The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-06

with 1859, by $40, o12. lG; and the increase
of expenditures for 1871, compared with
1870, was greater than the increase for
1870, compared with 1860, by $740, 590.32.
II, in addition to the ordinary revenues,
the Department be credited with 100000
appropriated for transportation of free mat
ter and the amounts drawn and expended
for subsidies to steamship lines, it will
appear that the deficiency provided out Of
the general Treasury for the year 1871 is
so, 92S ,05S.66, against e2,Sl4, 116.9S for
the year 1870. The increase in the Issue
Of stamps, stamped envelopes and newspt-
per wrappers this year is 81 ,l72, 1925.
There were in the service Of the depart
ment on the Both June, 1871, 1885 con-
tractors for the transportation of the mails.
Of mail routes in operation there were
1891, aggregating in length exclusive of
special routes) 23S,359 miles, in annual
transportation 107, 572, 794 miles, audit an
nually cost s1l ,529, 1895. Adding the COM
pcnsation OF railway postofficc clerks, route
agents, local agents, mail messengers, mail
route messengers, and baggage masters in
charge of registered passages, amounting to
81 $40, 526, the aggregate annual cost was
sl3, 4O4 ,92i.
There was an increase over the prece-
ding year in length of routes of Z 1877 miles,
in annual transportation l0,547 ,793 miles,
and in cost 1914, 742. Adding the increased
cost for railway postoffice clerks, route, To-
cal and other agents, $404,636. the total
increase in cost was 81 ,049,37e. The in-
crease in railroad routes in three years ex-
ceeds 3s per cent, and in the last year
alone it reached the unparalleled proper
ton of " per cent.
The Postmaster General renews his re-
commentator of last year that railroad
companies carrying the mails be allowed
reasonable increase Of compensation upon
condition that they shall enter into con-
tract with the department for the prompt
and faithful performance of their duties.
The Postmaster General renews his for
mer recommendation for an increase OF
mail service to semi-monthly trips on the
route from San Francisco to Japan and
! China.
He again calls attention to the irnpor-
lance of judicious legislation to encourage
the establishment Of American mail steam
ship lines. He refers to the postal conven-
tons concluded during the year, and to
those now in progress of negotiation.
2,407 new post offices havebeen established
during the year. During the last fiscal
year, the number of money-order offices in
operation was 2,076. On the 3lst of July,
1871, 376 additional money-order offices
were established, so that the whole num-
Der of such offices is at present z, 452. The
Postmaster General recommends the pas
sage by Congress Of a more stringent law
in regard to bidders for mail service, maxi
ing failure to comply with terms OF con-
tract misdemeanor punishable by tine
and Imprisonment.
In regard to the postal telegraph, he says
it ~ by far the most important subject now
inviting consideration in connection. with
the transmission and interchange of intelli-
/ gence. The governments of the continental
countries of Europe have, with few excep-
tons, claimed and exercised for years past
the right Of controlling and managing the
electric telegraph, and in every instance
with a degree of success commensurate
with the care and attention bestowed upon
their respective administrations. It re-
manned for Great Britain to give practical
test of the public system as compared with
the management of corporations and COM
panies of private stockholders. At first,
serious difficulties were encountered, but
| these, however, were soon overcome, and
the advocates of the measure can already
boast of its triumphant success.
After presenting some data in relation to
the service, the Postmaster-General says:
"These facts, all tending, with ovorwhelm-
| ing force, in one direction, demonstrate con-
clusively the utility Of the postal telegraph
for both government and people. 1t is
true that large sum of money will be re-
quired for the purchase of the present tele-
graph lines and their appurtenances. But
if this be difficulty, delay only magnifes
1T. The Postoffice Department is now
prepared to undertake the organization and
management of the telegraph in connection
with its other duties. Indeed, believe that
the department itself can aid materially in
raising the money needed for the purchase
through postofiice savings banks, if Con-
gress will authorize their establishment.
The security of the government being the
best that could be obtained, many deposi.
tors would give it the preference over every
other. BY paying four per cent. interest,
at the most, on deposits, a large fund could
be readily accumulated and invested, under
the direction of the Treasury Department
in the public securities. The proceeds of
these investments could be used to reim-
burse the original purchase money and all
OliltT expenditures anu re-
pairs. 10 prove the feasibility of this
plan, | recur to the history of the British
office" >
The total amount in hand after ten years
operations, and for which the British gov
ernment pays only p per cent. interest, is
| el5, 463,5 2S, ors75. l45, Coca much larger
sum than will be required for the purchase
and thorough repair of all the telegraphic
lines in the United States. He, therefore,
earnestly recommends the passage by Con-
gress of the laws necessary for the estab-
fishing of the postal telegraph and postoffice
savings banks. In concluding his report,
he rcnews his recommendation for the re-
peal of the franking privilege; asks for the
passage of the bill which failed last session,
known as the postal code, and recommends
an increase of salary in the case of the As
sistant Postmasters General, and the super
intendents Of foreign mails and the money
order system.