Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-12-06

/, the deficiency for the year 1872. Other in
|, teresting statistical information relating to
? our rapidly extending postal service is fur
ID nished in this report. The total length Of
J. railroad mail routes, ON the Both of June.
1872, was 81 ,9ll miles, 6,077 additional
miles having been put into operation dur
.. ing the year. Eight new lines of railway
I. post Offices have been established, with an
= aggregate length of ? 800 miles; the num-
- Der Of letters exchanged in the mails with
I, foreign countries was 81 1862 800. an in
Z crease of 4, O66. SOP or twenty-five per cent
: over the number in ISL and the pOstages
4 thereon amount to 81, 81 ,257 %; the to-
I tai weight Of mail exchanged with EurOp-
can countries exceeded 500 tons the cost Of
the United States transatlantic mail steam
: ship service was 500 ,30l 20; the total cost
. of the United States ocean steamship service,
including amount paid to subsidized lines
, of mail steamers. was 81 OF .O20.91. The
following are the only steamship lines now
receiving subsidies for mail service, under
special acts Of Congress the Pacific Mail
, Steamship Company receive $500, 900 per
annum for conveying a monthly mail be-
, tween san Francisco. Japan and China.
! which will be increased 500, 900 per an
, mum for a semi-monthly mail on and after
October I, 1873 the United States and
Brazil Mail Steamship Company receive
SIjO.O per annum for conveyinga month
lv mail between New York and Rio De
Janeiro. Brazil and the California. Oregon
and Mexico steamship company receive
$4,000 per annum. Our postal communi-
cations with all parts Of the civilized world
have been placed upon "a most advantageous
footing hy the improved postal arrange
ment> recently concluded with the leading
commercial countries of Europe and Ameri-
ca, and the gratifying statement Is made
that with the conclusion Of q satisfactory
| convention with France the details Of which
have been definitely agreed TO by the heads
of the French postal department. subject o.
the approval of minister Of finance, little re-
mains % De accomplished by treaty for some
time % come with respect either o. redur-
ton 10 rates or improved facilities of postal
intercourse Your favorable consideration
is respectfully invited To the rec0n1nenda-
ti1n~ made hy the Postmaster General ior
an Increase Of service, from monthly % semi
monthly trips on the mail steamship route
10 Brazil. and for subsidy 10 ensure the e--
. adjustment Of an American line Of maj.
steamers between san Francisco. New Xea-
/ land and Australia for the establishment
ola post oii.e savings bank. and for in
/ crease u salaries of the heads of bureaus
/ have heretofore recommended the abolition
Of the ranking privilege. and see DO reason .
/ now for changing ms views On that subject
I itu1t having been ayouh.y regarded hy
. Congress. however, ] now suggest m0dih-
I cation OF that privilege. o. correct is s-ar-
/ ing and costly abuse
POSTAL rELE.RAPH.
w1ad recommend. also. the appoint
/ ment % a committee or commission o. take
into consideration the best method, eIuit-
able o. private corporations. who have in-
vested their time aud capital in the e,tad-
ti-hmeu- of telegraph lines. ot acquiring
t-- title O. All telegraph lines in operation
and ot connecting this service with the
postal service oi the nation. IL j. not prob
able THAT this subject could receive the pro-
per consideration during the limits % %
short session of Congress, but il may be- ini-
tatei, ~ that further action may be- fair O.
the government and 20 private parties cone
ceruei
OCEAN STEAMSHIP LINES.
There are but three line, Of Ocean steamers.
lamr.y The Pacific Mail Steamship Com
uuv. between ~1n Francisco. China and .
Japan. with provision made for mi-month- b
Is service after Oct I. l772 the Jnitel ,
states and Brazil line. lmonthlyl and the ~
California New Zealand and Australian ,
States and foreign ports. owned md oper-
atcl uule- u-r flag [ earnestly recon- =
mend chat such liberal contracts. for carry q
lu- tl- mails. h- authorized with these lines O.
a- Wi. insure their continuance. t Tie OK A.
ps-l-uey 90 extending rue aid 0t the Gov %
eminent o. lines of steamers. which hitherto ID
have not received it should be- deemed /
worthy ui thf consideration ut Congress. !.
The u...tIa. and commercial. objects I
make IL advisable o. a--tlw such aid 1u n
line, under our da- between Panama and O
-Ht. lra--arr ~.r-H American r..~-- Hr