Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-15

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Postmaster Generals Report.
The report for this year exhibits a very healthy
financial condition OF the Post. Office Department.
and shows u 10 be thoroughly impregnaled With
the spirit OF improvement The efficiency Of the
service has been maintained at the highest point,
accompanied by great diminution Of eSpendi-
tures.
The gross revenue Of ths Department Tor this
hscal year. including tho standing Treasury
credit Tor free mall matter, and n small amount
appropriated for the relief Of individuals. Was
SJ,Ol2,5f9 ~, The expenditures for the same
year amounted 10 81 1884 ~. The regular
postal revenue for 1861 is only S5,947 $40 lees
than u was for the fiscal year 1861. during
large part OF which year revenue was paid In
| lrum oil the States Of the Union. This fact
shows large Increase IN the correspondence Of
the loyal States. While the revenues have been
- nearly sustained ut the highest standard. the
expenses have been largely reduced For the
preceding yoarihe expenditure was 81 ,4si .3g4 %
greater than last year
The following comparison Of figures h inter.
cstIng:
Expenditures for 1850 for service In all
hateHs tlthItTI2 ~
Revenue for the same yesf.,",.,,.,.. p2isa0I 40
Deficiency .....".............. es0sG.7ub 40
- isell sisoOsI5O u
nisop. ..'.."'........',"..'... oois,9oo 40
pvaeIeney............."..... ssssIaoa II
Expenditures for issa...... ....,... en- iasao4 ~
Revenue Tor so2.''.,,.,,,,,"".', p,oia,6ip 90
Deficiency .,...',',.'',".''''''' t2.ii2,slt 81
Win 1850. MISREPRESENTATION. ta7is,ios 90
with 1891 .......,,.....'.,,. aAsi ,api 90
The Department has not been, for many years.
20 nearly sell sustaining The result l. largely
owing 10 the Suspension Of postal expenditures In
the South. which we're greatly Ia eI,ess Of the
postal receipts there, but not alone 10 that.
revision Of all Discretionary expenses has been
made, and large reductions ordered. The pay Of
agents has been regarded and eQuallzed, economy
has been established IN the larger Offices, where
waste was found. lncompeiency, wherever found
IN Official POSITION has been removed, and an
effort made 10 adopt q standard Of merit aud Of
administrative efficiency, la lieu Of other and In
Terror motives for appointment.
The Postmaster General expresses his determi.
nation 10 adhere 10 this course.
The number OF postage stamps issued 10 Post.
masters during the yenr WIS 25l .35i Jos. the
number Oi STAMPED envelopes was 2i.s6J 800
The value Of these stamps was S70l6,lee; the
value OF the letter envelopes was S133 .255 so
The value OF the stamped newspaper wrappers
Is S23Gic 80. The increase OF ifSue over 1861
l. sl,l44s5s %. and the total value sold was
S6,9l0,l3l So
The increasing demand ON the part Of the
public Tor the stamped newspaper wrappers
shows that their introduction has Satisfied pub
lie demand and promoted the convenience Of
correspondence.
In the first quarter of the current year. ending
the 3Oth OF September, the number of stamps
issued to the POstmasiers was lOf 600 600. their
calls being for about 900 900 600, which would
hara tl..t
mand for a year. This extraordinary demand
arose lrem the temporary use Of these stamps ms
a currency, in view of the smaller denominations
of specie, and ceased with the introduction OF the
so called POI tai currency. The difference be-
tween the value of stamps sold and stamps can
celed Ia the fiscal year. 1862. shows S73S,3I9 96
rs the amount in the hands Of Postmasiers on
0 the lst of July, 1862.
The whole number Of dead letters received and
examined during the year was 2,2S2, Ols. which
; is 26I 600 less than the previous year. The
whole number Of valuable letters sent out by the
dead letter Office was 81 $50.
Many interesting details are given in the report
6 touching the operations of this Office; but OF 2l,
> 1873 cases where the causes Of n-delivery we've
ascertained only 225 attributable to the
the fault OF Poslmasters, and e22 letters bad no
address whatever.
2 Congress, at its first session. passed an act
authorizing the employment of twenty-five adj
l ditonal clerks 10 facilitate the return OF dead
letters To the writers, with the expectation that
I the receipts OF postage thereon would cover
0 the appropriation or S2p QUO made for their
2 compensation. The result thus far shows an
= excess of revenue therelrom over the expenses,
that has accrued, 10 the amount OF several thou
Q sand dollars
The whole number OF postofiices in the United
{ States remaining established on the 3Oth of
4 June, 1862, was Is SIS of which there were in
the loyal States and Districts 10 973. and in the
{ insuuectionary States and Districts there were
$500 The net increase in the established offices
over last year was 1911. The number Of cases
4 acted upon by the appointment Office during the
year was ,Ie5.
o The total postage assumed on tbs United
States and European mails during the year
4 amounts 10 Sl.l44.09 %, being reduction
from the amount of the previous year OF SILL
Z 941 IS. OF the total amount collected, the ex-
cess collected in the United States was 1912 ,6OI,
/ SO, which constitutes the balance paid to the
several foreign departments the cost of exchange
being paid by the United States. The Postmas-
ter General objects 10 the cost as ineQutable, and
r proposes to relieve the Department from this
burden.
The mail lettings, which went into operation
on the first Of July last on the Western division,
we're effected such favorable terms, as COM
pared with the previous letting, that reduction
A of expenditures resulted to the amount of
1891 600 At the same time the length of
routes was increased by 6, SO miles, with
I annual increase of transportation of 754 ,42S
miles.
The total annual cost of inland service in OPP
Grafton the 30th of June last was 50, e53 e34,
10 which add the cost of the various agencies,
route, local messengers. &c, S46O ,63O ~. and
the cost of service that date is S6,3l4 AGA 90,
{ which includes 81 900 600 for the inland route,
not before charged on therevenue Of this depart
ment.
He discounees the use of the mails for trans
hitting money, and speaks favOrably OF lin
tied money order system, and of an amendment
to the registry system, by which a return receipt
shall be sent to the dspaching party as evidence
of the fact and date of the delivery of his pack
age
The public attention is called to the great i'm
. portance of good postal officers for a successful
administration of the department If Postmas-
tiers and their clerks selected without chief
reference TO their efficiency and personal fitness,
no amount of good legislation will secure public
satisfaction.
An energetic, faithful and efficient Postmaster,
devoted to the interest of the service, should be
sustained as long he illustrates these qualities
in the administration of his Office. He attributes
the success Of the English system largely to the
permanent character OF their officers, and their
popularity with law and regulations, aud regrets
the extent TO which other motives TO appointment
have prevailed in this country
/ He urges a return TO the old standard of hon