The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-08

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rom January to June 80 1893. under the new ar
ranyements SIS, TGD-a reduction OF over one-half
from the cos. or the same service during the pre-
vious six months. Total cost OF TRANSATLANTIC ser
vice for the year. S.2,7T7, being Sl29 56j than
the preceding year. The amount paid for tho trans
portation OF mails to and from the West Indies &C.,
ny steamers receiving yariousrates OF compensation
the cost OF and isthmus conveyance OF mats 70
aud from Central and South America, via Panama
transportation OF S5ls 3a9. exclusive or payments
amounting 10 the sum OF $497 ,9l6 made during the
China and to the SANDWICH Islands, respectively re-
cslvng subsidy grants fixed by special acts OF Con-
POSTAL CONVENTIONS WITH COUNTRIES OF xURoPs.
: New postal conventions with Great Britain, tho
NORTH German Union, Belgium and the Netherlands.
briefly stated in my last report, were carried into
efect on the LIST OF January, 1855; and those con-
ton on the Lat or April, 1868. On the 18TH OF Decem
Der, 1857 before the new conversion with the United
notice was given by the British Post inao 1sr
nate the same on the 31st OF December Is6s in &C.
with Win te IN ta 2st article
nounceInent that Mr.. Anthony Trollope would be
despatched to Washington In the spring OF 1868 with
full powers to negotiate new convention better
calculated to afford satisfaction to the people OF the
two countries. The provisions OF . new convention
to supersede the present one on the 1s OF January
1863, were accordingly arranged with Mr.. Troll.
lope at Washington in July last; ana, after
adjusting by direct correspondence between thetwe
Mr.. Tr0l0pe did not consider himself authorized to
treat, the modified convention was formally exc
cuted the oath OF November last. Its general pro-
visions substantially those OF the present cOnyen-
ton. At the invitation Of the French government Mr..
revision OF the postal convention with that country
There has been modification OF the postal cOnven-
ton with Canada one , made establishing an OK,
steamship service to Japan is referred 10 being
regular and energetic In reference to the c0aling OF
the steamers on This route the report says:-it was
hoped that the discovery by American citizens OF
small group OF islands midway between California
and China, and conveniently situated with respect to
this steamship route, would have resulted In incrcas
ing the efficiency OF the service by RELIEVING the
steamships from the necessity OF carrying the great
weight OF coal required for consumption on their
long voyage of 5000 miles, and the efforts OF the conf
tractors to effect this desirable Improvement were
regarded with great interest But unfortunately the
those OF the steamship company, demonstrated that
the project was impractcable OF execution at pres
ent, owing to shoaness OF water at the entrance to
the harbOr. II 1t should prove feasible however, as
am informed Is the opinion OF competent naval
ject. TO obtain the necessary Increased depth OF
water on the bar, by reasonable expenditure, the
propriety and expectancy Of undertaking the work
would be question worthy the attention OF our
government well for the attainment OF this object
as for other public advantages Of a national and
commercial character that will readily suggest them
selves. An increase and extension OF the service on
the Japan and China line u recommended 70 the con-
iactoriIy H ca to Brazil and the Hawaaan
Islands. With regard to the proposed contract with
the Commercial Navigation Company OF New YORK,
to execute one In the manner and on the conditions
stated, but expressed his Willingness to make con-
dd0nal contract for the carrying OF mails to Europe
by American steamships, at least four outward trips
each week. In view OF the great importance OF the
subject ne earnestly tne PROPOSED con.
Congress.
Continuing the report says:-I fully concur in the
General pennison, in his annual report Of NoSsm
Der 2 1854 that provision should be made, BY treaty
exceptional treatment OF regular mail packets in
time OF war; by authorizing such packets under
proper safeguards against the transportation OF per-
navigation without impeachment or interruption.
During the year there were 2,1e7 post offices es-
tabshed, $40 discontinued and 20 481 In operation
on June 80, 1868. The aggregate compensation for
special agents, route agents. mail route messengers,
Local NE ana
1865 amounted to $06l,070
The free delivery system has been In operation
during the year in forty eight OF the principal cities.
1t has continued to grow In popular favor and has,
to great extent supplanted the general and box
Cleveland, Louisville ,and other cities the number or
post office boxes has been greatly reduced, and tho
delivery viii ultimately superscde all others. Its
necessity In large cities s illustrated by the single
senIing $1,000 Names any one Of which each sorting
clerk must be able to recall and associate with the
proper box on the instant, work impossible to be
done without liability to error. This d1cuty neces-
sarily increases with the growth OF the city, and
finds no remedy or the reason stated In the multi
known to me il the delivery BY carrier. The aQgre-
gate results for the year shown in the following
1,l9s mail letters delivered, a. S49 4se local letter
delivered 140S o06; newspapers delivered 7l5;
letters collected 49, 625; amount paid carriers
local matter, $475.9s2.
The reviewing and readjusting OF postmasters'
the department a large amount OF extra labor, tho
employment OF one additional fourth class clerk u
at Washington, and that at New York and the one at
Buffalo have been discontinued. The salaries of 232
postal clerks aggregated s2I4 and those OF Lbs
1895, 934. Increased compensation for both Is re.
commended. The whole number OF letters OF all
classes received at the dead letter Office during tho
year ending the 30th June last by actual count was
4l62 IA showing decrease OF IA 1874 letters from
the number estimated TO have been received during
domestic letters; 16707s foreign, and were
turned unopened to the countries where they origin
ated The whole number returned was 25S, 1919, OF
which about eghty-iour per cent were delivered to
owners and sixteen per cent returned to depart
ent 1880 letters contained $685. 169 In sums OF one
dollar and upwards or which 16,06l letters, con-
tanning ss663s were delivered to owners, and 124.
osa cogtsned aied Or nea er spos
dollar, OF which 1888, containing $500, were
delivered to owners; 1850 contained checks.
urIts deeds and other papers OF value representing
the value OF ss6o927 of these TO- 500 were restored
TO the owners and s2l were returned and fled; g64
perty, Of the estimated value OF IS 800: OF these
ll,4s9 were forwarded for delivery ana o9l1 were
delivered to owners ,221 contained Photographic.
postage stamps and articles OF small value, OF which
ll4,66o were delivered to owners and LOGS S42 let
tiers returned had no enclosures. the aygrerate Of
postal letter service during the year ia estimated at
TO- 0O0 and the proportion OF domestic dead let
tiers to the number OF domestic letters mailed Is
about one TO 125. The amount or money taken from
all dead letters undeivered since last report and de-
posted in the United States Treasury was s27 e67
The amount realized from sales OF waste paper and
deposited was $3.50. The money order Offices in
operation number 1,46S. During the year s3l 9N
vluN.s ~ aopIeScnhe obs. ana the
number paid S56,e40, representing Sl5,gs6, SOL and
Sl42.035 paid to purchasers. The excess OF issues
over payments was s7g32i. The total receipts from
this branch were sl2l,5oa and the expenditures
S54.15s
The law requires the salaries OF postmasters TO be
adjusted once In two years. The aggregate salaries
OF postmasters as revised July l. 1864 was s33s3S
AZ adjusted July l. 1866, the sum So 033 72S. As
adjusted July l. 1865. the sum was S4,545,Sss. Tic
increase in little over two years. from June, 1885,