Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-12-20
The Pogtmaster aenerars Report

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We have not space for the full report of tn,
Postmaster general blair, but condenSe al
that will be of interest to the general reader
He states that the whole number of postofEices
/ in the United States is 28536 and that the
entire number of cases acted upon during the
same period was 1O.638, including appoint
ments made by the President of the United
States. The whole number of appointments
made by the Postmaster General was 9,2S5
and the number by the President during the
same period, 337, The aggregate earnings o
the different transatlantic steamship iues du-
ring the year ending June Both, 1861, were
$780,. .887.63. The receipts of the department
| in the fiscal year ending June 80, 1861
amounted to SI3606,759 The expendi-
lures were $l4.s74,772.S9, showing decrease
in 1861 of 81 ,268.0I3.7s.
| The gross revenue for the year 1861, inclu-
ding receipts from letter carriers, and from
foreign postages, amounted to S,349, 1896 40.
The decrease of 1861 compared with 1860, is
Eobly $I78.771. The actual decrease falls below
the sstimated decrease, as presented in the last
report, by 81 ,436, ,457. The estimate of the
total expenditures for 1862, is somewhat less
mitted. The difference arises from the fact that
! auly partial estimates are made for the cost of
postal services in States where it is now sus-
pended. = e
The whole number of ordinary dead letters
received and examined during the year was
about 2.57O,OOJ. The number of these letters
| containing money which were registered and
sent out during the year ending June 80, 1861,
was l0,56O. The number of dead letters re-
tul ned unopened TO foreign countries during
the fiscal year was III.l4T, which added to
the number of domestic letter, Q03SSO) sent
out as above, gives the whole number sent out
from the dead letter Office for the year. 2I5,-
Q33
The result of successful investigation in a.
800 cases, confirms the past experience of the
Department, that the failure of letter to reach
its destination is, in the vast majority of in
stances, the fault alone OF the writer or sender
Out Of the above 1850 valuable dead letters,
3,U95 were directed 10 the wrong Office; 46T
NeTe imperfeetIy addressed; 6l2 were directed
to transient persons; 23T 10 persons who had
changed their residences; 82l were addressed
to fictitious persons or firms; SO we're uncaed
for; 10 without any directions; 2136 were moi
mailed for want Of stamps; 80 were missent;
and for the failure OF posimaslers 10 deliver
1873, no satisfactory reason was assigned The
Dept rtuent therefore, can justly be held re-
sponsible for the non-delivery Of but 212 o.
these letters.
Much other valuable data is given on this
subject, and it is worthy of remark that out OF
T6.769 letters before alluded to, originating in
the loyal States, and addressed to residents of
disloyal States, 10000 could not be returned,
either because the signature Of the writer was
incomplete. or because the letter contained no
clue to his resideuee. The experience of the
Department proves that a large proportion Of
domestic letters written by educated persons,
and particularly women, aretleGcient in one or
both these respects.
The Postmaster-GeRePal gives at length his
reason for the change Of contracts for disloyal-
ty. Not only was i. unsafe, be says, 10 entruss
the transportation qf the nails TO a person
who refused or failed to recognize the sanotity
Of an oath, but to continue payment Of public
money to the enemies of the government and
their allies, was to give direct aid and comfort