The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-12-16
The Post Master Generals Report.

The Post Master Generals Report.
The report of the Post Master General John A.
]. Creswell, shows the Post-ofice Department of
the Government to be in healthy condition. -
The revenues of the Office for the year ending
June 3Oth, 1870, amounted to SIS, $40, 377 65,
while the revenues for the year ending the 30th
of June, 1871, reached $40, OBJ, 4642, showing
increase of nearly a million and a-half dollars
in one year.
The expenditures for the year ending June 3Oth,
1870 we're S23, 34S s31 63, those for the year
ending June 3Olt, 1871, were $24 800, i04 o.
Last years business shows deficiency in paying
expenses of S. 469. 459 3d. while this years bust
ness exhibits deficiency OF only S4, 749, DOL 90
This shows nearly million dollars in favor of
the present year.
The increase of revenue for 1871 over that Of
1870 was 81, l57 66777, while the increase of ex-
penditures amounted to Sl,O4l, 266 As. This
shows net increase of revenue of SIG, 40l 80.
The increase of revenue for 1871 over that of
1869 was So, 1872, 500 20, and the increase of ex-
penditures Of 1871 over those of 1869 was ST.,
25l, 972 So. The fact that during the year only
six packages of postage stamps valued at $258,
and three of stamped envelopes worth $57.70,
were lost, shows that the Department is worked
with some system and care.
In June last there were Z, 1856 contractors for
the transportation of mails. There were 8 95l
mail routes aggregatng 23S 359 miles, making
an annual transportation OF lO7, 572 1914, costing
SlI, 529, 1876. The salaries and expenses of
clerks, route agents, route messengers baggage
masters in charge of registered mail amounted to
81 s75, 526. The length of railroad routes is
40, s34 miles; steamboat routes, 20,334 miles;
routes by other means of transportation, l68, l9l
miles, The increase in routes amounted to 1921
miles. There are 2 lis Especial" offices whose
pay is not allowed to exceed their revenuts. The
| foes and deductions from the pay of contractors
during the year melted Sos, l79 II. 81 900 new
| mail bags were used Tor the transmission OF
printed matter and 6 400 for letter mails These
cost $50 OILS. New locks aud keys during the
year cost sos 100, the repairs to old ones costing
| 81 273.40. Out of 644 through mails to San
| Francisco only IS were behind time, against las
that were behind time last year. The number OF
| complaints of missing letters for the year was
4 600, 2. 057 O: which were registered and ,543
| unregistered, containing bonds. drafts and cur
rency to the amount OF S4lS 74S 90. For viola
tious OF the postal laws l23 persons were arrested
| and 81 convicted and sentenced to suffer the
| penalties of their crimes.
| The total number of letters exchanged with
/ foreign countries was 20 295 998. The ocean
steamship service for the year cost 1915 995.7l.
| 2,407 post-offces were established during the
year and S54 discontinued. 4, l94, 748 letters
| found their way to the dead letter office. l6,-
2lS of them contained 10 the aggregate $50, 6O8.-
| 81 IA $50 of these contained less than one dol
| lar each. AZ ll9 OFT them contained photographs
| of which &c. 544 delivered and 1915 were
put on file. There are ASP money order offices
| in operation. They issued 2, ISL 1914 orders -
The fees paid for these amounted 10 1895 2S6. Is.
The report is one that is replete aud complete
with valuable information, giving all the minutia
/ of all the respective apartments of this Depart
| ment of our government. Their detail is both
| instructive and interesting to him who desires in
| formation concerning the workings and the
| growth of the government under which he lives.
| The comparison between the magnitude of the
| work of the Department under Mr. Cresswell and
under DR.. Franklin in 1890, during Washing
toms first administration, shows what mighty
strides the Republic has taken in 80 years.
Mr.. Creswell recommends, as does President
Grant, that the government take steps to connect
the operation of the telegraph lines with the post
Office. He also does himself the honor to urge
again the abolition of the Thanking privilege,
stating that 'its existence is utterly incompatible
| with an economical and vigorous administration
| of postal affairs