The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-12-25
G Report of the Postmaster GEN
eFal.

The Postmaster Generals report states
that the whole number of post Offices. in
the United States on the Both of June,
1861, was 28,5S6; and that the entire
number of cases acted upon during the
same period was 10,63S, including ap-
polntments mad BY the Postmaster Gen
eral was 9,235, and the number by the
President during the same period 337.
The aggregate earnings of the different
transatlantic steamship lines during the
year ending June 80, 1861, were S302,-
/ 887 63.
| The expenditures of the department in
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1861,
amounted to Sl3, ,696,759 II
The expenditures were II, ,S74,772 SO,
showing decrease in 1861 of 81 ,26S,-
I013 78.
/ The gross revenue for the year 1861,
including receipts from letter carriers and
from foreign postages, amounted to S.
$40, ,296 20.
The estimated deficiency of means for
1861, as presented in the annual report
! for this department December 3, 1859,
was S5,988,424 04 Deducting the ac-
tual deficiency, 81, ,651 ,966 9S, and there
! is an excess of estimated deficiency over
actual deficiency of 81 1854 06.
The revenue from all sources
during the yearl660, amount
ed to S9,218,o67 40
/ The revenue from all sources
/ during the year 1861, amonut-
! ed to 9049.296 10
Decrease of revenue for 1861, Sl6S,T7I 90
The net proceeds from post Offices in
the loyal States for the fiscal years ending
June 80, 1860, Of S3,68S,6 600 Sc, and
IN 1861, S3,80l, 1876 0S, showing an in
crease in 1861 of $Il2,796 81 and in
the dsloyal States 10 1860, $3.50, ,546 81,
and in 1861, s677,7O6 20, showing q
decrease in 1861 of Sl42.839 81.
The decrease in 1861 from the net pro-
ceeds of 1860 IN all the States appears to
be S30,043 %.
Statement of the receipts and ezpendi-
lures Of the dislOyal States and amount
alleged to be due to contractors; also, the
amount actually paid to contractors from
July l, 1860, to May 81, 1861:
Total expenditure 81. .699,I5O At
Total gross receipts I,24l,220 05
Excess OF expenditures over
receipts S2,457,93o az
Amount alleged TO be due to
contractors fer transporta-
ton s,1a5, ,637 u
Amount actually paid for trans
portaton 2,3Z3, ,061 63
Leaving amount alleged to be
due and unpaid S3l2,59 40
The estimate Of the total expenditures
for 1862 is somewhat less than those Of
previous years heretofore submitted. This
difference arises from the fact that only
partial estimates are made for the cost of
postal service in states where it is now
suspended.
The appropriation for defenses in 1862
was S5,391, $50 63, while tie amount
estimated to be required from the Treas
ury for 1860, is $8, ,l45,000.
The whole number Of ordinary dead
letters received and examined during the
year was about 2550,000 The number
Of these letters containing money, which
were registered aud sent out during the
year ending June 80, 1861, was 10,5S0.
The number of dead letters returned
unopened to foreign countries during the
fiscal year was LII, which added to
the number Of domestic letters (103,SS0
sent out as above, gives the whole num-
hor IL
for the year, 2l5,G33. The result of sue
cessful investigation in 1860 cases. con-
firms the past experience Of the depart
ment, that the failure of letter to reach
its destination is, in the vast majority Of
instances, the fault alone of the writer or
sender Out Of the above 7 $50 valuable
dead letters, 1905 were directed to the
wrong Office, 467 were imperfectly ad-
dressed 6l2 were directed to transient
persons; 257 to parties who had changed
their residences S2l were addressed to
Fictitious persons or firms; S3 were un-
called for; 10 without any directions;
2,l36 were not mailed for want of post
age stamps; 70 were mis-sent; and for
the failure Of postmasters to deliver 1873,
no satisfactory reason was assigned. The
department therefore can justly be held
responsible for the non delivery of but
212 of these letters. Much other valua-
bic data Is given on this subject, and it
is worthy of remark that out of 76,769
letters, before alluded to. originating in
the loyal States, and addressed to resi-
dents 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 resi-
dence. The experience of the Depart