The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-12-19
Sflistellal>eous.
Postmaster Generals Report.
WAsnINaroN, Dec. ], 1862

The report for this year exhibits very
healthy financial condition Of the Post Office
Department, and shows II to be thoroughly
impregnated with the spirit Of improvement.
The efficiency Of the service has been main
tained at the highest point, accompanied by
great diminntion Of expenditures. The
gross revenue Of the department Tor the fiscal
year, including the standing Treasury credit
for free mail matter, aud small amount APP
propriaied for the relief Of individuals, was
S9,Ol25 $40 Sc. The expenditures for the
same year amounted to 8 ,l25. 1854 l3. The
regular postal revenue for 1862 Is only S40,-
470 so less than 1t was for the fiscal year
1861, during large part OF which year rev.
enue was paid IN from all the States of the.
Union. This fact shows a large increase IN
the correspondence Of the loyal States.
While the revenues have been 80 nearly
sustained at the highest standard, the ex.
penses have been largely reduced. For the
preceding year the expenditures were 81
46l 1874 9S greater than last year. The
following comparisons Of figures are inter-
esting:-
Expenditures for 1860 for service in all the
States, ,Sl4S74,772 50; revenues for The same
yearS9 .2lS0 067 40; deficiency 80, Csc, ,705 10;
expenditures for 1861 service interrupted in
1861 Sl3,606,759 ii gross revenues for
1861 (service interrupted in 1861 S9,O49,-
296 40; deficiency. S4,557, ,462 II /; expen.
dilures for 1862. Sll,ll5364 -: revenues
for 1867, so, ,0l2, $40 so; deficiency, SO, H.
Sl4 81; reduction of expenditures as COM
pared with 1860, S3,749, ,406; reduction Of
expenditures as compared with 1861, 81,
4Sl ,394.
The department has not been for many
years so nearly self.sustsining. The result
is largely owing to the suspension OF postal
expenditures in the South, which were
greatly in excess Of postal receipts, but not
alone TO that. A revision Of all discretion
ary expenses has been made and large re-
ductions ordered. The pay Of agents has
been regarded and equallzed. Economy
has been rs.established in the larger Offices,
where waste was found. lncompetency,
whenever found in official position, has been
removed, and an effort made to adopt stand
ard of merit aud of administrative efiicien-
cy in lieu of other and inferior motives for
appointment. The Postmaster General ex-
presses his determination to adhere TO this
course.
The number Of postage stamps issned to
postmas,ers during the year was 7.O1o,les.
The value Of letter envelopes was S733, ,255
so. The value of stamped newspaper wrap
pers, S2}6iS so; increase Of issue over
| 1861, SI.l4I.S5S %. The total value sold
was S69l0,l3l 80.
The increasing demand on the part Of the
public for the stamped newspapers shows
that their introduction has satisfied public
demand and promoted the convenience OF
correspondents.
In the first quarter Of the current year,
ending Sept. 80, the number Of stamps issu-
ed to Postmasters was 04,000,000; their
calls for about 200, 600, 900, which would have
been nearly sufficient TO meet the usual de-
mand for the year. This extraordinary de-
mand arose from the temporary use Of these
stamps as currency by the public in lieu Of
the smaller denominations OF specie, and
ceased with the introduction Of the so call
ed postal currency.
| The difference between the value ofstamps
sold and stamps cancelled in the fiscal year
1862 shows S73S,379 96 as the amount in
the hands Of purchasers on the lst Of July,
1862.
The whole number Of dead letters rcceiv-
ed and examined during the year Is s2,2c2,OlS
which is 267. 900 less than in the previous
year. The whole number Of valuable letters
sent out by the DeadLetter Office was 81 ,239.
Many interesting details are given IN the
report touching the operations Of this office.
Out Of 81 ,493 cases where causes Of nom
delivery were ascehained, only 225 were at
;ribuiable to the fault Of postmasters; S22
letters had no address whatever.
Congress, at its first session, passed an acl
authorizing the employment Of twenty-five
additional clerks to facilitate the return Of
dead letters to their writer's, with the expec
tation that the receipts Of postage thereon
would cover the appropriation of 100000
for their compensation. The result thus far
shows that an excess Of revenue therefrom
over the expenses has accrued to the
amoun, Of several thousand dollars.
The whole number Of Post Offices in the
United States, remaining established on the
Both Of June, 1862 was 2s,675, OF which
there were in the loyal States and districts
1898, and in the insurec,ionary States
aoJ districts there were 5000. The net In.
crease in the established Offices ever last
wear was l2i. The number Of cases acted
upon BY the appointment Office during The
year was 7l65. The total postage accrued
ON United States and European mails dur
inp the year amounts to 81, l44,095 81, be-
inc a reduction of the amount Of the previ.
Gus wear of S2l7,9i0 90. or the total
amount collected the excess collected In
the United States was S2l2,6 ,607 80, which
constitutes the balances paid to the several
Foreign Departments, the cost Of ex.
change being betrayed by the United
States. The Postmaster General objects TO
this cost as inequi,abe and proposes, II
possible, 10 relieve the department from this
burden.
The Postmaster General has made special
efforts to relieve the foreign correspondence
of the country from lie co'nplexiiy, now so
embarrassing alike 10 correspondents and TO
postal officers. Separate negotiations have
been found altogether inadequate to secure
simple and satisfactory arrangements. He,
therefore opened correspondence, In Au.
gust last, through the Department Of State,
with foreign administrations, proposing 4
convention Of postal representatives st some
convenient point 10 consider the enuIner.