The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-12-12


in a state of possible efficiency q navy
adequate to its responsibilities, has at
the same time demanded that all the
effective force we really have shall be
put IN Immediate readiness for warlike
service. This has been and is being
done promptly and effectively, and | am
assured that all the available ships and
every authorized man of the American
navy will be ready for what ever action
is required for the safety OF our citizens
or the maintenance of ourhOnor. This,
of course, will require the expenditure
in a short time of some of the %apprOpria-
tiGns which were calculated to extend
through the fiscal year. But Congress
will, / doubt not, understand and APP
preciate the emergency and will provide
adequately, not only for the present
preparation, but for the naval service
and by the condemnation of others not
yet disposed of. This however has
been more than compensated for by the
repair of six of the old wooden ships and
by the building of eight new slOOps-
of-war,, authorized by the last Con-
gress. The building Of these latter
has occurred at a doubly fortunate
time. They are about being completed
at a time when they may possibly be
much needed, and the work upon them
has not only given direct employment
to thousands of men, but has, no doubt,
been the means of keeping open es-
Establishments for other work at a time
of great financial distress. Since the
commencement of the last month, how
ever, the distressing occurrences which
have taken place on the waters Of the
Caribbean Sea, almost on our very sea-
board, while they illustrate fOrcibly
the necessity always existing-that OF
the future maintenance of our naval
force. The Secretary of the Navy has,
during the past year, been quietly put
ting some of Our most effective monitors
in condition for service, and thus the
exigency finds us in q much better con-
dition for work than we could possibly
have been without his action.
REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
A complete exhibit is presented in the
accompanying report of the Postmaster
General of the operations of the Post
Office Department during the year. The
ordinary postal revenues for fiscal year,
ended June 30, 1873, amounted to $22,-
996, TAI 81, and the expenditures of all
kinds to $685. 94 1867 The increase of
revenues over 1872 was $1,081, 315 90, and
the increase of expenditures, 1896, 753
SO. '@<7 ~
Independent of the payments made
from special appropriations for mail
steamship lines, the amount drawn from
the general treasury, to meet defcien-
cies, was $5,265,475. Theconstant rapid
extension of our postal revenue, partic-
ularly upon railroads, and the improved
facilities fOrthe collection, transmission,
distribution and delivery of the mails,
which are constantly being provided,
| account for the increased expenditures
of this popular branch of the public
service. The tOtalnumber of post. Offices
in operation on 30th June, 1873, was 33,
244, a net increase of 1881 over the num-
Der reported the preceding year. The
number of presidential officers was 1868,
an increase of 1853 during tue year.
total length of railroad mail routes at
the+clOse of the year was 63,457 miles, an
increase of 5546 miles over the year 1879.
Fifty-nine railway post Office lines were
in operation on 30th June, 1873, extend
UNCOVER 1885 miles of railroad routes
and performing an aggregate service OF
1925 miles daily. The number of letters
exchanged with foreign countries waE
T,459,151, an increase of 3,096,685 over
| III Cp1CHI u " CdEkS GtA8N In pOSURbSC U
on amounted to $2,021, $40 $1,000. The
total weightOf correspondence exchaDg,
ed in the mails with European countries
exceeded 912 tons, an increase of 90 tom
over the previous year.
The total cost of the United States
ocean mail steamship service. including
$7s5,000 paid from special appropriation
Ito subsidized lines of mail steamers, wal
$1,047,2 81, 80. New on Traditional posta
conventions have been concluded will
Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Germany
Canada, Newfoundland and Japan, re
ducing postage rates on correspondence
exchanged with those countries, an(
further efforts have been made to con
clude} b. satisfactory postal convention
with France, but without success.
invite the favorable attention of Con
gress to the suggestions and recon
mendati0ns of the Postmaster Genera
for an extension of thefree delivery sys
tenn in all cities having a population O
not less than 10000, for the prepay
ment of postage on newspapers ant
other printed matter of the second class
for n uniform postage and limit o
weight on miscellaneous matter, for ad
jnstng the compensation of all post
masters, not appointed by the President
by the old method of commissions o.
tie actual receipts of the office, insteat
of the present mode of fixing the salar.
in advance upon special returns, ant
especially do Turge favorable action b,
CongressO on the impOrtant recommends
tons Of the Postmaster General for til
establishment of United States p0sta
savings repositories. Your attention i
also again called to a consideration o
the question OF postal telegrapElS. ant