The New York herald., 1870-05-30

dropped from the rolls Surgeon William Prothing.
ham, Forty fourth new York Volunteers, tor nb
sence without leave, ~ revoked ana ne is hereby
honorably discharged from the military service VI
'''' ''''''' ''A'''' % ' General SHERMAN.
Il. D. TOWNSEND. Adjutant General.
The Belgian Cubie-A Reasonable Fib.
w. c. Barney's memorial TO Congress, JUST printed,
with regard to the Belgian cable, says he asks
nothing from the government In the shape OF lands.
money or subsidy but merely permission to land the
cable on American soil subject to state jurisdiction
and such rules as Congress may from time to time
establish, and likewise that the government snail
regulate the tolls or tariff. He gives the govern
ments OF the United States and OF Belgium the tree
use Of the cable thirty minutes In every twenty
four hours. The subject is now pending before the
Committee on Foreign Relations.
Postage Statistics.
Postmaster General Creswe has addressed the
Following letter to Vice President Coifax, in COM
pliance with resolution Of the Senate OF the 19tn
inst, In relation TO postage statstics:--
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May u, 1870.
Sur nave the honor to reply TO the several In
10th inst, relative to postage statistics, follows
!. In answer 70 the inquiry, what were the ex-
ent States aud Territories during the last year,
beg to refer to the tabuated statement thereof re-
fiscal year ended June SO 1862 and published in the
appendix OF the last annual report OF this depart
q regret that 1t is not possible to state the num-
ber OF letters annually mailed for the last five years.
as no account Is taken by postmasters or reports
ber OF letters can only be approximately estimated
on the amount or letter postage collected In money
the amount OF postage stamps sold and reasonable
estimate FOR free matter. Int communication which
addressed to the President OF the Senate on the
1868 was estimated At 486, 100000 My predecessor,
In his annual report OF that year, estimated the
whole number OF letters at 720,0OO,0O0, which
estimate l was unable 10 verify by reliable
data, ana considered excessive, as shown by
the United Kingdom OF Great Britain and Ireland
(where the single rate OF postage Is only one penny
dollars per annum greatef than in the United states
was Officially reported for the calendar year 1867 ut
only TIA, ,S3l 900.
8. The annual increase in money orders was re.
ported in tabular form in the last annual report OF
this department page 2o), to which beg leave re-
operations and results Of the money order business
from Its establishment embracing period OF I've
years. from 1868 to 1859 inclusive.
4. AS no separate account Is taken OF regis
tered letters, It Is Impossible TO state what
known, however, that the number OF registered let
ters Is constantly increasing. The recent legtsla-
ton authorizing the payment Of the registration fee
by means OF postage stamps Increases the difficulty
OF keeping separate accounts OF registered matter,
and 10 keep such accounts for statistical purposes
OF the Post ONCE establishment.
6. The increase OF stamps and stamped envelopes
Is reported IN each annual report OF this depart
ment. respectfully recr TO the statement thereof
IN the last report page eight exhibiting IN tabular
lor the Increase in issues In 1869 ompared with
the issues In 1868. TIE number Of stamps stamped
envelopes and newspaper wrappers, and the value
thereof stated III the last four annual reports OF
this department, were as foows:-
Fear. Number. Yu,ue.
1856 ,....... 90. .3S6829O5O &ll 933 66s %
434,boo,2oS l3,iOl,065 w
leoS .5by6obI1U 1885, l2i w
lS6y.. 5D2, 7220oO lb,U7o0ol 81
0. Returns Of the weight OF mail matter were made
by different railroads Tor the first time In 1857 the
weight being taken only Tor thirty consecutive
working days. commencing on the 1st OF April,
1887. An analysis Of these returns was
published In the annual report OF 1857. on
pages seventy-two to eighty nine inclusive and re-
tpages ten to thireen) The only returns sincere-
celved capable OF comparison with those OF 1857
were from roads chiefly IN the New England States
and the State OF New York. for thirty days from 1st
March. 1859, analysis or which appears in the
port for 1869 pages seventyfve to eigntyve), and
reference thereto in the text on pages ten and
eleven.
7. The number and the annual increase of the let
ter5 exchanged with foreign countries exclusive OF
the British North American provinces, OF which nc
account Is taken) arc reported IN tabular form, and
| published In the appendix OF each annual report o
| this department. During the last five years Tn,
number and the increase OF foreign letters (snglt