The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-12-16
THE POSTMASTER GENERALS
REPORT.

The report for this year exhibits very
healthy financial condition OF the Postofnce
department, and shows it to be thoroughly
impregnated with the spirit OF Improvement.
The efficiency Of tho service has been main
tanned at the highest point, accompanied by
great diminution Of expenditure. The gross
revenues Of the Department for the fiscal year
including the standing Treasury credit Tor free
mail matter and small amount appropriated
for the relief of individuals, was $0,0l2, ,549,-
SO. The expenditures for the samo yea
amounted to SlT,l25,364 l3. The regular
postal revenue for ls62 is only S4o,470 81
less than il was Jor the fiscal year 1861, dur
ing large part Of which year revenue wa
paid in from all the States of the Union.---
This fact shows large increase in the cor
respoudence Of the loyal States. While III
revenues have been so nearly sustained at tn"
highest standard, the expenses have been
largely reduced. F r the vreceding year tho
expenditures were $2.4sl,3 ,394 % greater
than last year. Tho following comparisons
of figures are interesting.
Expenditures for 1860, for service in all
the States, $l4,s74772 80; revenues for the
same year, $0,2Is,OGz 40; deficiency, So
856,765 40. Expenditures for 1861 (servics
interrupted in ls6l,) Sl3, 3,6oG,750 IL; gross
revenues for 1861, (seiviee Interrupted IN
1901 $9,O49,208 40; deficiency, Sf,557,-
462 II. Expenditures for 1852, Sll,l25,.
364 l3; revenues for 1862, S0,0l2,549 56;
deficiency, 2,l12,sl4 81; reduction Of expen-
ditures as compared with 1860, 3,74o, ,40S;
reduction Of expenditures as compared WITH
1861, 2,4sl,394.
The department has not been for many
years so nearly self sustaining. This result
is largely owing to the suspension Of postal
expenditures 10 the south, which were greatly
in excess OF postal receipts, but not alone TO
that A revision Of all Discretionary expen-
ses has boen made, and large reducuoas ORR
cred. The pay Of agents has been regarded
and equaIizad. Economy has boon re es'ab'
lisbed in the larger offices, where waste was
found. Incompetency. wherever ,onnd in
official position, has been removed. and an ef-
fort made to adopt standard Of merit and
administrative efficiency. in lieu Of other and
inferior motives for appointment. Inc fos'-f
mastel General expresses his det' rmination TO
adhere to this course.
The number Of postage stamps issued to
ostnasters, during the year, was 7.O7s.iIo-
The value of letter envelopes was 733, $685.
so. The value of stamped newspaper wrap
pers, 23,64S so; inc,eas Of issue over 1861,
,l44,S5S 27. The total value sold was 6s'
9lO,l3l 80.
The increasing demand on the part Of the
public for the stamped newspaper wrappers
shows that their introduction has satisfied q
public demand, and promoted the convenience
of correspondents.
In the first quarter of the current year,end
ing September 80, the number OF stamps Is.
sued to Postmasters was 104, 100000. Their
calls were for abou. 100000 900, which would
have been nearly sufficient 10 meet the de.
mand for year. This extraordinary demand
arose from the temporary use of these staTops
as a currency by the public, in lieu Of The
smaller denomir ations Of specie, and ceased
with the introduction of the so called postal
currency.
The difference between the value OF stamps
sold and stamps cancelled in the fiscal year
1862, shows 73S 1910 SO, as the amounts in
the hands Of purchasers on the lst of July
1862. e
The whole number Of dead letters received
and examined during tho year is 2,2S20l9',
which is 2O7 900 less than ia the previous
year. The whole number { vairaGle lettrrs
sent out by the dead lotter office was OF ,239.
Many interesting details are give'riu the re.
port touching the operations of this Office
Out Of 2l,493 cases where causes OF non de-
livery we're ascertained, only 225 were aftriL
butablo to tho fault OF postInas'ers; 8 @ leu
ters had no address whatever.
Congress, at its first session, passed an act
authorizing tho employment Of twenty five
additional clerks to facilitate the return OF dead
letters 10 their writers, with tho expectation
that the receipts Of postage thereon would
cover the appropriation Of 10000 for their
compensation. The result thus far shows
that an cxcess of revenue therefrom over tho
} expenses bas accrued TO the amount Of several
thousand dollars
The whole number of postollices in tho
United States remaining established on the
3Oth of June, lS62, was $3.50, of which
there were in the loyal States and districts
Q lo.973, aud ip the insurrcctionary States and
districts there were 5000. The net increase
in the established offices over last year was
: l2l. The number of cases acted upon 10y
the appointment Office during the year was
1876. The total postages accrued on United
States and European mails during the year
q amounts TO l,l44,005 80, being a reduction
o of the amount of the previous year OF 2lI,'
94O SO. OF the total amount collected, the
excess collected in the United States was
2,2,6O7 SO, which constitutes tl,e balances
Q paid TO the several foreign departments, tho
o cost of exchange being defra ed oy Tho Unit
ed States. The Postmaster General objects
TO this cost as inequitable, and proposes IT
: possible, to relieve tho department from this
y burden.
4
= The Postmaster General has made special
= efforts TO relieve the foreign correspondence
:. Of tho country from it's complrxity now 80 EN-
10 barassing alike 10 correspondents and to pos
tai officers. Separate n gotiations have bee"
q found inadequate to secure simple and salts.
s. factory arrangements. He therefore opened
ls a correspondence in August last, through the
ID Department of State, with foreign admins
r. trations proposing = convention OF postal re
10 representatives. at son.e convenient point, TO con
m slider the enumerated difficulties and the
'e means Of removing them.
4 Several replies have been received from ih'
'' various governments, and all are favorable
and agree TO the project. This co ntry, com.