbable and unnecessary routes such
those already referred tothe abolition of the rankng
privegethe reduction of the cost of railroad trans
portatOn, and the payment by government on routes
non postal He calculates that the saving and yield
from these would amount to S. 653 535 &C. eav
ing still deficit Of 81 342 473 80 which the gradual in
of receipts, and the curtaments still practicable
would overcome in a few years.
i The Postmaster General objects to the passage of
newspaper exchanges free through the nails also to the
exemption of weekly papers from postage within the
county in which they are published.
lie thinks that compensation exacted by Railroads is
excessive and unreasonable and recommends an amend
ment of the act of l845. He recommends reduction
OF 3315 per cent upon the maximum rates fixed by
that act.
Some companies will not come under the obligations
contained in the usual contracts with the Department
No mail will be delivered to such companies after 31st
March next until they enter into the usual stipuations
Reeronoo 10 made to the proposed through express mail
Y between Portland Me-. and New Orleans, La, and a
comparison is made between the Southwestern route
Knoxville, and the Atlantic route va Wilmington
thus :-Southwesern route-schedule time, DAYS ac.
ual time days 22I hours arrivals In schedule time
241 out of time 1884, Atlantic route-schedue time
515 days actual average days % hours arrivals.
+ schedule time 403 out of time 286.
Several routes mentioned but embarrassed as the
Department s the Postmaster General does not feel au
thorzed to make any contract especially at the high
rate of compensation demanded.
The Postmaster General is opposed to any increase
in the rates of postage, unnecessary and decidedly op
4 posed to the popular judgment.