The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-06

The issue OF periodical stamps was discontinued
By my predecessor about February l, 1850.
The number OF packages OF postage stamps lost In
the mails during the year was twenty two, repre-
sentng ssls, and OF stamped envelopes fifteen, rep
resenng $685. being much less than the losses from
IKE deinquencies In 1893.
CONTRACTS.
There were in the service OF the department on the
SOh OF June 1859 1865 contractors for the transpor
tation OF the mails
or mail routes in operation there were s,449, ag-
gregating In leagth 2a3, 73l miles; in annual trans.
portation 3d. 723,4 400 miles. aud In annual cost
$40. 4Oo,501. II the compensation OF railway post
once CLERKS, route agents, local agents, mail mos
seugers maj. route messengers and baggage masters
In charge OF malls, amounting to $l,2.5.227 be
added, cue aggregate annual cost WIN be OIL $751; 725.
Tnls service was divided as follows:-
Railroad routes-Leugth, S9,4s7 miles; annual
transportation. A., $50, 2o4 miles; annual cost
81, 6s9-about l1.4l cents per mile.
Steamboat routes-LengIh, 20 779 miles; annual
transportation. 4,33l,0l1 miles; annual COST
STA, 536-about 1888 cents per mile.
Celebrity, certainty and secur,iy"-LeDgth. 1873. AIS
miles; annual transportation, A. 993, los miles;
uual cost, $4,9o62S5-about 1919 cents per mile
There was an increase over the preceding year In
length Of routes OF 0S03 miles: annual transpOr-
tatiOn $4,000 miles, and IN cost $l40 AS. To the
last add Increased cost Tor railway post once clerks
route, local and other agents, $1Go59 and the total
increase OF cost will he shown 70 be s3ol039.
The foregoing statements OF distances and costs
DO not inc,uue service OF .specalu offices There
were at the close OF the year l962 OF these oces,
each with a mail carrier, whose pay from the de-
partment is not allowed TO exceed the net postal
yield OF the Otfce "SpeclaP routes and their car
riers are Included In the number Of contractors and
routes ~ given above.
OVERLAND MAIL
The contract or agreement entered into the 21st
OF OCTOBER 1855, between the Post ONCE Department
and Messrs Wells. Fargo d Co. for the transporta-
ton OF the United States malls between the western
ern terminus OF the Central Pacific, Tor the terra o.
enc year from october 1885, or until the two rail-
roads should meet at the rate Of 975o,0oo per an
mum, subject 10 deduction pTO rata for every Soc
ton Of nty miles OF railroad completed ana reported
TO the department ready to carry the mails, expired
on thesh Of Nay, 1869, the railroads having enected
junction and reported ready to carry mails through
on the 10th. When the contract was entered
wooa no, was be sns, as
July. It being supposed that the severity OF
the weather would compel o suspension Of WORK on
ruary and March, aud 1t was further estimated that
the cost Of the mail service under Wells, Fargo 4
weather proving unusually mild however, aud the
progress OF the roads being uninterrupted their
hence The the service under the contract with
Wells, Fargo Co. was reduced 32lA 800 below the
estimate The amount actually paid to them for the
whole period IRON 1st October 1885, to 9th May
1862 inclusive (221 days IN ALL, after making deduc-
tons for completed sections, was s45s.soi.
october, 1868, with the same parties at $4,000 per
snnum, for that division OF the overland mail route
extending from the terminus OF tho Kansas Pacific
known as the 'smoky Hill route" expired
BY limitation on the Both Of June, 1867.
The route had been curtled In the meantime
so as to commence at CHEYENNE Wells, being coinci
dent that far with the daily route to Santa Fe, and
$A lao deducted from the annual pay for thrty-six
miles decrease reducing the pay to $6A SOL per an.
num- The route thus curtaled, and NUMBERED
l7.o34a was advertised under date Of Janu.
airy 0, 1859, to be let from the lat OF July then
next, the department Offering to receive proposals
until tho 7tn April aud 10 decide thereon by the lath
OF the same month. Under this advertisement
several bids were submitted, the lowest being
$4,000 per annunl. IL appearing, however, from
the specific reports OF postmastcrs, that the mail
matter conveyed over the route had become incon.
siucraple, owing to the transmission OF the principal
malls for Denver the Union Pacific Railroad,
ater lw completion via Cheyenne City, and that
there were no post offices whatever between
Cheyenne Wells and Denver on route IT. o3l the con.
tnuance or the service not deemed TO DO OF
sumcent Importance to justify the OK pense IL would
involve and the route was consequently left out OF
operation from 3oth June, 1862
The contract made on the 2sth OF October 1868.
VITA Wells Fargo Co., 10 carry the malls for one
year from october !. 1858, route l7,03b from
Cheyenne City to Denver, 100 miles and back daIy
at So g70 per annum, expired on September 40 Isso
and the route was reiet from October l. under the
above mentioned advertisement OF January g. TO the
same parties, they being the lowest bidders Al
S. e4O per annum. THIS Ia all that remains OF the
ou overland mall SERVICE and this will doubtless bs
superseded In O few months, q railroad between
Cheyenne City and Denver being now IN rapid course
OF construction
READJUsTMENr OF FAY on RAILROAD ROUTES.
In anticipation OF tho close OF the contract term II
The New Lnglan< states and tho state OF New York