The New York herald., 1864-12-07
Niles of annual


Steamboat. at........... 392 21S,088 17,I36
"Ceierity, certainty, fAfA
aud security" al.,ss e,s45,s9s lO7O7l
RAILKoAD COMPANIES
Notwithstanding an express provision Of law tsecticn
~ OF act OF July 1881 which that
whose bid Tor the transportation of the mali may be &C
cepted shall receive any pay until he shall have executed
department., but few Of the railroad companes engaged
In carryn mails are under contracts and the tractce
necessary for series years. the auditor
10 Issue orders in favor Of the companies Tor the coec
tan OF moneys n the hands OF postm route
ana the adjustment Of accounts services rendered
Attention has been called 20 this subject BY my pro-
decessors for the purpose OF securing additional cgsa
tion investing the hed OF this department with power
30 compel compliance with the law by prohibiting pay
ments except executed coutracs The matter w. dis.
cussed by Postmaster General Holt 10 his report OF De-
cembor 1869, and again alluded to Decsmbe IS60
and also by immediate predecessor In his reports OF
December Q 1851 and december ! 1892 but believing
not propose further legislation In tho hope that the
several railroad companies will longer refuse TO enter
tractng with the government Should be disa pponted
iu this reasonable hope shall not fail call upon Con-
require. st ea .
MAILS ON rHu ATLANTIC AND rAus1c. sf
IN the last annual report attention called to tho
unsettled accounts OF persons employ ed 70 mails
BY sea TO the military and naval forces and inhabitants
at New Orleans Pensacola and other ports, rendered
pecessary BY he insurrection IN the Southern States
and also for service performed 10 steamships on the
North Pacific coast during the winter Of 1862 when the
floods These services were necessary to provide for
communication with the soldiers and sailors engaged u
the de OF the country and tho people isolated
act Providence and authorized by several
OF Congress The Auditor Of the Treasury for this de-
psrtment sdudgins tue contracts Illegal declined acting
master General rendering an appeal to Congress neces
sary This resulted 10 the Legislation contained in the 9th
section OF the Act TO provide for the OF
mails % foreign poris &c., approved March 26 1864,
under which the OF S8 O60 has been paid several
parties for tho SERVICE performed BY order Of the
Postmaster General or the Atlantic coast and Gulf
Mexico, T. the S0th Ct September last. tt d..
The claim made by the steamship owners for service
the North Pacific coast dufug the floods OF 1862
the land at the rate or IS 600 month for three
months but the amount deemed adequate by the depart
ment So 6a2 for the whole SERVICE aud this tbo
sun reported to the Auditor as due the claimants but
Congress having fixed the sum TO be pad for this service
at 81 500 which they declined to receive, the claim ID
OVERLAND MAILS.
The contract for service the route from the Misss
sppi river via Salt Lake. to PAcerye. Calor under
OF March 2 1891 expiripg the Both June last
tnung the service tho same terms 10 September 3o
1854 6s.y.sr go
Under an advertisement dated March a. 1854 inviting
proposals Tor service from Atchlson, Kansas. or S.
Joseph, Missouri. 70 Folsom CITY, California, John II.
Heistsnd. Of Lancaster, Pennsylvana. was the lowest
bidder, ~ $3.50, 900 per aanum; but his bid having
bssn subsequently, withdrawn, contracts have been
made with Bon. Holladay, Of New York, for the
Lake City, at $3o5 .oo0 and with WIN. B. Dins.
more, President OF the Overland Mail Company, also
1% an s o. per .nDan
These parues are believed 70 be- able 70 fuf their obI
g.t.cos The csn,rso arc from October 1864 TO Sep.
eight mouths In the year, and In twenty days tho re
naming four month";; 70 convoy through letter malls
only mail matter prepaid at letter rates and al local
Paper and document mails for The Pacific coast are to
arrsngements having been made for their conveyance
Within the sum named In the law Of March, rs, 1864,
Tsrr,srs ana pYp Pacnc .s nas over ooO per an
mum, 800 900 less than under tho former contract
much Interrupted during tho months Of Angus, ana sep
tenber last period OF four our i've weeks, the
whose mail the Pacinc coast aud the Territories
necessarily ssnt BY from New York
no 1at s,u CALIFORNIA AND OREGON RourK. 'N
The contract for the California aud Oregon route
Sacramento 70 Portland september 16 1854
proposals invited for the continuance the
70 1855 aud 1885, But bid received that OF the
was dssued extravagant the service re4ul Cd and
accepted June 80, 1855, only with view " agaa In.
viss composition. which has been done asai4s srli
Pursuant 10 the eighth section tho OF March T.
FOR the from s Cloud
Minnesota TO Pembna IN Dakota Territory, extend
cd TO Juno So 1865 and the trips increased from
per week. increase pensstion OF $I7lo7
per annum. AZ the contracts on al ether in the
State expire June 80 1885, this will be one year
only that may be embraced In the contract section
70 which II belongs. 10 s0l
The topographer oi the department having been In.
struced by my predecsssor TO prepare OF maps BY
States groups Of states designed show all the per-
United states with other statistical Information have
communicate that progress has been made In their
queace Of the enhanced price Of all articles
through the contingent fund, chargeabIs with
estimated, viii Dc insufficient having regard % ether de-
mands upon It. and therefore an appro
pration q $40 600 be made for preparing and publishing
such win not be needed for the this depart
ment will eventually more than reimburse tho entire
outlay, leaving surplus which will diminish that ex.
tent future appropriations for contingent purposes
srEciAL AGrSTs se,r
BY the seventeenth section o act OF Congress- sp
proved July l. 1864, chapter 107. page $780, enacted
has the special agent OF The ost uce Department on
the raonc shall receive compensation Of i've dol.
lars Der dismO The salary OF this ocer was s2 500 uer
under tho act OF March 1851 aud for all travel
ing and incidental expenses no greater sum toan Two
act ot March 3, 1845
IL mot supposed Congress intsndsd to reduce the
pay Of this officer from $S $50 70 81 S25 but the
effect Of tho law, and 1 therefore recommend such Q
modification OF that section will restore his lu saiay
act, and 10 provide for his actual travelling expenses
sum not exceeding IS per d,em Although, the time
stdsrsd sufcient for the travelling and Incidental ex.
penscs OF these officers, II s now inadequate, and
not exceeding 81 per day while employed.
For several years after the occupation OF the Pacific
coast by the United states, the agent OF this department.
stationed at Ban Francisco had larger powers than
usually connded 70 special agents 10 The Atlantic Sates
particularly In reference 70 the adjustment OF con-
tractors accounts tho practice being for him 20 give
certcates OF service performed under contracts
which the Postmaster At Francisco made pay.
mens The accounts then Transmitted 70 the Au.
dtor for entry and neal scttiement ln this manner
pay ments 10 mall contractors expedited but doubts
arising as 10 tho authority Of the Postmaster GeneAl
confer such powers on subordinate officer, they
Withdrawn, and ihe Pacific agent 10 on the same
footing with all other officers OF hts class. 70 10 be-
leved that the functions OF this officer could be en-
Iarecd with advantage 70 the public service, and pre-
vous legislation necessary atteaton s called the
subject. ,I 81.
In this connection 10 proper add that from infor.
nation which has recently reached me, Apprehsn-
sivo that the postal In Pacific states ID not IA
good condition - should be desired may have
occasion 70 communicate with Congress upon subses
during IT. approaching session. .r1
fs~
Inquiry has been made Ut Lieutenant General Grsos
relative 20 the existing arrangements for supply Ing our
armies with mails, with the assurance CT my