The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-06
Report ~r the Postmaster General.

Report T the Postmaster General.
The report OF the Postmaster General
states that the ordinary revenues OF bis
department for the fiscal year ending
June 30th, 1871, were S20037, 045. 40,
and the expenditures o., all kinds, S24,-
800, l04 0S. The increase of revenue
for the year 1871 over the year previous
was 81, ISL 67.77 or 6l3 per cent, and
the increase Of the expenditures 81 ,04l,-
266. 40, or AS per cent, showing a net
increase OF revenue of SIG, 40l 80.
There were in the service of the depart
ment on The Both of June, 1886 mail
contractors. The number of mail
routes in operation was 1851, aggregat-
ing in length 23S,359 miles. The new
routes put in operation during the year
amounted to 6l07 miles. A revision
and REIMBURSEMENT OF the rates of COM
pensation for the transportation Of mails
on railroads is recommended. The
total amount OF fines and reductions
imposed on postmasters was $65, 1877.
The gratifying regularity of the mail
service on the route to San Francisco
and back is referred to. There is a
slight improvement Of the service on
Southern and Southwestern routes.
Fifty-one persons have during the year
been convicted AMI sentenced to different
degrees OF punishment Tor violation of
the postal laws.
Special efforts have been made during
the year to perfect the distribution OF
mail matter upon the lines of railway
postotfices, and it is the purpose OF the
department to establish continuous lines
of these postoffices throughout the
country. The total number or letters
exchanged during the year with foreign
countries was 20,295, 1898, an increase OF
ten and half per cent over 1870, the
total postage on which amounted TO
81, 1876, 1862 decrease Of eleven and
twothirds per cent from the previous
year, this reduction having resulted
from the greatly reduced rates Of inter
national hostages established between
the Uui,ei States and the different
countries OF Europe and other quarters
of the world in the latter half Of the
fiscal year 1870, but the full effect OF
which was not realized until the year
following. The total cost OF the United
States ocean mail steamship service for
the year was S975, 99j.7e. An increase
Of the mail service from monthly to
semi-montbly trips is recommended be-
tween San Francisco, Japan and China,
and from New York to Rio de Janeiro
Governmental aid is also recommended
for the line which now carries our mails
between San Francisco and the Aus
tralian colonies, under the patronage Of
the New Zealand Government, manifest
considerations OF public policy and
commercial advantage, making it de
sirable that the United States shall
unite with the Australian colonies in
the permanent establishment Of reliable
and rapid steam communication be-
tween the two countries.
Reference is made to the necessity Of
encouraging the construction and
equipment of an efficient ocean steam
mercantile marine, and the construction
of the iron steamships now building at
Philadelphia, to ply between that port
and Liverpool, is pointed out as an en-.
terprise deserving the encouragement
of Congress. A reasonable compensa-
ton for carrying the mails, in excess OF
the postage receipts, with proper legls-
lation to encourage the construction by
American builders Of first class iron
steamships, is suggested as the most
simple, economical and practical method
OF establishing American lines OF ocean
steamers, and advancing the general
prosperity of the country.
The free delivery system has been in
operation during the year in fifty,two of
the principal cities. The number Of
foreign and domestic letters received at
The dead letter office was 4,l94, 74S.
| the number of money order offices in
operation is 2452, and the number OF
money orders issued during the year
was I,l5l,794, the aggregate value OF
which was $40, l64, 1893, an increase
in the amount OF orders issued in 1917
Of 234-5 per cent. Out of the whole
number of orders paid, but 30, aggre-
eating 1922 6S, was claimed to have
been improperly or fraudulently obtain
ed, the principal portion of which has
since been recovered and paid to the
riobtful owners. The profits Of the
system during the year were SOL, iS!.-
IS. The money order system establish.
ed between the Uuited States, Great
Britain and Germany on the LIST OF
October shows in its workings that 1t
will be extensively used by remitters OF
small sums to and from the ratltylng
countries. -,
In view OF past experiences, the
propriety of an amendment to the laws
regulating mail contracts is suggested
makiLg it a misdemeanor, punishable
by fine and Imprisonment, for any per-
son who, after bidding for mail service
and receiving an award thereof, snail
fail to make contract and perform the
service described in his proposal, or
who shall withdraw, or attempt 70
withdraw, after the day appointed for
the opening thereof, any bid which he
NAV have made for such service. It's
also recommended that additional
mower be given to the Postmaster Gen
eral to reject fraudulent, fictitious or
improper bids, and to contract OF the
best terms obtainable from responsible
narties, whether bidders or not, tor the
performance of service for the residue OF
the term which prior contractors may
have failed to fulfill.
The importance Of the postal te!e'
graph, in connection with the transmis'
sion and interchange Of intelligence, Is
set forth at length, and the success
which has attended governmental CON
troll of the lines in Sweden, Norway
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