The New York Herald Newspaper, December 3, 1851, Page 3

J ‘Wastixcros, December 2, 1851. master General. Report of the Post Posr Orrick DerarTMENT, Wasurneton, November 29, 1 Sien--At the clone of the fiscal june milesin modes not spe + $83 00; being about four cents eight mills per mile. The mail service in California and Oregon had at the close of the last fiscal year, (exclud- that in California and O: the service at the close of the’ preceding year, last annual report, shows an in- miles in tne len, of 6,162,855 in the number o! ‘transportation; and of $547,110 in the annual ost increase of transportation, the railroad ‘and steamboat service amouats to 3,220,635 mil: at an increased cost of $276,742 ; being an increase of about 30 3-10 per cent in t n,) when compared ‘th of mail routes; miles of annual repoaraey ape ane cent in aggregate cost ; the ooao! ),124 miles, at an increased cost of an increase of about 13 4-10 per ion, and 294-10 per cent in ag- ation in modes of miles, at an increased ; being an increase of about 3 3-10 tion, and 4 7 10 per cent in gate cost. To this increase has added service in California gregate cost; ay trai and Oregon, which is now first reported with sufficient acouraey t> be carried into the annual statement. The annual transportation to California, at the was 537,476 miles, at an an- This service, when compared with that ascertained to have been in operati rior to tho new contracts made under the jettings of April last, shows an increase in the an- nual transportation of 103 7-10 per cent, and a de- crease in annual a; close of the fiscal nual coat of $130, st fornia is about twelve cents nine mills per mile ; in coaches, about 21 cents seven mills per mile; andin modes not specified, about thirty-one cents three mills per mile ; while the cost of similar service in the United States, excluding Oreg di the newly acquired territories, is, in steamboats, mile ; in coaches, about five pel ile ; and in modes not ied, about four cents and three mills e prices now paid in Califernia are believed to be moderate, compered with the general prices upon the Pacific coast. The annual transportation in Oregon at tho close ear was (a8 near as can be ascer- jes, at an annual cost of $19,938, or about sixty-five cents and four mills per mile. The present annual transportation in Oregon was inereased under the new contracts which went into ration on and after the first day of July last, to 960 miles, at an annual cost of t increase of 119 5-10 per cent in transportation, and cent in aggregate cost. 8 is to be performed in steamboats at an , under a contract, made July 11, 18560, for the remainder of the usual contract term in that section, and of the residue 5,070 mil about eight cents cents and two. of the last fiscal tained) 30,498 mi Of this service annual cost of $10, cost of $22,993, or about forty-onecents three mills ‘There were on the 30th day of June last six for- eign mail routes, of the estimated ag, ot 18,349 miles. The number of miles of annual transportation thereon is estimated at 615,206. The ce Seat ee lead contracts with thii ment. ‘Che annual trans- portation thereon is estimated at 190,592 miles, at a cost of $400,000, being about $209 The service on the o! contract — ne mone ae transportation thereon is es —— of $1,023,250, being about$2 42 6 10 per of the California and Ore- on mails acress the Ischmus of Panama, has itherto beon performed under treaty with Now Granada. The annual cost of this transporta- tion, dependin, er foreign routes fiscal year was 937. + There should be added to the other cost of tran- sportation, as above stated, gers, and local and route agents, which, if continued as it stood at the close of the Jast fiscal year, will amount to $145,397 per the compensation of The extent and poy oe ay entire a vice, under the direction o: partment al tb 4 ear ending on the 30th of June last, as well as its division among the States and territories, and the mode of its performance, will mote fully appear by the annexed table, ~marked A the close of the fiscal The number of postmastors a ear ending Sunb 30, 1851, pointed to fill vacan wignations ; 187 to fill vaca by the decease of their cessor ; 206 on chang- for which they were 09 on the removal of the prior in- and 1,698 on the establishment of now hole number of post offices in the United t the end of that y qT ar, was 19,796. the The following table shows, very nearly, the st offices in each State and territory, day of Juno last, classified according neation allowed to cach postmaster, 63 SS aii nt 3 ‘01S © Ost “900'TS 09 08S 008: “"00rS 9 Cees “ees Moet oes 4 OOIS “*—eeS ope Suse r+ Santee Fankwwsaz Toe Rau SS.8N aKa: s- a eset SRSTAF ace eNSSe KBeenreceamtents = Baal! S~! 1 | ~SRSERSSLASEESSAIENS 4 S memcets nt mT wna noe stones ES Th mammaire | acomcnsce 2 Col SoaZame’ WTS 9 CTs wosars: wnt | 1 -S2sBSe8siaee: | seu! oSBBSSIESSTE CE ANESE F SExFeceax!” Searem E =: This table does not embrace one from which nee had been » & portion of which evtublished ‘and are supposed not been but recen bad, = ma “number of persons em. , andin the trans xtent and complica- the several post o of ti mal th d inadequat ¢ compensa’ of the persons employed haps more reason to fo complain of | these services, there be satisfied with the of the service than irregularities and accidents which occ of the Department fo the following sourcos:— including foreign post: pinetadig6 Foreign Post: s60 242 76 Fines (otber thon those impored on of 3d beste nt and compensa- 083, ead the other Departments and officers of the government in the transpor- tation of free matter..... rr +» 168,888 89 $6,736,193 22 From this sum must be deducted the able chee toler the postal convention of December, 1 a8 now stated by the Auditor..............+ ele 58,626 44 Leaving the gross revenue for the ‘your vee ese see o§,727,366 73 For the p the re- venues of the year of the year, there should also m of $163,- 89—being the amount of addi of March, 1551, and the census ap- propriation of $12,000........... + $175,833 89 Leaving as the ordinary revenues of tho year........ $6,551,977 89 This shows an increase of $999,006 41 ever the Proper revenues of the preceding year. ‘he sums received as the excess of the emolu- ments Ro jecv rc tpa beyond the amounts they are by law allowed to retain, and the amounts collected from failing bidders and their guarantors, are not se- paratcly stated asa part ofthe revenues in the ac counts of the Auditor. The Auditor states that the former are deducted from the amount paid for the “ compensation of postmasters” and “‘olerks for offices;” that so much of the latter as was collected in money is credited under the head of “‘ Other mia- cellaneous receipts,” and the residue, which was deducted from the amount due to such fai bid- ders for transportation service, was deducted from, and lessens to that extent, the expenditures under the head of “Transportation of the mails.” The Auditor has been requested to change the msnaer ot Becping these accounts, and futare reports will, show the amount of revenues derived ‘rere recepes from pestages,Amerioan and fore 18 Ly merican and foreign, for the last Gscal year exceeded those of the pre- om year $909,223 85, being an increase of about f cont: ia The balances acoruing to the British poat office during both years are excluded, (as they must be to show the true increase of our own postages,) the increase will be $997,610 79, or more than 18 65-100ths per cent. Excluding these balances, the receipts of the first three quarters of the year exceeded those of the.cor- responding quarters of the prece: year about 20} per cent.; but the postages for the last ‘ter fell terof the preseding sear ouly bout 1d per chat; ter of the year al per cent.; so that the increase for the year was only about 18 65-100ths per cent, as before stated. ‘The reduction during tho last quarter of the fis- cal i is moetly attributable to its near approach tothe d when the rates of postage prescribed by theact of the 3d of March last were to go into operation, and the consequent delay in correspon- dence until it could be carried on at a cheaper rate. A similar reduction was observed upon the ado) tion of the reduced rates under thoact of 1845. The practical extension of the franking privilege to the Senators and Representatives elected to the | aent Congress, after the commencement of that uarter, also aided slightly in producing this reduo- tion. During the last spring, a Senator and Repro- sentative elected to the present Congress, claimed the full privilege of ing under Lege enero of the acts of and 1347. The ice of the department had been adverse to the claim, and having some doubts in regard to the construction of the statutes, under which the right was claimed, the opinion of the law officer of the government was asked. His opinion was in favor of the right claim- ed, and itwas therefore acknowledged, and notice of the decision communicated. By the previous practice of the department tho full franking privilege of members of Congress was deomed to commence only thirty days prior to the commencement of the first session of Congress held during their term of office. It is, perhaps, worthy of remark, that dui the past summer five per- sons have been entitled to the franking privilege as Senators and ex-Senators in Congress from a single State; four from another; and three from several of the other States; and that a Kepresentative avd alate Representative in more than haif the districts have also been entitled to such privilege The expenditures during the year were as fol- lows ransportation of the mails...... $3,538, For ship, steamboat, and way lettors. For compensation to postmasters.... Por wrapping For effice finite For advertising. For mail bags For blanks . For mail locks, keys, and stamps... For mail depredations and special ABONtS..0..rcrce vere ceee seen cones For clerks for offices (of postmasters) For miscellaneous payments......... For lists of post offices, and post office laws and regulations......--.-..+. Vor repayment of money found in dead letters 137,115 05 46,12) 35 5,273,491 63 Total To find the proper ex- penses of the year there should be do- ducted from this sum of $6,278,401 68 the amount paid the Bri- tish post Bon for ass, 250 postages co! eoes 235 And alto the amount paid John 1. Colmes- niel, Pres, &o., for transportation of tho mails on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in 182 tt 1833, under an award mado by the Auditor, in pursuance of a joint resolution of Uon- gress, approved Feb- ruary 27, 1851...... 20,509 49 $258,394 99 Leaving as the amount of ordinary expenditares of the yoar.......... $6,024,505 79 This amount being deducted from that of the gross revenue of the oar, as before stated, leaves as the @ over the ordi- nary expenditure........... seve $703,299 99 In connection with the foregoing statements of the operations, revenues, and expenditures of this department for the last year. it may not be im- Proper: atthe conclusion of a half contury, to re- fer briefly to its origin, history ee as 1677, upon the peti of several merchants of Boston (Maesacnusets,), Mr John Hayward, scrivener, was appointed by the court “to bn in and convey letters according to their direo- This was probably the first post office and mail service authorized in America. Local and im ‘arliament pate act authorizing the British Postmaster jeneral “to keep one chief letter office in New York, and other chief letter offices in each of hor Majesty’s vinees or colonies in America.” De- puty Post Master General for North America were subsequently and from time to time appointed by the Post Masters General in England, and Doctor Benjamin Franklin was 80 ited in 1755. He was removed in 177. 4. On the 26th of July, 1775, the continental Con- greea determined “that a Postmaster (sonoral bo ited for the United Colonies,” and to allow horen. ‘cA, Aieles of Confederation of 17 to the States,in Congress assem! “the sol exclusive right and power of establishing and regu- lating post offices, from one State to another, throughout all the United Btates, and o: such postage on the passing through the may defray the expenses ofan office. verde pregread made during the of the mail service, before the adoption of the oom- stitution of the United States, is opgeet with ite subsequent qxtension, one cannot until the end of the next seasion of Congress. Ua- der its provision, Samuel of Massachusetts, was appointed by President Washington Pot ma: in ter General of the United States, and this was the | first appointment to thet office. Thirteen other persons have since been appointed § (f these there were appointed from Kentucky three; from Coa- necticut, Ohio, and New York two each; and from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Tennossee, and Vermont ope each. The earliest reliable statistics of the General Post Office are those for the year 1790, when the number of post offices was seventy-five; the oxtent of post routes 1,875 miles ; and the revenues of the t 5 subsequent progress of the Post Office department can be traced in the tables hereto annexed, marked B and C. In connection with this brief reference to the pro- Hy | oh Braet lf f eth il 8 g i gE ul EF Of transportation, (foreign and ialand,) as authorized and close of the last The annual cost cost in the southern seo- tion, under new contracts, which went into effect, July 1, 1851 ne Cost of service ordered, and of ne gress of the department, it may not be impro) to state that there are, in the possession of the de- partment, materials for an interesting nistory of the origin and progress of our post office system, and that it is in ied, if time can be found to complete the arrangement of them, to rey sony these materials te the present Congress in such form as will, perhaps, induce their preservation. The cost of transportation has been much ia- creased within the last two years. Tho new con- tracts, made under the letting for the northwestern and southwestern sections, (embracing the States of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, beionauigy, ON ‘ennessee, Alabama, bet sippii Arkansas, isiana, and Texas, and the ‘erritory ef Minnesota, whieh le took ia April, 1850,) increased the annual cost of trans- ortation, from the Ist day of July, 1850, about $236,000 ; and the subsequent failure of bidders and contractors, together with the now arrangements usually consequent upon the change of service which follows a letting, added largely to the in- creased cost of this service. Tho rates of such inereage wore about 10 45ths per cent in service, and 25 per cent in aggregate cost. Much of this inorease is doubtless attributable to the unusual scarcity and high prices of the eoarse grains in that section during tho year 1850. The new contracts for the Southern section, (om- bracing the States of Virginia, North Carolias, South Carolina, Georgis, and Florida,) which were made under the lettings in April last, show an in crease (up to the 30th day of September) of 947,- 707 miles of annual transportation, and of $61,941 in the annual cest, over the transportation and sost under the contracts which oxpired with the 30th dey of June, 1851; being an inorease of about 12 36-100 per oat in service, and 9 97-100 per cent in rogate cost. ae ‘opening and extension of the New York and Erie oad; of the railroad from Cleveland to Co- lumbus, and of other railroads in tho different sec- tions of the Union; the ostablishment of two daily lines carrying the mail from Baltimore, by the way of Cumberland, Wheeling and Columbus, to Cin- cinnati; the increase of mail facilities onthe routes leaean Som the Atlantic cities to im; 't points in the West; the greatly increased mail facilities on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, apd in almost every section of the Union, have added, and similar im- provements will continue to add, largely to the ox- tent and consequent Ce of our ma‘! transporta- tion. The placing of the steamers *‘Franklin” and “Humboldt” on the New York and Havre lino has also added $150,000 per annum to the oost of the foreign mail service, chargeable upon the reveaues of this Department. a the aa of _— act of soap Ph ae | the increase in the cost of transportation, o: ion by the increase and extension of the service, had been been almost entirely within the discretion of the head of this department. The act declares that ‘no post office now in existence shall be disconti- nued, nor shall the mail service on any mail route in any of the States or territories be discontinued or diminished, in conseqnence of any diminution of the revenues that may result from this act; and it shall be the duty of the Postmaster General to os- tablish new post offices, and place the mail service on any sew mail route established, or that may horeahor be ) in same manner as though this act had not passed.” And there having been a large surplus to the credit of the revenues of the department at the timo ofthe passage of the act, it would seem to have been the intention of Congress that the Postmaster (seneral should con- tinue andincrease the service to the samo extent as if the old rates of postage and a large anoual increase in the revenues continued. By adopt- ing thia rule the ditures of the department for the transportation of the mails must be in- creased from ten to fifteen per cent por year, if the wants and interests of the country require it, unless some other rule for the governmont of the depart- ment be sanctioned by Congress. Tho other oxpenses of the department (the prin- cipal items of which are the compensation of post- masters and their clerks) necessarily increase at nearly the same rate asthe businass of the depart- ment and its receipts for postaga when no change occurs in the rates of postage. The usual apr a sation of postmasters, being s commission eaku- lated at certain rates per cent upon the postages collected at their offices, inereases in nearl; same proportion as the revenue. Since 1816, the average increase in postages and is the business of this department, has been about thirteen per cent per year. Duringtho present fiscal yoar, the re ceipta from postages may not exceed two-thirds the amount received yoar, while the labors of post- mastersare likely to bo increased from fifteon to thirty per cent, in consequence of the increase in the number of letters, and of othor mailable matter, under the reduced rates of postage, and the freo de livery of ne — in the countios of their publica- tion, as peovide by the act of March 3, 1851. INCREASED COMMISSIONS TO POSTMASTERS. # a F t ] i rae I tah é te he yee , January 5, 1830; the @ year ar a To the edloptins Great 1 ei on ie Sth of December, 1839 of the four penny rate, (followed January 10, 1840, by the Penay- rate on prepaid letters, and the two-penny ral on unpaid letters,) the grogs revenue from post- ages in the United Kingdom And the expenditures. Leaving a not revenue of. 756,909 7s. 4d. Tn 1950 the gross revenue was ODLY. see eeee cree ven eve A 2yl65,349 178. 4d. the expenditures were.. 1,324,562 16s. 10d. Leaving a net revenue of...... £340,787 Os. 1144. for the improvement extension of mail service, andthe ased the great Cost of new routes let present quarter, and in operation the new routes os- jd by Congress at the ery) bos- equal Hobsacg~ of the last compensa- tion to postmasters, wrapping office furniture, blanks, mail-locks, mail depredations special agents, clerks for offices, (of postmasters,) items, with 125 per (such expenses necesssrily incroas- ing with fe increase of mail matter nsporte Amount iiod to the reel @anual tions, and list of post offices Cost of postage stamps Total estimated expenditures for the expenditures arc to be met by the balances now standing to the credit of the Department, the receipts from postages, and the a; the acts of the 3d of Marsh, 2 These will be more than sufficient to meet the expenses of the current fiscal year, but farther aid from the Treasury will be required for those of the pestmasters for the two first quarters, under the act of March last, will not be settled by the Auditor, and the receipts, reported before April or May next. the accounts for the two quarters, at least, tled, no reliable estimate of the reven' current year can be made. that the whole amount which it will be ssary draw from the Treasury, in aid of the revenues de- rived from postages, will not much exceed, for the ears ending June 30; 1853, that which would lected upon matter now free, if such matter were charged with the ordinary rates of postage. A carefully prepared roport, from Bradley, Esq., postmaster of this city, and which is hereto annexed, estimates that the free lotters and other free matter sent from and received at his office 's ending on the first day of July stage at the rates then in the amount of $4,210,820, in addition to the actual revenue of this dopart- ment, and that if charged with ratos the amount would have been $1,795,920. be remembered that this does not include the free letters and other free matter sent fro reoeived at other offices, and years (between the years in which there is election) tho free matter sent from the Washington Post Office is much less than in the year when that lection occurs. Nor doosit inclnde the free circulation of weekly newspapers in tho counties of their Conan mcd ge tho maga: way of exchaagp, free matter now.carried in the mails. were charged with postage, oven at the million to two millions of annually to our receipts fro last annual report succeeding year. The accouats of force, would have yield that during these iy between publishers. resent rates, from one lollars woald bo addod 1 recoramended certain reduced rates of postage, under the operation of it waa foreseen, a large dofeiency of revenue for a few years would occur. if those rates ware a plus tothe credit of the revenuesof the department, andan annual appropriation from the treasury, the » at the usual rates upon the ree, would bo required to meet this deficiency, and would be ever, on! partial peed by Ce in th 01 shin the pas- 3, 1961. Build A e rate recommended for ordinary inland letter postage was adopted, but six cents when prepaid, and ten when unpaid, was letter postage to California and Oregon, instead of twenty cents, as recommended. age on most printed matter was reduce: low the rates recommended; weekly pay allowed to circulate free of postage in the counties of their publication; and the free exchango of news- , great! @ rates to California and Ore- gon will greatly diminish the revenues from that A statemont of the Auditor shows that the number of letters received and sent by the Now made tho single rate of ine, during the Numerous applications ha’ been made to this Department for the allowance of increased commis- sions to asters, authorized under certain con- ditions the sixth section of “An act to reduce and modify the rates of postage in the United States, and for other Korpenss, * approved Mareh 3, 1861, and ix having beon clearly shown that in most cases tha labors o: tmasters have been increased, and tacit commissions reduced by the operation of said at— By the sixth section of thatact the Postmaster Gonetal was authorized, in his discretion, to increa a the commissions to post masters in certain cases. It was dosirable that this authority should not be exercised until the accounts for the last quarter were so far adjusted and settled to enable the department to make some real; amount to be derived from po: fircal yoar. But the anxiet; the desire of the Auditor to ix the amount of com- missions allowable to cach postmaster at the time of settling his accounts for the quarter, seemed to render it expedient to fix the rate of allowance be- fore the settlement of those accounts—especially as such settlement could not be completed in lees than three months after the expiration of tho quarter. Aa orde: 8 thorefore made on the 29th day of October last, of which the following is a copy:— It is ordered, That whenever the Auditor of the Treasury for the Post Office Department shall satisfactory proof, by affidavitor otherwise, ¢ labors of = postmaster have beon increased and his commissions reduced, as provided for by said act, he shall allow and credit such postmester with com- missions according to the following rules, to wit :— ist’ Where the commissions of such postmaster, for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1801, did not exceed fifty dollars, thosameamountofcommissions allowed for that year, with twenty per cent added poser ~ > allowed and o ; ited to the , master fer the fiscal yoar ending June 30th, 1952. 2d. Where the commissions of sush master, for the fiscal year en: Oth June, 1851, exoooded fifty dollars, and did ‘ceed one hundred dollars, ine amount of commissions allowed for that year, with Gfteen per cent added thereto, shall be allowed and credited to a oe for the fiseal yous cation 80th June, 1852. here the ‘issions of snch post- master for the fiscal year ending 30th June, ist, exceededone hundred, and did not ox five hundred dollars, tho samo amount of allowed for that year, and twelve and cent added thereto, shall be allowed and to fiptaaten for the fiscal year ending 30th Junb, 4th. Where the commissions of ange peace for the fiscal year onding 30th June, 1851, exceeded five hundred dollars, the same amount of commis- sions for that yoar, with ton percent. addod master forthe your ending Sous June 1802.” master for the year ‘ane , Provided always that the commissions to be office) shall not oxceed the eS such office duri the for which & special application fer a further allo any distributing office may be made who: Auditor shall certify that tho commissiens abthoriz- ed to be allowed under this order ate sufficient to pay the actual and necessary e: of such be allowed at any of where the com, ition of the Postmaster is by law limited to a fixed salary or com tion any greater sum than shall be re- quired to Bay such salary or compensation, and the actual and necessary expenses of his office. sent fiscal | Case for future consideration, and will | determined upon after the accounts for the first | three quarters the present fiscal year have been | by the Auditor. it is, of course, in the power of to ab. | rogate this order, and fix by law o different rate of compersation. It was intended to make the allow. ance as liberal ae tha covoguos of the department York, New Orleans, and Chagres li month of September, 1950, was 112, postage thereon $44,345 60, and that the aumber of letters received and sent by the same line dari the month of September, [501, was 115,954, a: Bie thereon, under the reduced rates, only It was supposed that the reduced rates of postago on printed matter recommended in my report would diminish the revenue from that source about two hundred thousand dollars per annum. ‘ho rates adopted, with the free circulation of weekly nows- papers within the counties where the very great extension of the pri’ change between publishers, will, it is believed, di- that revenue at least five hundred thousand dollars per annum, unices the quantity of such matter be increased more than ie now antici twithstanding this diminution beyon ted from the adoption of the recommended, no change in the present rates of letter postage is deemed It was recommended in my last annual report that uniform inland rates, without regard to dis- tance, should be established on nowspapers and lt was immediately urged @ postage recommended would be unequal and that a newspaper carried fifty miles with the same pos! as one carried twenty: foree of this objection was felt by this Department, and by Congress, ard the experiment of numerous according yto distance, has been rates, graduated » the ee revenue for the eight years, from 1832 to 1839, both inclusive, was £18,245,537 12s. 1jd., and for the “ ears next succeeding the reduction, a £ 813,095 Ge. S$d., although the franking privilege the adoption of the penny postage, and the f Bpervsee id post- age at tho o1 rates. The pos iy by the government in 1817 amounted to £1 As. 7d. Oar rates of postage on newspapers, pamphlets, &o., were not a atenally oba: by the act of 1849; but the letter postage was’ reduced about 5:3 per cent, as was then estimated in the Department. Thoreceipts from letter postage, for the ceding the reduction, were $3,660,231, u auccenins year only $2,881,607; being a reduction ofabeut 24 percent. The letter postage for the nine — next preceding the reduction, was $34,271,936 09, being an average of $3,807,992 89 ,| per year; and forthe five years next succeedi| the reductions, the etter postage was $17,606, T8is to 1500 in the Postage of nowtpepers; pamper to ), in the 6 of newspapers, pamph- leta, &o., (which had pe been reduced,) was $426,365 67, or about 70 per cont. dt is true that the expenditures of the depart- ment, for the ten years prior to the reduction of I exceoded its revenucs, and that its revenues for the last five years have excoeded its expea- ditures; but before the act of 1845 the department - -£2,390,763 108. Ld. | wa ut by the te oa ieee tae act Of the * of ' i i ‘Thas it be made wt an early day, is i The requiremeso of the return of weekly registers of the asrivals and departures of the termini of each route, showing whether’ of tripe contracted for had or had not been according to contract and within schedule time, teatneed Greater efficiency amé regularity into the ser. vice. Doring the last fiscal year, av appears by the report from te Ins} Office, the fines 7 oon- tractors om inland routes amounted to $8,061 07; of which the sum of $10 25 has been remitted. The de- ductions on account of failures and irregular service om dill b period, to $25,971 89, of which the sum of $8477 bee been renait- ted. The deductions made during the same period for failures and irregularities on foreigm routes under con- tracts with this department: amounted: to $1,460, and the fines and deductions which the Nevy Department has beem advised to make om routes ite coatrot ‘the inspection of which had’ been transferred to thie —— amounted to $1,968, special agents of the Department have been ac- tively and usefully employed im the dissharge of their various and ineportart duties. The incyeased: authorized by wn act of the last Con, have not besa paid them, the necessities of the service forbidding such Teduotion of their number as would justify the aL of the increased salary out of the present appr joa. There officers render important service to the Depart- ment and to the public ‘hrough their exertions, msin- ly, the proportionate increase of depredation: and loss, with the growth cf the country ard’ extension of mail tremportation, has been materially checked, while the mumber of arrests and convictions for violation of the laws has been ly increased. Much of theservioe is. performed expenses. I recommend an appropriation for ciency of salary allowable to them under the existing ‘The postmasters and other persone in the service of the department have. with few exceptions, their duties with fidelity, promptness, and accuracy, aad received nething for the free matter of ress the departments. Since 1845 the de t has received $1,458,187 60 from the Treasury, which sum has been included in the statement of ita revenues; and also the further swm of $725,000, appropriated by to meet the deficienc in its revenue wi followed the act of 1345. The faggregate amount of theso sums ex- coeds, by about. $779,000, the available balances to the credit of the revenues of the de ent on have endeavored to inerease the efficiency, utility, aad reputation of the department. ‘On the 3d of January last, 8. R. Hobbie, Maq,, thee First Assistant Postmaster Geneval. was appointed s pecial gent and postal commissionsr, and dispatched to Gove ana Paneme,with instrections to make, if praee cable, suitable arrangements for an exchange at Cubs ot from and to the West India Islands, the Atlantic coast of South America, and to points on the Gulf of Mexico andeisewhere reached from. Havana by British mail packets but to which our own mail arrangements did not extend; and also to effect, if practicable, an ar- the 30th of June last. It sho also be remembered that, by a provision of the act of 1845, the Postmaster General was required.to accept the low- est bid which, in his judgment, secured the requisite cer- tainty, security, and celerity in the transportation of the mail, and that under this rule the cost of Wiaepertation was reduced from $2,905,604, in 1845 to $2,677,407, in 1849; although the extent of our mail routes was in-. creased during thas peviod from. 143,940 to 167,703 miles. The contracts for mail transportation are made for four years, and one of the four contract sections. is let each. year. The whole service bad, consequently, in July, 1548, undergone the process of reduction under the act of 1845, and the annual cost of transportation has from thet time been steadily and necersarily increased. It will, therefore, be seen that the reduction of postage in 1845 was accompanied by # great reduction of the cort of transportation, while no such reduction can follow the ect of 1851. On the contrary, (hat act, by the reduction of postage on printed matter, and the consequent im crease of such matter inthe mails, will add very largely to the cost of transportation. In copnexion with these facts it shovid also be remem- bered that the receipts from the postage in Great Britain have been greatly augmente:) by the establishment, since 1839, of numerous lines of ooean steamers, yielding large revenues, the expense of which jines is not eharged upon the Post Office Department of tho United Kingdom. Great Britain also collects @ considereble sum for transit tage In this country, also, the receipts from Bove en considerably augiuented dy estab! ot cf lines of oveam mail steamers, under contracts. with the Navy Department and with this department; the pre- gent cost of which, and the posteges thereon, ‘appear in this repor ‘The expesse of pacxet service. foreign and inland, paid by the Admiralty, and not by the P ost Office De; ment in the United Kingdom, ® believed to have ry £701,580 Ye. 8d, for the year ending January 5, 1648; while the amount paidby the Dost Office Department for the convayance of the mails, inciading riding work, and expressas by the Deputy Postmasters of the United King- dem, wages to mail guards, other coach expenses, and tolls om mail coacber. was only £419,178 174, 2d. Bince date of my last annual report, pew contracts have been made, after due advertisement, for farnishing blanks, wrapping paper twine. eealiag wax, and markiog ‘and rating stamps, tor the use of tbe-post offices of tho United States; for furnisbingjleather and canvass rail bage and poach+s, mail locks sad keys, . blank beaks, and otber stationery, for the use ‘of the Depazt- ment, and for the pie amd binding required there- for. Under these contracts, nearly all these articles will ‘be supplied om more favorable terms than under the for- mer contracts A contract bas been made forthe supply of the postage stemps authorized by the act of March last. These stamps are believed to be of superior quality. and are furniebed s¢ # lees price than was formerly of these furnished soon after the execution of the tract were found to be deficient in adhesive jualities, but it ia beloved that there will be no ground for future complaint Directions for the destruction of the dies and plates employed in the manufacture of the postage stamps formerly used bave been given, and for counting and stamps as have uot been issued to been returned. ts, avenues, roads, and public highwaya of the York, Boston, Philadelphia, and New Or- leans bave been established as post routes, under 10th section of the postage act of March 3, 1851. and | ter carriers appointed for the service thereon. If i the intention of Congress to transfer the whole dispatch business of the cities to the letter earriers of the Dapart- ment, further legislation for that purpose is desirable Bore weeks since, agents of this Department were dis- patebed to the North and to New Orleans, with the view of rtaining whether the mails oa the great rout: bd twein the States of Maine and Louisiana might considerably expedited. The greater expediti therefore formidable competition of ccan steamers, rua: ning between prominent points on this line seemed to render this a favorable moment for negotiatons with the contractors on the presont mail route From the infor- mation obtained b raona thus sent along these lanes, it f wishes of the department, the mail between this city and New Orleens can be «xpedited twenty-four hours; that the time required between this city and New can be reduced to eleven hours; and that the m from the Bouth, leaving bere in the afternoon, may be delivered in New York in time to be sent east to Boston north to Albany, on their way to Buffalo, and West, along the New York and ‘allroad, by the morning trains from New York. While pursuing this object, aa effort will be made to preserve at New \osk @ close con- nection of the trains oa: jg the mails which leave bere im the morning with oning trains which take euch mails beyond New Y: owed by the contractors who the general liberal: pot yet copsulted, as rest they all bave in making the present line more rapid and more eatisfactory to the travelling public. would seem to jus- tify the hope that these improvementa can be effected withcut incurring an expenditure disproportion importance of the object to be attnined. If, the negotiations now in progress sall ad to this experiment, | am satisfied that there should not be more than two, or at most three, different rates of inland postage on newspapers sent to actual and bona fide subscribers ; and that those on periodicals and other printed transient newspapers, should be reduced in number, and more nearl tothe ordinary newspaper rate astign a suflicient reason for periodieals as the reviews, the numerous magazines, and theological, medical, and law journa’ than three times the amount of for the same distance on an equal Such periodicals are iess ephemeral than the ordinary newspapers, and certainly not loss beneficial in their influence The samo rates of tou eta, wl it is difficult to weight of news- ht, would be just d eve it from th riog ant and relieve m the perplexing an’ pe! py ious duty of discriminating between different publications, and declari: , aad another not a no ittle difference can be pe: changed character of the next number of both might in respect to such numbers, to , in cases where red, and where the complex by the bout diminishing, periodicals can be sent ia Neer el Tae ney (other than a distetbating | Fet'smalls at a cost lees than the postage eotablished by ee Nee acne © danas eae a . For this reason, if graduated rates allowance is m: Provided, also, at Be cotabs they may be comparatively high for the | means of conveyance are — it being oppressive or seri- is @ disposition manifested in certain quar- ters to urge further reduction in our inland rates of letter postage, before the rosults of the last re- duction are properly ascertained. Those who take the position that the this country should not rest satisfied wi until it be made as cheap as at of Great i om to forget that our rates jer than those of Great Britain; and that the ition of the two countries, in regard every thing which should influence the rates of dom of Groat Britain and Ire. land bas an area bout 120,000 square miles, and ® popwation of twenty-eight millions; while the area of tho iababited of the United able result. the attention of Congrese will be o1 otber feasible modes of expediting the great mails be- tween the Enstern and the Southern States ‘The necessary orders bave been made to charge fail i and their guarsntors, the difference betw: jount which the de- pay for the service required under the cepted proporale snd th fubrequently contrac 0 ip puch prepora! i rovisions of the 27th section o} 79, which, it # believed wii deut The auditor repo bs charged against failing bidt of $86 72 & their guarantors. according to the provisions of that act. during the last fecal year A large portion of thie sum war cbnrged for failures oocu in previous years Having escertaine 1 from a Jal examinetion of the bende of postmasters, (ha: the penalties of very many of A these bonds w juence of the increase of post- ges. ineufficient for the security of the department, and ‘tiao that a large number of them were executed at a pe- riod ro distant an to render it probable that the sureties might be dead or ingolvemt, an order was made tejniring pew bonds im all cases where the penalties were inade- quate or where the bond had been executed for more 258 new bonds were, under it out. and nearly all have |. accepted, and registered. A carefully revised and corrected list of the ofces in the United @tates hae been publiened and ted to the postmasters and other officers of the department jonin connection with the general ons the De which have been revised for that pur- pese. A rtion of the work has been for some time tn the manne of the printer. and the whole is expeo- to be and distributed in February next Wooden marking and rating stamps hare been furn- ished to a large class of offices whose receipte were too St to authorize the supply = Ca ety Lr pg these and bianke . er . vl other facilities for the dispatch of business: it in boped that the labor of will be, in some 1 Tee duced, and greater promptners, accuracy, aad b reoured. Tm consequence of the want of clerical force dead letter office, efficient third assistant hed been in the cead letter ce. coutals notes, drafts, and other of value. This clase letters had been sccum from 1837, and was rapidly increasing. Upon examination into the general charac. ter of their enclosures, [ deem it my duty to cause ex- traordinary efforts to be made to send thene letters and parties entitled . t is believed that, if the contractors will meet the | | and New Oriei | Tum direct to Chagre@, ia addition to the for the exchange at Prmama of mails from rangement en ® Temporary arrangements for POrposea agreed ena f by Mr. Hobbie, and confirmed by the- partment. These arrangements have been feund to useful; but the increase of correepondeace with points named will soon render more pesfect 3 fi ments desirable. Mr. Hobbie was also instructed to proceed to nia and aid the resident agent of the Department opening of the gy for mali service, whieh been direstea to invite. It weethen expectatio that Mr. Hobbie would reach Som Frenciseo in time the lettings, but an attack of fever unfortuuately de- tained bim on the Isthmus beyoad that time. Theservice- une was, however, eatisfactorilyy performed by the rosident agent and the Postmaster of San Franciae0. Mr. Hobbie. reached San Francisco soon after, and before the coa- tracts wore arranged and executed, antswas ableto ccea- der efficient service im aid of the residest agent As Mr, Hobbie continued ia service as speciel ageat of this Department for some time afte>the Ist of A) when his resignation as First Asristart Postmaster * eral took effect, | respectfully recommend that Congress. make adequate provision tor the mt of his ox. penses and a suitable compensation far his services. It was hoped and expectad, at the. time tho advortise- ments.fer proposals for mail’ servics in California, aad: Oregon were ordered, that Covzrens would authorise a. regular lettiegto be concluded there, and. contracts, for the usuel period to be executed under the au- rvision of the agents of the Depaztment, act- ing under its gemersi instructions. bow ever, adjourned without conferr’ng this ity, end the agent in California was instructed to make tem- porary contracts omly. Acting under this instruc- tion, the agent, who had reseived bids for service undil the 20th day of June, 1864, (the end of the regular contracttermin the section to which California and Oregon belong.) very properly received from the accepted. bidders contracts for the residue of the-contract term, endorsing upon cach an egreement signed by the coa- tractor. giving to the Postroaster General “ the right te discontipve the service at She end of one year, or on the Soth day of Juss 1362 making such additional allowance for the year's service aa to him shall ceem just, propery and equitable. As these contracts provide for aeevice at prices mace than fifty percent less shan those paid under th pre- vious contracts, spi as low as can probably be coteimed ata new letting. it is respectfully recommended that a Joint resolution legalizing such eontracts for the residue of the coatract term be adopted at an early day Contracts for the service in Oregon, under proposela received and opened in pursuance of an advertisement directed under the same circumstances, aad with tho fame expectations as that directed in California, have beem executed for the residue of the contract term, te end on the S0th of June, 1954, and returaed by the: to this Department. The acta of the agent have confirmed so far as to authorize temporary contracts only. The prices of the service st ed for are hig’, but it is Delieved that they are mearly or quite as reasoa able as could be obtained at a new Yetting The eaciz passage of a joint resolution to legalite theas contracts lor the residue of the contract term is recommended Under the provisions of the first section of the navy Fy pn aot, aj ng Mareh 3, 1852, contracts Lave been made with tbe Pacific Mail Steamahlp Jom- pany to increase the trips of the mail line between Pana- ma Sd Oregon te semi-monthly; thus making that ser- vice conform to the semi monthly service on the Atlaa tic side of the Isthm 4 ted to This service seventy-five per cent he cost of the trips under tae original or former contract; aud the contract therefor is believed to be ta strict accordauce with the provisions of the act referred to U me © Provisions of the aame section, thia Depart- bas ccnsented to ® temporary arrangement by which the mai from New York to fa not required to v the contract for ae last named and from the Ist day paid for that service The contractors for the mail service from New York ia Havana to Chagres some time tase maily by their steamers which since proposed their steamers touching at 1 Gitional compensaticn therefi na, They desired af- ‘This Department d+- clined to astume for the government either an expreae or implied obligation to make such compensation, but consented to send mails by such steamers with the ex- prese understanding that no obligation to pay for a fervice was thereby incurred. but without requiring ¢ ‘The opening of the route now in operation by way of Lake Nicotmgua, and the probability that other compet- ing routes from the Atlantic cities to Californie will ere long be in operation, snd upon which the mails may, perbaps. be transported with greater dispatch aad seoma- my than vpon the present route, renders it expedient te proceed with great caution in addidg to the cost of the present service, and to reserve.im ali cases, the right te discontinue such service and pay whenever thepublis imterest may require No contract bas been the mails across the [eth: cond section cf the “Act to establish certain post routes, Se-. approved March 5. The government of New Grapads bas comsented that the servic: formed by the Pansma Ratlroad Company. ® propo. sition frctm the President of that company for the trans tation of our m: actos the Isthmus wae favorabip rt, there were difMeulties inthe way it contract te conformity with the ‘ute of the section above referred to, it was sug- | gested that the railroad company should commence the {ransportation of the imailas soonas their road shoulf be so far completed and in asto inctuase the expedition of the mails and that thie jew York and Liverpool reyaires the perfocm- eof but twenty tripe out and beck Lopoy ‘or the purpose, however, of trips ia