Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-04
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
Report of the Commissioner on Agricultu-
raj Affairs.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20.-Commissioner
Colman, in his annual report says the
year which opened in gloom, threatening
destruction of the winter crops by severe
weather, is closing with very bright pros
poets. 1t is more and more apparent that
the great need of agricultural interests in
the United States is better understand
ing and more intimate relations between
the several agricultural and experiment
stations The agricultural colleges en-
dowed by Congress are now separately car
rving on experiments without any central
head through which to report and com
pare results. He submits that the de-
partmcnt should have full authority and
ample means to avail itself of the peculiar
advantages offered by these endowed in
stitutiOns, in order to test in manner and
on scale sufficient to determine all ques-
tionable points, the adaptability of new
and rare seeds to various sections of coun-
try.
lie describes the serious effect upon our
foreign trade in live stock resulting from
the existence of contagious diseases
among cattle, sheep and swine, and says
that the restrictions upon our commercial
interests have been Il very great burden,
and that Il reduction in the value of cattle
in the affected States has been enormous.
The annual report of Mr.. Dodge, Stats
clan of the department, contains his view
of the course of agricultural production
during fifteen years past, which shows
an estimated increase in the corn of 81
100000 acres, or so per cent; in wheat of
20, 900 acres, or l42 per Gent; in all
cereals taken together, 100000 acres, or
% per cent.
Mr.. Hazen's Report.
/ WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-Third Assist
ant PostmasterGeneral Iazen has sub
mittcd to the postmaster-Gen his an
nual report for the year ended June 30,
1855, from which it appears that the total
postal revenue during the year was S42,-
$50, S43 while expenditures, actual and
estimated, including compensation to the
| Pacific railroads for the mail carriers
were 5000 415, leaving i'm excess of the
estimated total cost of the service over the
gross receipts SS,3Sl 81.
Gross receipts were SiG5, IA or IL per
cent less than those of last year. a part
of the decrease may be attributed to the
| increase OF limit of weight in second class
| matter from two to four ounces, without
a change in the rate of postage, but more
potent factor was the stagnatiOn of bust
ness throughout the country. Amount
of money required for the compensation
of pOstmasters during the year exceeded
the amount appropriated by S243,S4S,
which must be provided for in the def
cheney appropriation bill, while in other
times, there were excuses Of apprOprla-
tiOn over expenditures agCregatlng ST.
O14 4G. In treating of the special de
livery system, the report states that dur
ing October, the number of letters
of that class received for delivery
at all the special delivery Office,
was 40, $50, and the gross income Sli,OS2
while the net revenue was S2S2S. From
inf tis,t, dor h. TO "a
ports of the pOStmasters, says Mr.. Hazen
it may be said that at most of the lette
carrier Offices, the system has been reason
ably successful; that at the smaller Office:
the system has been, and probably vii
continue to be. of no great practical value
or the loss of revenue from the lncreaS,
, of weight, he says Il rough estimate onl.
is obtalnable at present. and that WouIt
indicate Il loss of about SS0O,0OO for TIN
! first year, without allowing for compensa
tions in way of substitution of sealed 70
f unsealed matter, that are expected to grow
aS time progresses. The loss that Will re
: suit from the reduction of postage OF
Second-cass matter during the next lisca
} year, is estimated mt - 200 565. HaZei
says of two cent postage that taking int
account the decrease in the revenue on
domestic letters, that it is not such as I,
: afford encouragement to the advocate
of the reduced measure. 1t Is reasonable
to presume that the resumption OF bust
ness prosperity has gained II firm basis
and that unless there should be Il decide
t reaction a large increase in the postal It
} ceipts may reasonably be expected in tn
= near future What the exact rate of in
crease will be is conjectural 1t will prot
ably he entirely safe to estimate it at 81
Z per cent for the current year. The eN
5 pendlure for the next fiscal year is place
, at $5+, $50, 1876, and the estimated deficienc
l 81 ,443,9l4