The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-12-12
Postmaster Generals Report.

The Report of Hon. VIM. Dennison, Postmaster
na
revenues of the Post Office department for the wear
ended June 49, 1855, were $14 15s TO- and the ex-
pendtures $13 1913 IS, leaving surplus of $751;
49, A. The ratio Of increase OF revenue was II per
cent and of expenditure per cent, compared 18th
the previous year. The estimated expendi lures tor
.he revenues 81, SAB, leaving deficit Of $i2..
1877. For this deficiency SPECIAL appropriation will
re required, as the standing approp atons for the
last three years, amounting to 900, unex-
pended. 1t will be necessary, however to make spe.
;ial appropriations for steamship servite between
San francisco, Japan and China, and between the
The number of postage stamps issued during the
year was 3S7 ,419,455 representing $l2,O99,787 80
stamped envelopes go a25, representing $724 135
making in all 81 437 30. This is an increase d
10S over the previous year. New stamps of the
denomination Of 10, and 90 cents have been intro
duced for preparing postage packages of newspa.
pers. p
The mail service in operation on 3Oth June, 1865
$40 miles, costing 81, 1884, Exclusive OF compens-
Jon to route and other agents, amounting 10 $500
Sss 7 Rsr1aa s2 2s4oi miles steamboat
nave been established on several leading railroads
md arrangements are in progress for their introduce
INTO operation in States lately in rebellion is 241 theiI
ength 1880 miles; and compensation 1921 949; re.
iuction, compared with former cost Of service in
those States, of 1881 100 per annum. This however
results III part from reduced service.
The aggregate hostages, sea, inland and foreign
Countries amounted to 81, s19, 92S Sc. The amount
S42. W." *oN''
The Postmaster General discusses the subject o,
subsidizng steamship lines between this country and
Europe and expresses the opinion that the allowance
OF postage, as now established, is sufficient encour-
agement. TT = =
The number of post offices established on Both
june 1866, including suspended offices in Southern
States was q, $685. new oices established during the
OH ~,
and sites, 200.
The free-delvery system has been discontinued at
~ Of the smaller Offices and il in operation In ID
Of the principal Cities The number OF carriers EN-
pioyed was 757, at an aggregate compensation OF
The number of dead letters received, examined
and disclosed of was OS, increase of 262
over the previous year. The number containing
money, and remailed to owners, 40 1884, with en-
containing s2IO,sJ4 co. were delivered leaving 6SsSS
undellvered, with enclosures of the value of $685.
f9 OF. The number of letters containing checks,
was 1894, with nominal value of So 800 1885, OF
which 1916 containing SO 24G 149, were delivered
leaving unclaimed 1858, of the value of $S3,739.
miscellaneous articles was $780, Of these Al 900
were delivered and 1902 remain for disposal or,
icing worthless. have been destroyed. The num-
Der OF valuable lie tiers sent out 1O7 979 an in
creese Of 49, 1872 over the previous year The NUM-
Der OF unpaid and instructed letterswas 1855 215.
The number OF ordinary dead letters returned to
the writers 500 and the number not deliver
ed was 297 304 being about % per cent of he whole
1t recommended that prepaid letters be restored to
owners Tree of postage. -,
The number Of letters conveyed in the mails dur
ing 1865 is estimated at 467, The total num-
per lost or destroyed was 1852 424 or one in every
19o mailed for transmission and delivery, Fully
hree-ourths Of the letters returned as dead hil IN
reach the parties addressed through faults of the
writer's. - 'A0
The number of postal money order Offices is 49,
which is to be increased by the creation of is more
The number Of money orders issued during the wear
was of the value of 81, $3.50, 122. The revenue
rom this branch Of the service $780, Its cost
to the government was $'8, 5S4, :
The estimated amount of claims of oontraotors
and others residing in the Southern States chiefly
those lately in insurTect services rendered
y1ous to the rebellion, is not less than one mill on OF
dollars. Many Of these claims have been presented
but none paid, under rule adopted early in the war
Of not paying claims to parties known to be engaged
In aiding the rebellion. 1t is for Congress to decide
what shall be done in regard to Them
Balances were due from Southern postmasters at
the outbreak OF the rebellion amounting to 81
few ofwhch have been paid. Means are being EN-.
ployed through courts and other agencies to collect
the amounts due to the government.
One striking fact illustrating the progress made by
the loyal States during the rebellion contrary to al
precedent, is this: The maximum annual receipts O.
this department previous to the rebellion from al
States, was ,51S0S7 49, which was exceeded in the
sum of So 80 by the receipts OF the last veal
from the loyal States alone. The revenues durine
the past four years amounted to 022 81 an ave
rage OF sos "a per annum. Compared with the
the receipts Of the four years Immediately precedins
increase OF revenue was S3,533,Si5 Sc,
The Postmaster thinks that in few years the let
ter postage may be reduced to the maximum adopt,
ed by Great Britain.