Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-12-24

view oil the new policy VI ,de poNcrhmcht
towards them il is now questionable
whether the effort should be kent up. 1t
is suggested that thousands Of free colored
laborers may be proftably employed IN the
construction OF the Pacific railroad, The
establishment of Bureau Of National
Statistics is earnestly recommended, be-
cause il will contribute to the advance
ment of all the public interests-com-
meree, agriculture, finance, &c.--and en-
able the government to permanently pre-
serve the experience and statistical knowl-
edge it has gained. The rest OF the re-
port treats mainly Of affairs in the District
of Columbia, all Of which are represented
as in oommendable shape.
Accompanying the report OF the Sec
rotary of the Interior is that of the Com
missioner of the General Land Office. The
great struggle in which the country is en-
gagged still tends TO retard the purchase
and settlement of the public domain, and
as source Of revenue the public land
sales cannot be depended on at present.
But the operations of the Homestead Law
are encouraging, a million and a hall
acres having been taken up under that
law during the past year. The other OPP
erstions of the Land Office have been of
minor character some few surveys have
been completed, others contracted for, and
several new boundaries established. But
the most important part OF the report is
that relating TO minerals. A full descrlp-
ton Of the mines, their locality and ex-
tent is given, which shows that every
State and Territory bordering on the
Rocky Mountains, or extending TO the
Pacific, lis rich in all the precious metals,
and that the vast wealth of these mines
is only Just beginning to be developed.
Idaho, Colorado, Washington, Nevada
and Arizona, to say nothing of California
and Oregon, are vast placers of gold and
silver, as well as lead, tin, coal, &c. The
gigantic wealth Of these countries can
scarcely be conceived. In this view, we
earnestly hope that the suggestion as to
the levying of tax upon the gold pro-
ducts of the country will be carried into
effect, for thus the government would OBJ
tain a large and constantly increasing
revenue.
| THE POST OFFICE REPORT.
Postmaster General Blair reports that
the last fiscal year has been one of unu-
sual prosperity the revenue has nearly
equalled the expenditures, the latter
amounting to $ll 206 "a, and the
former to $lI, l63,7S9 SO, There is good
reason to believe the department will be
self-sustaining in brief period of time.
The whole number of post-ofhces existing
on the Both June, 1868, was 29,047, be-
ing, an increase over the preceding year Of
172 Eight hundred and thirty Offices
have been established, and 65S have beer
discontinued The number of specia
agents on June 80, 1868. was Is, with al
aggregate salary of S26,500 and 387
route agents at an aggregate salary Of
S289, 300 Also As local agents at S27 ,
S24. Baggage masters in charge of ex
press mails had received $7440. The to-
tai cost of transatlantic mail steamship
service was 1892, lS4 so. This price
covered 1872 round trips to various Euro
pean ports. During the year the increas
ed length of routes has been $685., bu
a the annual cost of mail transportation ha,
! decreased $ll3, 258, or about 2 per cent
! The value of stamps issued to postmasters
! during thu year is S9,GS3,3S2 stamped
, letter envelopes $634,S2l and stamped
, newspaper wrappers $25, 545. The tota
: value of these sold to the public, was
q SO, 624, 500 60, being an excess over tn,
+ previous year OF S2,7l4,397 10.
! There has been continuous increas,
Y of letters containing money and othe
, valuables. The number of dead letter
covering deeds, bills of exchange, drafts
, and other valuable papers, received reg
: istered, and returned for delivery to tn
. writers was 1892, with an aggregat
a nominal value of 81, 544,277 81. o
these letters 1859 were delivered to tn
p owners. Letters registered and mailed
containing money numbered 1920. 0
q these ,O48 containing S63,627 ~ wer
+ fnslly delivered. Sixteen thousand sevel
I hundred and sixtv-three letters Of les
value have been received, nearly 10000
. of which contained daguerreotypes an,
were registered 1878 have been return
ed to the writers or senders. The post
master general recommends that posta
money order system be established to ia
cilitate the transmission of small sum
/ through the mails which he is confden
, would prove not only great convenience
2 to soldiers and citizens, but would almos
entirely ohviate the loss of this class of re
: mittances.
, In regard to letters addressed to noint
. in the rebellieus states, the postmsste
, general says "By reason of the con
| tinued suspension of regular postal com
: munication with sections Of the countr,
q under insurrectlonary control, a consider
. able number of letters, amounting in tn
aggregate to 24,3l4 found their way, b,
various channels, to the dead letter Office
OF this number 1912 were of foreign orr
gin, and were returned to the countrle
where they originated. Those originating
in the loyal states were turned over to IT.
: military authorities, and, after examina
| ton, most of them sent by flag of truce &
, their destination The postmaster genera
f has instructed postf asters To forward L
: the dead letter office, except in specia
q cases, all letters remaining unclaimed on
! af,ar ha;ro ajyartiuaI inctaa1 =,