The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-31
Postmaster Generals Report.

The Post master-G General reports that du
ring the last fiscal year the financial cond
ton Of his department has been one of unu
sual prosperity. Tie revenue has nearly
eoualled the expenditures, the latter amount
ing to SIl ,3I4. 306 81 and the former to Sill
168, 7S9 SO, There is good reason 10 believe
that the department will be self-sustainins
in brief period of time
He renews his recommendation of March
8, 1862, to the postal committees in Con
gress, that all private ships departing from
the United States for foreign ports should b.
required, as condition of clearance, to con
vey mails on such terms as may be allowed
by Congress-.
During the year the increased length o
routes has been five thousand five hundred
and eighty five, but the annual cost of mai
transportation has decreased $113,25s, OF
about two per cent. jt# uaa
The value Of stamps issued to postmaster,
during the year is 80 $50. sS2 !; stamped let
ter envelopes, 1884, S21; and stamped news
paper wrappers, $2O,545. The total valu,
of these sold to the public was $9,624, 500 6;
being an excess over. the previous year o
$2,714,397 70.
- a1nF RECOMMENDATIONS. $3.50 i've
The Postmaster General renews his las
years recommendation to Congress to au
thorize him to adjust and allow the claim o
postinasters who have sustained losses o
stamps and stamped envelopes by reason o
the occupation and robbery Of their Office
by bodies Of armed men,. 1sa ii Ea0a
These claims, thus far presented, amoun
to about So He calls attention also t.
the fact that these posttnastcts have suffered
greatly in the loss of private properly.
He requests additional legislation in respec
to post office thefts, and recommends tina
the stealing of letters and stamps be made
penal offence.
THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE.
There has been continued Increase o
letters containing money and other yalua
bles. The number, Of dead letters, GOVERN.
deeds, bills of exchange. drafts and othe
valuable papers, received, registered and re
turned for delivery to the writers was 1872!
with an aggregate numnal value Of 81 ,544,
277 81. Of these, 8,559 were delivered to
their owners.
Letters registered and mailed containing
money numbered 1923; of these, 1908
containing 500, 627 ~, were finally delivered
Sixteen thousand seven hundred andgsix.
ty three letters of less valne were received
nearly ten thousand Of which contained
daguerreotypes, and S,273 were restored to
their writers or owners.
POSTAL MONEY ORDERS. 500.
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 en-
tlrely obviate the loss Of this class of remit
RANGES. f"i& 2fii daEl3l
THE RKBaL STATES. BIZ iasG
7 The whole number of Posioffices existing
on tho Both of June, 1868, was 29.O47; be-
ing an Increase on the preceding year of
III $50 offices have been established, and
1858 have been discontinued 9d fsfs9
4 The number Of special agents on June 80,
1868, was l6. with an aggregate salary of
26,500; and 3S7 route agents at an az sre-
gate salary of 1888, $50; also As local agents
at 81 1915 Baggage masters. in charge of
express mails, had received $7,44O.
The total cost Of trans Atlantic mail
steamship service was 1892. 1874 80. This
price covered one hundred and thirty two
round trips to various European ports.
Ga The Postmaster Geperal regrets to state
that no progress has been pade in negotia
tons for a new postal convention with Prus
STA, embracing the states comprising the
German Austrian Postal Union. on account
Of sope obstacle presented hy Austria in
regard to territorial transit charges. ;.g
In regard to letters addressed to points
in the rebeious States the Postmaster
General says;t BY reason ef the continued
suspension Of regular postal communication
with sections Of the country under 'insur.
rectionary cont,h "a considerable unmber of
letters amounting in the aggregate t. 81
Sl4, found their way. by varioas channels,
to the Dead Lett r Office OF this number,