The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-12-08
COLUMBIA.
Sunday Morning. December 8, 1867.
Depart.neiat Reports.


stracts Of the annual reports from the
different departments and bureaus.
The main facts of the Postmaster
Generals report, are to be found in
the Preiident's message. The num-
ber of dead letters has diminished
nearly million, owing to the use of
envelopes, with request for the re-
turn to the writer's Of unclaimed let
ters, directly from the post Office ad-
dressed. It is estimated that fully
$4,000, 1000 of these envelopes were
used during the year, the department
supplying about one-third of the
number. The sales of postage stamps
and stamped envelopes amounted to
Si2, 1888, 134. 32, leaving unsold in the
hands of postmasters $412, 92S. 7S.
Experiments are in progress with q
postage stamp, printed on embossed
paper, which seems TO afford good
security against fraud. The fibres of
the paper being broken, cancelling
marks almost penetrate, so that they
cannot easily be removed without
destroying the stamp. The adhesive
properties are also promoted.
The length of mail routes has been
increased over the preceding year
22,324 miles, the annual transporta-
tion 7,144, ,S75 miles, and cost 81, 7O5,-
812; to which add increased cost for
railway postal clerks, route, local and
other agents, $241, III; makes an
aggregate of $1,04e,973. The num-
ber of post offices established during
the year was 1885; number discon-
tinued GILL; decrease of Offices
4,226; number of post Offices in ope-
ration on the Both June, 1866, includ-
ing suspended Offices in the Southern
States, 90, 389; total number in ope-
ration on 31st of June, 1857, IS, 1852
number of offices subject to appoint
ment by the President, S37; number
by the Postmaster General, "a, 1876.
A large majority of offices discon-
tinued nre in the Southern States,
the service of which was suspended
by the Postmaster General in May,
1861, and were not in operation
thereafter, but not regularly discon-
tinued. These Offices were reported
by the auditor to the appointment
Office as having failed to make returns
for five years, and tl,eir discontinu-
ance recommended as necessary to
enable that officer to close the ac-
counts of the late postmasters.
The whole number of money order
post offices now in operation ie l, ,221,
of which 45S have been established
since the last annual report. This
increase has occurred mainly in the
Western and Southern States, where
the facilities of this system, for the
transportation of money appear, at
present. to be most needed. Excess
over expenditures, $26, ,26O.61. The
subject of connecting the telegraph
system of the country with the postal
service, has attracted public atten-
tion; and it received, to some extent,
the consideration of the last Post
master General. It has recently
transpired, that the telegraph system
of Great Britain, has been put in
charge of the British post Office de-
partment. It is a matter of very
great Importance, and its propriety
and practicability ought to be
thoroughly investigated by Congress.
The Postmaster General then calls
attention to the gross frauds perpe-
trated upon the department by viola
ton of the franking privilege, in al
most oil parts of the country. The
fac Simile franks of members of Con-
gress are freely used to circulate OBJ
scene books, lottery circulars, &C.
He recommends that the written sig
nature of the person entitled to frank,
be required.
The ranOrt of tho Gaorator,, of tlo