The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-12-18
Friday Morning, December Is, 1853.
synopsis OF the Postmaster Generals
Report.

The Postmaster General reports that during
the last fiscal year the financial condition OF
his department has been one OF unusual pros
perity. The revenue has nearly equailed the
expenditures, the latter amounting TO s11 ,3l4-
206 SILL and the former TO 81, ,l63,1S9 so.
There is good reason to believe that the de-
partment will be self-sustaining In brief
period of time.
The whole number OF ,postoflices existing
on the 9th of June, 1858, was 29047, being an
increase on the preceding year OF liz. Eight
hundred and thirty offices have been establish
ed, and 65S have beeu discontinued.
The number Of special agents on June Goth.
1868, was 10, with all aggregate salary of
S26, 300; and 3S7 route agents at an aggregate
salary OF s2se, ,260. Also, As local agents at
s2T, 1874. Baggage masters In charge of cx-
press mails had received $T,440.
The total cost of transatlantic mail steam.
ship service was $685., ,lS4 so. This price COW
cred one hundred and thirty-two round trips
TO various European ports.
The Postmaster General regrets TO state
that no progress has been made In negotIa-
tions for anew postal convention with Prussia,
embracing the States comprising the German
Austrian Postal Union, on account of some
obstacle presented by Austria in regard to
territorial transit charges.
He renews his recommendation OF March 3,
1865, to the postal committee in Congress,
that all private ships departing from the Uni
ted States for foreign ports, should be re-
quired, as condition Of clearance, to convey
mails on such ternls as may be allowed by
Congress.
During the year the increased length of
routes has been 5,5S5, but the annual cost of
mail transportation has decreased sll3,25s, or
about , per cent.
The value of stamps issued to Posimastcls
during the year Is 9,GS3,3S2: stamped letter
envelopes, 1864, sci, and stamped newspaper
wrappers s20,54J. The total value OF those
sold to the public was s9,62 24,529 90, being an
excess over the previous year of s2,714t397,- :
13.
The Postmaster General renews his last
years recommendation TO Congress 10 author
ize him to adjust and allow the claim of Post
masters who have sustained losses of stamps
and stamped envelopes by reason OF the occa-
patton and robbery Of their Offices By bodies
of armed men.
The claims thus far presented amount TO
about $4,000. He calls attention also 10 the
fact that these Postmasters have suffered
greatly IN the loss OF private property.
de requests additional legislation In respect
TO postoffice thefts, and recommends that the
stealing of letters and stamps be made Il penal
oiense.
THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE.
There has been continued increase Of let
tcts CuutaiuluS iuoNcy anu ulHer NaiuaDicS.
The number of dead letters covering deeds,
bills Of exchange, drafts, and other valuable
papers received, registered aud returned for
delivery to the writers was e322, with an ag-
gregate nominal value of Sl,544,275 81 - Of
these 1859 were delivered TO the owners.
Letters, registered and mailed, containing
money, numbered 1929. OF these 15,Oas.
containing s63,527 ", were finally delivered.
1928 letters OF less value were received,
nearly 10000 OF which contained daguerreo-
types, and 8,273 were restored 10 their writers
or owners.
The Postmaster General recommends that
postal order money system be established to
facilitate the transmission of small sums
through the mails, which he Is confident would
prove not only great convenience TO soldiers
and citizens but also almost entirely obyiatc
the loss OF this kind of remittanees.
la regard to letters addressed to points In
the rebelous States, the Postmaster General
says: By reason Of the continued suspension
of Irregular postal communication with sections
OF the country under insurrectionary control,
number of letters amounting In the aggre-
gate to 2a,3l4, found their way, by various
channels, TO the dead letter office.
- or this number 3,3l2 were foreign, aud were
returned to the countries where they origina-
ted. Those originating In the loyal States
were turned over TO the military authorities,
and after examination, most of them sent bv
nag OF truce to their destination.
The Postmaster-Gcneralh has instructed Post
masters to forward TO the dead letter office,
except In special cases, all letters remaining
unclaimed one month after being advertised,
instead of two months as formerly.
Ia conclusion, he asks the consideration OF
Congress of the revised code of laws submitted
by him at the last session, which Is mainly
digest of existing postal laws