The New York Herald Newspaper, December 7, 1854, Page 3

ed means for attaining these desirable ends, difficulties could be obviated all obstacles ca dae success has attended the labors of the t; and the efforts of the department, when ily directed, have not unfrequently proved ig apis Adverse elements have always to thwart the wishes of the government teract the labors of the thropirt, have unfortunately been but Jen suceesa- r former poliey, and the inveterate do the Indian to resist domestication, have com- ‘Bined to place him in a situation where the lawless and could always have access to him; and such — have, through all periods of our history, availed Ives of every opportunity to advise, the it and child of the forest against his beat, inte- rests, and have but too successfully instilled into their mind prejudices against those who were laboring for his ‘Thur have the merciless and heartless followed in his path, fisttered his vanity, corrupted his morals, im- préered upon and confirmed him in the belief that labor and the arte of peace are , and his submission te them offensive to the Great Spirit, and directed and eentrolled his action and made him the victim of their avarice. Such influences are believed to be as formidable and more unscrupulous now than at any former period of eer history; and when we add to them the train of ever- weeurring aud never-ending difficulties that beset the path ‘of the weaker, in the battle of life with the strong- @®, race, we iwe, in the present condition of the red man, and the dangers that eneompass him, additional metives to call into active exercise, in his behalf, all the energies of the benevolent and good of the land. As a Christian government and people our obligations and duties sre of the highest and holiest character, and ‘we are accountable to Maker of all men for the man- ger in which we discharge them. Having faithfully em- yed all the means placed within our reach to improve Indian race and preserve it from extinction, we can, with a good conscience and strong faith, leave the issue im the hands of our Common Father. sac anemn mg Oe iEO. W. MANYPENNY, Commissioner. Hon. R. MoCien.anp, Secretary of the Interior. MAIL SERVICE. Annual Report of the Postmaster Gencral Post Orrick DEPARTMENT, Dec. 4, 1854. ‘The whole number of post offices in the United States en the 0th of June, 1854, w: . OF this number 257 are offices the annual commissions from which amount to one thousand dollars or upwards, and the aj its at these offices are therefore made by the it, by and with the advice and consent of the Benate, agreeably to the provisions of the act of 1836. ‘The number of offices established during ,the last fisca! was 1,842, and the number discontinued 614— ing a net increose in one year of 1,228. The num- of which the mtes and names have ppointed during the year was 8618. Of these, 186 were appointed to till vacancies oceasioned by re- tions; 1,977 by removals; 320 by deaths; 204 by change of names and sites; and 1,842 on establishment of new offices. The total number of offices on the Ist of December, ‘38B4, was 23,925, On the 30th June last there were in operation 6,697 mail routes. The number of contractors was 5,167. ‘The length of these routes is estimated at 219,935 miles. ‘The total annual transportationu of mails was 63,587,- 005 miles, costing $4,630,676, and divided as follows, vis. :— 21,267,603 miles by modes not specified, at $1,092,833 —about 5 cents per mile. maine 500 miles by coach, at $1,200,095, about 6 cents mile, 15,433,389 miles by railroad, at $1,758,610, about 11 eents 4 mills per mile. 5,795,483 miles by steamboat, at $489,158, about 8 cents 4 mills per mile. Com with the services of the 30th June, 1853, ‘there increase of 1,494,463 miles of transporta- tion, or about 23, per cent, and of $134,108 cost, being about three per cent. ‘The increase of railroad service is 2,446,684 miles, and the expense $157,281, being 19 per cent in transporta- tion, and not quite 1 per cent in cost. The increased transportation hy modes not specified 48 377,17 miles, or about 1 per cent, at cost of ef $37;520, or 3 45-100 per cent. The ‘transportation by coaches is lesa by 439,796 miles,’or about 2 percent, though at an increased cost ef $83,137, or G 84-100 per cont. The unprecedented extension of railroads superseded much coach service. The increased cost for a dimin- ished ammount of such service may be accounted for from the fact that the new, contracts in New England and New York, commencing Ist July, 1853, were made at largely enhanced rates, increasing the aggregate expense, while the amount of service was largely re- ‘The steamboat transportation during the past was redueed 889,582 miles, or 1534 per cent, at a red cost of $143,230, or 29 7-10 per sen ‘This is accounted for by the discontinuance of service Yetween Wilmington, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina, Savanah, Georgia, and Charleston, an Detroit and Buffalo, and’ the suspension of service on the Arkansas and White rivers, owing to the failures of the contractors. Several steamboat routes were also dispensed with at the lettings 0: new contracts for New England and New ork. * The portions of service in the foregoing estimates chargeable to California are 591,¢30 miles of annual transportation, costing $142,923, and varying but slight- 2y from last year's reyort. Steamboat transportation, (59,120 miles, at $21,000; coach transportation, 174,02 mises, at $5,185; modes not specified, transportation 258,484 miles, at $86,748. InGregon the service is as follows:—Steamboat, 38,03 miles, at $17,000; modes not specified, 98,985 miles, at 151; total transportation 137,026 miles; tetal cost ,1é1. ‘The aunual transportation by steamboat was increased 10,760 miles during the year, without addi- The following table exhibits the extension of railroad service during the year, separately, im five groups of Stater : wae 8 annual Length transpor-Addition- e year duced of route. tation. al. cost. New England and New York, 629 | 971,341 $29,488 Rew Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Oh 4 342 459,060 Virginia, | No South’ Carolina, Georgia, and Florida..... 259,227 56,863 Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, amd Wieconsin 605 = 710,952 44,214 121 75,504 11,234 The lettings for the year embraced theStates of Ala. Dama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Mis: souri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indians, Iiinois, California, and the Territories of Oce~ gon, New Mnxico, Utah, Washington and Minnesota. In seme of the States and Territories I found the mail f lities greatly deficient, and not at all such as the wants and requirements of the people absolutely demanded. After a careful survey of each State and Territory, I gave to such additional facilities as ite increasing trade and population seemed to require. ‘A comparison of the service under the new contracts commencing Ist July inst, as in operation on the 30th September, with that under the expired contracts in the northwestern and southwestern sections of the Union, shows that the annual transportation of mails has been Amcreased 2,190,860 miles, at an increased cost of $395,- 373 per annux among the several States and Perritorier, as follows: — Increased mile of annual ivans- portation. 146,942 Increased a@nnnal Michigan .. Indiana Mtinois. 0." Wiseonsin..... Mississipy Arkancas: Lovisiena 12,208 » transportation has been slightly de- ; thongh the total cost of service is increased In Kew Mexico the same amount of transportation com- timnes as under the former contracts, but at a reduced cost of $10,500. In California, 68,002 miles of additional transportation is obtained sto reduced annual cost of $41,804, accord. ing to the accepted bids, tut, owing to the failure of the Biiders on two important routes, it is expected that the actual cost of the rervice will be lergely increased. ‘The service In n has been redueed by not re- newing the contracts on the routes from Columbia to Cascades, Caveadeos to Wascapum, aud Wascapum to salt Lake. In Kentucky, 269,268 miles of additional service were obtained, at less pay than onder the former contracts. OF the 2,000,860 miles of transportation above stated, 1,202,400 miles are performed by railroad Of the additional cost of $305,373, $106,051 is for rall- ead service. The total snnual transportation under the new con- adjuste he quarier ending 30th Septem. 29,047,050 miles, and the totai annual cost 89, divided as follows, vi 3,676,968 miles by railroad, at $043,118, or 9 cents and 6 mills per mile. 4,159,864 miles by steamboat, at $496,768, or 1045 cents per mile, 6,674,072 miles by coach, at $6 @ milis per mile. 14,686,148 miles by vic or 845 cents per vile, Comtracts have been was! or 9 cents not specified, at ie to convey mails by stoam- boat between Now Orleans, St. Truncieville and Vicks burg, 7 per arnam, and between Mo | Montgomery, Al r $5,000 per an are not inclu mount of pay for rervice, foregoing statew + in ‘operation on ) tember, between New Orleany and St. Francis transient bow 80. This proper, therefore, to add for the ervice $41,520, which with tue ,000.0n (by ma river rocrte, will inerens” ths Of the vervice for the curcent year $76,320—ma whole additional cost of the new contract $471.6 there must alvo he added the cost of a gente, ova | ts, and mail messengers, appointed how Let Ju)) ating to $7,088, | Thero were in service sy the N0th Jane last, agents, al compensation of $181,000 per Annu; ut Toca! agents, at 915,490 per annum; and 968 mail mes- wengern, at 11 £0 per apmum; making # total cost of $289,200. yer wnvum to be added to the other coxt of travsporte (or rinted above at $4,620,070, * J ureuant to the aet of Congress of Oth Augest, 3864, J invited from Cork ty yy ee gry 6th November); and thbt being for , Idid myself at Ifberty to accept it. A vetoed, bat much more reasot rate was received after the lar time bad expired. ‘There aré now no great mai! lines in operation with which to’connect the proposed one at Cairo. The time connections ie, however, not distant when the neces: will be effected by the Railroad to Cairo, ippi se heseiat, of intersection from the east with poia tral. 1 am informed that by the Ist of the Minois Central will be completed, and tha! Ast of July the Ohio and Mississippi road will eastern connection hat » The chain of rail- roads between the Atlantic at various pointe the Mississippi river thus completed will attract large and important mails, which are now conveyed om other routes, and most materially enhance the importance of asteamboat route between Cuiro and New Orleans. Moreever, it is reasonable to anticipate such an increase of trade and travel in the same dfrection as will go very far towards sustaining a line of boats, thus reducing the et eee a oe ipal, if the onl; rt of t present the princi if not the only, support of the line, would be from this! department; ant haye, therefore, deemed it my duty not to enter intoacontract now, but await developements so soon to be,expected, enabling me to negotiate terms much more advantageous both to the public and this department. Jn the meantime mails are regularly conveyed ax here- tofore by the trip between Louisville and New Orleans, and St. ‘is and New Orleans. Thave also contracted for separate service between New Orleans and Vicksburg, Vicksburg and Napoleon and Memphis. There were in operation on the 20th September last 239 railroad routes; their aggregate length was 16,621); miles, and the cost’of mail transportation thereon was $1,923,747 89, Add to this the sums paid mail messen- gers, route and local agen’ iy, ane the whole cost of this service will be $2,196,249 89. In adjusting the rate per mile to be paid theso rail roads great difficulties continue to cxist. The principle which should regulate their pay seems to be agreed upon. The companies allege that the government should not ask or expect them to perform for it any rervice at a less rate than that paid by individuals for similar services. This principle has never been denied or disputed by the Fost Office Department; but, on the contrary, it has always maintained—and this las been ever the teause of difficulty between the depart- ment the com) nies that the government has m charged and paying mucl greater prices than those paid by individuals. Whether this be £0 or not, is a matter that could be easily settled by computation. And when the Post Office Committee of the House of Representatives, at its last session, pro- posed a bill fixing certain rates per mile for mail trans- portation on the roads, it it could have been shown to \hem that the rates thus fixed were too low, consider- the weight of the its importance, and the faci- lities and space given for its transportation, I am satis- fied they would have at once increased the rates. Wha: ig required is to fix fair and just prices, companies per forming similar services to receive the same pay,which is not now the case, and all of them to be paid according to the bulk of the mails, the speed with which they are conveyed, and the accommodations required. The suma paid by express companies would be a very unfair eri- terion by which to regulate the charges to be paid for the conveyance of the mails. Controlled by no competition excepting such as it is in the power of the railroad eom- panies themselves to prevent, they can pay any prices which may be demanded of them, and assess it upon their customers. It would be unjust, too, to found a calculation upon the assumption that the mail car was twenty-five feet in length, fifteen fer a mail room, and ten for a post. of charge both for welght car aud mails at fourteen tons. Accommodations such as these are requir- ed both for the security of the mails, and to en- able route, agents properly to discharge their duties ; and to this fact I early drew the attention of the companies ; but these accommodations have not been given. Many of the railroads, desirous of pro- ly serving the public, devote a car exclusively for mail purposes; but in the great majority of cases a car Is divided between the government and thee express com- panies, or # space is apportioned off for the route agent, the mail being placed with the baggage in one and the balance of the car appropriated for a smoking room. ‘The calculations which 1 have made, and those which some of the companies make, differ most widely, and ow that they are receiving for the mail much ‘more than for first class freight; but the question whether the calculations of the department or the companies be correct could readily be settled by = committee of Con- gress; and if the companies wish government to pay them only such prices as they receive from individuals, the whole matter is one of eary solution, In the opinion that this government is paying much more for railroad mail service than it is worth, 1 have been confirmed by the prices paid for similar services in England, France, Germany and Canada. With the Great Western Railroad Company in the latter country, the department in March last entered into # contract t curry the United States mail from Suspension Bridge, New York, to Detroit, Mi- chigan, for the sum of thirty doHarsa'mile. The same cars carry the focal Canada mai!; and if the Canadian government allow this company thirty dollars a mile in addition to the aum received {rom this department, this important trank road will be receiving sixty dollars a mile. It is of very great importance that kind relations should always exist between the Post Office Department and the different railroad companies, because when such is the cage the public interests are always better served. It has been, and ever will be, my effort to preserve these relations. Exorbitant demands for services, however, will always be refused; and when a schedule is arranged, not by the Department alone, because it has no such power, but by the joint concurrence of the Department and the company, who have always regard to the local business of the road, the public ofticer would be derelict in his duty who would not exact a conformity thereto. Unless such were the case, there wonld be no order ov regularity in the mail system, and business in its thou- sand ramifications would be seriously disturbed. When a fine is laid, if afterwards good cause be shown, it is always remitted; but it is not asserting too much to say that every delay of the mail causes embarrassment, if not injury, to hundreds, and therefore every exeuse should be carefully examined. The merchant, manufac turer and farmer rely upon the mail principally for their remittances. All classes of our ns auxiously await the arrival of their letters ant newspapers; aud if through the inattention or neglect of the railroad com panies or their agents delays take place, what goo rea- son can be assigned why they should wot be trented as other contractors ? By the act of 2a July, 1836, it is provided that con- tracts shall, in all cases, be awarded to the lowest bid der. In order to guard 'the department against fraud and imposition, the form of a bid is prescribed by the regulations, A’guarantee is likgwise provilled from the act, by which two responsible persons rndertak i the party bidding be accepted, he «| contract for the service proposed, with good and suffi- cient securities. A certificate is then required to be signed by a Postmaster, Judie, or Clerk of Recor, certifies to the sufficiency of the guarantors. Notwith- standing these preeantions, irresponsible men frequently become bidders, having no design of performing the ser vice, but with the sole object of selling out their Failing to find a purchaser, they refuse to enter int the contract, and when inquiry is made into the suffi ciency of the guarantors, in order to institate an action against them, it is disec that they are pecuniarily worthless. On failures of this © contract is awarded to the next lowest bidder < he is not bound by his bid, after the acceptance of the lowest bid- der, it very frequently happens thet he dechavs its ac- ceptance, and the department is thas obliged to pay much more for the service than it coull have beon had for, or than it is really worth. Such instances occurred frequently at the last lettings, which have increased much the cost of the service. Some discretion ged in the Postmaster General to prevent dut in its absence, I have determined at the next lettings to designate certain Portunasters in each State in which a letting ix to be bad, who alone will be authorized to give the roquired certifies » The proper distribution of nail matter in a vast ax ours, with so many inail rontes and post offices, isa subject attended with « and to which the attention of suy predecesse quently been directed. Letters, instead of having o or atmost two, distributions, have been distributed four or five times before their arrival at the ‘lestined point. ‘The consequence bas been that the distribution and livery commissions have almost consumed the posiage; but the worst evil arising trom this practice lax been that great delays have been occasioned always been the subject ot just complaint bute mail matter properly Tr of mail arrangements, aud thi can have. If the postma buting post offices were peru distribution schemes, with tl knowledge, great mistal letter being mailed direct to the which it belongs, it would be male along the route until itreached tts prevent these delays, and st the sam myself of the lecal knowledge of te pro distributing post offices, T consed t er) and then to estimate and ion aifice tr rom point to point jestined point ‘fo Ne WO powers me the different schemes of distribution. Some of then | 1 found quite perfect, but the great majority o them were very defective, and my only sarpri has been that greater delays in the letters have not taken place. T am now by prepared distribution schemes for every distribniing office in the country, allotting to each proyer distr bution. When they are completed the postmaster at the maifing point can, by turning to his set looking to counties snd towns in each tate to the various distributing offices, he enabled to mail direct. The department will likewise lave the import- ant matter of distribution under its exclusive control, and when new mail arrangements are made, by railroad or otherwise, which would change the couise of distri- bution, the different offices can be instructed accowling ly. Much, however, remains to be done. Every distri bation causes delay, and this must necessarily tak place under our present system once or twice, which is one great cause of complaint that letters do not reach their point of destination as soon as passengers. Whew the letter is from one distrihativg otice to another the mailing is direct, and iv sent on its proper course there is ro good reason for any delay. ‘The mailing, indoed shonli he direet from every post oilice in the United f tates to another; bur this inder our prevent system 1 View as inpracticavie. With our existing regulations, which preserie Uiat every postmaster shalt mail direct to the p ace addre ait letters for hisowa State or Territory, aud all letters for post offices in other States Territories which should not pass throngh a distri buting office on their proper route to the office of delive ry, rigorously enforced. and the new schomes of distri. bution in operation at varfoua distributing post of- flees, I trustto be able to give to our maile greater y. speed ané regular ‘The Auditor re ment for, the Inst pensation to postmastery bxtra compentation act of March 3, 1851......... Ship, steamboat and way letters 51,707,708 29 to postinasters by the 4,799 97 19,549 67 ing the Bremen, Havre, and Havana mails acroed the [thmus of Pa Trankportation of the matis, includ wails to and th 5,401,082 50 40,469 85 and Clerks for offices (of postunasters), Official letters received by postmac Stamped ‘envelopes Postage stamps of old ~~ to Biter carriers Total . $8,577,424 12 ‘The gross revenue of the last iseal year, including foreign postages and the annual appropriations from the treasu ated by the acts of $d March, 1847, and 3d March, 1861, im compensation of ‘mail. services rendere’ to the government, amounted to $6,955,586 22, viz :—~ $3,277,110 50 . 21146,478 02 Newspapers and pamphlets, 608,148 18 Fines, other . 17 50 Emolument accounts of postmaster: + 81,952 46 Letter carriers, AHR 130,988 52 Recovered from failing contractors 400 60 Dead letter money unclaimed . 4,586 11 Miscellaneous receipts... or 3,166 93. $6,258,988 22 Annual appropriations above stated...... "700,000 00 po ais ++ ++ $6,955,586 22 The revenue, as above stated, includes the balance against the department of $138,545 61, rosulting from our postal account with Great Britain, Prussia and Bre- men for the last fiscal year. ‘The expenditures of the department for the past year, including payments for foreign postages, were, aga ay stated........$8,577,4%4 12 The revenue ot the year, including foreign postages and the’ appropriation for free matter, amounted to, Deficiene: ed the balances due and unpaid to the Lon- don and Bremen oflices up to the Ist July last, lesa the balances duc by the Prus- sian office up to the same period, viz. :-— Balances due the London office from April 1, 1853, to June 30, 1854. 1230,359 07 Balances due and unpaid to the Bremen oftice to the same po- riod. seats eores 13,485 40 5,124 aT pot Less balances due from the Prus- sian oftice Ist January 1853, to June 30, 1804,.,...........210,241 14 ———— 189,488 33 Total deficiency for 1854... 1,75: The deficiency for the year ending th, 1863, as stated in my report of last year, was.....82,117,073 20 In the year 1854 the deficiency, as stated | ADOVE, WAS... ceeeeee 1,755,321 23 Difference in favor of 1854.,........... 361,756 97 One of the results of the great activity and expansion which have prevailed in the genoral business operations of the country during the past year, is manifest in an ex- traordinary increase of the Post Office revenue; and that it may he seen in which branch this increase has mainly arisen, the revenue of the past and preceding year is here presented in a comparative statement from which the foreign postages are excluded:— Revenue of 1853. Revenue of 1854. B21 23 Letter postage.......se4...$2,843,965 42 $31,277,110 50 Stamps rold.. ‘i 1,629,2 23146,476 02 Newspapers and pamphlets ‘611; 606,148 18 Emolument} account of | Postmasters .. 38,986 01 81,052 46 | Received from lettercarriers 113,017 73 135,968 52 Miscellaneous receipts...... ( 7,930 54 Annual appropriations free matter. Total....ccccesserssses Deduct the balance in each year resulting from our postal accounts with Eng: land, Prussia and Bremen 94,406 27 Tota $5,346,258 43 $6,816,657 91 5,840,258 43 Total increase Of ISh4........ 624+ e204 2++.9970,399 43, ‘Or 18 85-100 per cent. | If from the letter postage and stamps sold ‘in each | year the foreign balances be deducted, there will appear an increase over 1853 of 20 67-100 per cent; while the reve - nue from newspapers and pamphiets in 1854 seems to have fallen off nearly one per cent. But the generel account of “stamps sold’? is necessa- rily so kept as toembrace not only the letter postage stampsand stamped envelopes, but also the one cent Vlue stamps, which are generally used to pre-pay tran- sient newspapers, printed circulars, and dropped letters: and occasionally upon domestic and foreign correspon dence. ‘Therefore, to arrive at a proper estimate of the reve nue from printed matter, it is its due proportion of the stwups per cent of the average amount of th in the last three years, to belong {o the revenue from printed matter, then the condition of the revenue deriy- ed from that branch in the last four years will be shown by the following statement :— Yeor end- Veor rad- Year end- Year ent ne ing June D, ing, Juve ing June sag Jove 0, USGS, ih bs 2 $606,148 1S |. It we admit 75 bine stamps, sold Revenue tated m, 1; S817 OaoO OL t 59 S960,0088 79 fixing the pre took on Totol As the act of th vent rates of the postage upon any newspaper or periodical is pail quarterly or yearly in advance,” one-half only of the | regular rates shall be cha In view of the trivial | increase of the postage printed matter, and of the { extremely low rates, particularly foi periodicals, i would recone p law be 80 far changed ax to omit the clause reicrred to, leaving the department to fall pon the act of 1825, which quarterly 3 in advance on nows) and periodicals have heretofore always been r The propriety of this recommend. not only for 2 sug 4 the following comparative statements of facts the act in operation prior und « postage, for insiance, om a w not over one b miles where pu i over one hunéred , oF out of the Slate where | lished, nineteen anda lali vents per quarter. By act of March 3, 1851, six different rates, according to i. Thas, ona weekly y miles, {iv s, ten cents: aver three thousand miles, n and not excveding two thonsana miles, over two, und exeseding four not exered one, iwenty-live cont four ty cents 3 qgnaiter; and week wubseribers in ihe. coni here published free. By this act the fe will be y any distance not over « 1 miles, reduced; but owing t veraity of ra ter too reat iner aw, by which newspaper or periodi in weight sent any dis tates, A On nd all cents, halt ounce in published, | , wing only three and weekly newspapers to sub- inty where published go free, I ean- om, that had it been clearly under. the quarterly rate on eal not exeeeding th a in the United > On newspapers not exceeding ove im th welght, when elreulat | the quarterly rate iv » and aquarter « | seribers in the newspayer or ounce, crenty t partment, will great In iny report of that the cormmiss.o eth section of the net to establish certain post approved 2d Mareh, 18° i several of the distributing off ; ry to their eflicient administration, « a state of things £0 injurious to the service, I then See ay chevite chee: {ve Postmaster General of the discretion given him by the (th section of the + to reduce and m@@ify ch of postage,”? approved Mureb 3, 1851, so that he mizht have it in hia power to ailow to the postmasters at such distributing offices te ni to defray expenses. year. athe 1 Yo pos tmaste Uevlar class of cases, not exceeding twenty in ow there were abundant reatons why a larger’ «lt should note diverted from the gen " artnent. Upon quently made, it was deemed ex ment of ti power above meationsd so lar only a embraces few separating offiews situated at point ting but a nominal ine Lroftl estinmbes we tor of the 1crease of expen necessary to | few distributing and keparating oftices which git, upon inve ation, appear to be justly entitled A irom the department, and the ¢ salon was that the whole amount could not exeved $45,000 seam. This onm would certainly have been stil seo ditional aid. Hut the vi ver all proper demands fora of the depariment did net the actot Jun 184, commissions, and raising the ag all the postmasters in the Unil $500,000 per aurnm, th of the department ic ount instead of $45,000, a« had been recommen penditures of de cur rent year for ‘ compensation to postmasters,”” * clerict jor offices,’ &e,, will be further increased by the opera- tion of the 4th and Sth sections of the act of 27th July 18h4, making tor the I service in the State of California and the Territories of Oregon and Washington, Ry the Sth section of the aet, the Post- easing the expenditure | $0,089,944 90 essary toaceord to it | 3 papers and | ! | all letters mated aia adebtedgens whatsoever.’’ The and present postmasters in Oali- nd the Territories of Oregon and Washington, subject to the operation of the fourth and fifth sections of the act just mentioned, amounted, on the 30th Ju 1854, to $164,144 41, of ich sum it is eatimated thas not leas than $50,000 must be cancelled under the pro- visiony of the fifth section, and carried into the gene- ral accounts of the department as expenditures for the current year. Tn addition to the burdens thrown upon the revenue of the department by the general increase of the com- pensation of postimasters, and the special legislation for those in California, Oregon and Washington Territories, the cost of transporting the maily will be tly in creased in the Fenent year by put operation, by the enhanced clown demanded in the very large section let to contract from the Ist July last, ant | by important improvements in the grades of service generally, Whist [shall take care that the expendituresef tho department are not unnecessarily increased, and that it shail draw from the general treasury onty'as much as ite absolute wants require, which, I fear, it must neces: sarily do for somo years under the present rates of postage, it would be neither wise nor ex deprive or keep from our people the mail facilities which they require. The principle adopted in the in- fancy of our republic, that the Post Office Department should sustain itself from its own revenues, was, in my opinion, most wise and salutary. A post: wi en laid sufficient to meet toe wants of the service, and under this system each citizen paid the expanses of the transportation of his own letters, and others were not tax have to be drawn from the general treasury to meet de- ficiencies in the Port Office revenues. Having thus brietly adverted to some of the causes of increase in the expenditures in the current year, I pro- ceed to show what those expeaditures will probably be, and what means the department will have to meet them. It is estimated that the expenditures for the year postages 1855, exclusive of payments for foreign accruing within the year will Le about $9,811,021 33, vin. — The rate of cost of transportation, eluding foreign mails, on 30th J 1854. was, te BB portation in 1854 add the increase in the current year which wit be occasioned by the enhanced prices of the new. eoutracts commonced st July last in the Northwestern, Western, and Southwestern States and Territories, including California and Oregon, by the extension and improve- ment of the service therein, and by im- provement in other sections, about... Total for transportation in 1855... For compensation to portwasters, cierks for offices, ship, steamboat, and way- letters, wrapping paper, advertising, of- fice furniture, mail bags, blanks, mail locks, keys and stamps, mail depreda- dations ‘and special agents, postage stamps and stamped envelopes, letter carriers and miscellancous payments... For balances due to foreign counyries up to June 30, 1854, which will be paid in ‘The balance stated by the Auditors as at the credit of the revenue account on the 30th of June last was,... oe From the above balance the follow! duetions should be made, viz. : Doubtful and unavailable ba- lances due by late poatmas- ters, originating prior to ede: Balances due from foreign post- ge accounts prior to June 0, 1854 ++183,48 Available for 1865 ‘The gross revenue o! ‘ 5 of balances resulting from the foreign postage accounts, is estimated at ‘The appropriation’ for free matter, leas $200,000 drawn in 1854.... 508,000 00 The appropriation to rupply in the year 1855 Estimated surplus June 90, 185 During the three July, 1851, and en t issued 166,126,417 stamped envelope Nth Jame, 1894, the de posta, atamps, and as radi the ort to his indisponsa oh a | trad tha Ist 0c! follow ing n only be | he instited revenne of the two lust fiscal years, t would faer through ¢ which the existing rates of post” nst offiera in age prevailed. This shows thatafter giving t and inspire confidence in carry & semi-monthly the liberal allowance t | s of transmitting leticrs | mail between New Yor! a Tor a sutn not ex stamps sold, the year iW), 1854, exeneds the | ing thiee huwire . or six bande previous year only 2 at. | thousand « service, which is now r In this act there is ha provides that when quired; and t n. ix the highest rate of pay attracted my attentio vject, atl now, th coustantl mal guards on be! tthe jew of the enorn nye th ys or depre In vi Du artment to gi n the mails, iitimate loa iven da ution ut another, ¢ "5 of bee valuable letters liability for ts livery or distri g to th letter o lire the jatinguivived other letters of or rate of poringe. is the address or description of any such letier entered on the postmaster's aecount of at, nor kept five from, seount kept by the poxt- aggregates of either colleeted or eb: fon, nor even that this i alopti ion for all valnab v* in short, de- ish imeans which Jerter from tb cing a mis peint of ite reception to that of its disappearance. To | carry this plan into ¢ t will be veqnirod that new d expensive blanks be prepared and distributed, and an increased clerical fores be employed in the prin 1 post offices, Lhave not, therwlore, felt at liberty opt it without th m of Concress, and author tovstabhich euch ity class of letters as may f registration vat Britain the ‘ ragistration fre’? on ina most foreign ertig) in ad y Tates oF postage, and tin expressly such registration shall not render the the post offies re: fany sne t each letter registered, anu to registered letters to be prepald ment to carry into etiect the plan here <ubmitted without prejudice to its reven Tt fa not propesed ta letters compulsory, nor t come Mable for each person w nary manner, oF quire the porta nid enable the depart ke the regs tering of valnabl ers when lost., but only to enable letter (0 do 99 in the ordi ing to ite seeurity by the fer, 6 donbl that the registration of valuable let proposed, would be highly 4 Inted as @ mewus « rity by the Ta sea of the cori munity, whoxe collections und exchanges are made prin cipally through the mails, and who have from time to payment of a small have I believe, too, that ald relieve this depart- ion of numerous loses not perty chargable upon it—eases in which valuable letters alleged to have been lort through the mails either pever ting new post routes in | dient to | for bis benelit, as they mnct be when sama | Charleston, if practicable, Savannah and $5,017,512 00 541,126 00 \ 1855, AMOUNLINY 10... ..ceceseeeeeeeee 193,483 33 $9,841,921 33 | ‘The means for the year 1856 will probably amount to | Ww $740,078 63 | » | and ti while neither ve | + | rive at the government shall be. | office, er have been stolen a: reget apy post tt] of their destina ion. * the cet ot the service for the last fis {ter arriving | 1 year on the incurred by them | several United States mail steamship lines, and across \eir respective offices and | the Isthmus of Panama, Is as follows: — duties; provided, that BO | New York to Liverpool, Collins line, twenty- by the Jnita States shall | “Ts sound tripe...» 9538,000 00 | New York, via Sow | — eleven round trips...... | New York, via Cowes, | round trips... nes eatess | New York and New Orieana’ to Aspinwall, twenty-four round trips, inneluding same | numberof trips between New York and 183,335 26 to Havre, eleven | | New Orleaus, via Havana. + 289,000 00 Astoria, via Ran Francisco, ama, | _wwonty-four reund trips. . ++ 348,250 00 Charleston, via Savannah and Key West, to Havana, twenty-four round trips ++ 90,000 00 } New Orleans to Vera Crus, twenty-fow | _ round trips, om 27,200 00 ing Tampice Aspinwall to Panama ... ‘Total ary 023,018 29 | _ By the act of Congress approved the 24 of March, | 1847, the President was authorized to contract for the | construction and equipment of four first class seagoing } steamships, to be attached to the fthe United | States. It was by the second section made the duty of the Seoretary of the Navy to accept on the part of the government of the United States the proposals of FP. K. Colling and his associates for the transportation ot the | ited States Mail between New York and Liverpool. The steamships to be employed were to be so constructed as to render them convertible at the least possible cost into war steamships of the first class. By the fourth | seetion of the same act it was likewise made the duty of the Secretary of the Navy to contract with A. G. Sloo | for the tranaportation of the mail from New York to New Orleans twice a mouth and back, touching at Havana, and 119,727 03 and back twice a month. The | from Havana to Chagres him to enter into a contract to | fifth section authorized carry the mail from Panama to Oregon once a mouth. | The sixth section made it the duty of the Secretary ot | the Navy to provide mn the contracts authorized by the | act that the Na department shall at all times exercise control over said steamships, and at any time have the rig ht to take them for the exclusive use and serviee of the United States, dne provision beipg made in the eon tracts for the mode of ascertaining the proper compen- ontractors therefor. On"the Ist of March, iary of the Navy entered into a con: EK. K: Collins and his associates. The ntract contains all the stipulations required by the act of Congress; the service to be performed was twice each month for eight months of the year, and once a month during the other four months. # sui tobe paid was three hundred and eighty-five wand dollars, or nineteen thousand two hundred and fifty dollars a trip, and the contract was to conti- | nus in joree for ten years fromthe date of the com- mencement of the servieo, A. G. Sloo was contracted with by the Secretary of the Navy on the 20th of April, 1847, to perform the service mentioned ia the fourth section. ‘The service was to be twice a month; the um to be paid two hundred and ninety thousand dollars,and the contract to continue in force for ten years from the commencement of the service. This contract likewise contains all the stipulations required by the act of Congress, and was assigned by A. G. Sloo to ¢ | Law, Marshall 0. Roberts and B. BR. Mellvain on the third of September, 1847. The contract to transport the mail from Panaina to Oregon was entered into with Ar- nold Marris on the 16th of November, 1847. The ser- vieo was to be once a month; the price to be paid was one hundred and ninety-nine thousand dollers, and the contract was to continue for ten years from the first of October, 1848. All the stipulations required by the act of Congress are contained in this contract also, | hich was assigned on the 19th of Novernber, 1847, to | William H. Aspinwall, On the 15th of March, 1851, ‘the Secretary of the Navy and Postmaster General, in pur- | suance of a law passed on the dd of March, 1891, enter. ed intoan additional contract with the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, acting by William H. Aspinwall, by which the service from Panama to California and Oreyon was increased to twice a month, at an increased price of one hundred and forty-nine thousand two hun dred and fifty dollars, making’the whole cost of the ser | while the number received by the Collins steamers, | most striking inequalit 3 = This representation, however, appears bave beep incorrect, as Mr, Lawrence, nor ol Mr. Bancroft, was subsequently assured that “Franc@ was the ready to negotiate #t once, waiving the privi legas of the convention which England set ap in her bee hall.” This goverument, deeming Greys bsg ite i sof the two cour partic- ularly on aceonnt of the exceptional clause referred to, and being desirous of consummating, without loo of time, the tripple arrangement contemplated by the twelfth article, commenced negotiations for that purposo immediately after the treaty was executed, which nego- tiations have been continued to tue present time—nearl six yeark—without any beneficinl result. The Britisl government has steadily declined to unite in effeeting. kuch acrongements as would “be most conducive to the ieee of the tree wntries,”” which arri might nave rendered the + » equal in its opera- tion; and the origin the ‘convention. #till remain unchanged. The more important parts of the vorrespondence which has passed the two governments on this subject is contained im Ex- eentive Document No. 32. published by order of the Senate at the second session of the Thirty second Con- revs. On the part of this government, it ‘s claimed that the British transit charge for the United States | and French correspondence, if sent in closed mailé through the United Kingdom, shall not execes twelve and a balt cents an ounce, that being the price paid b Great Britain for the transit of British closed mailt through the United States to and from the British | North American provinces. ‘The lowest offer of the ¥ ) government is that contained in Lord Palmers- ton’s note of the @th May, 1851, in reply to Mr. Law- rence's communication of 18th October preceding, of | one shilling (twenty-four eente) an ounce, a sum nearly or quite double that received by the United States for similar vervice. Under a partial arrangement con- Great Britain and France im May, 1851, the maile from Frane United States have been forwarded through agreeing to pay to % % transit postage of one shilling (twenty-four cents), and for the Atlantic sea conveyance one shilling eight peuce (forty cents) an onnee. Prior to that date, the Lritish office was charging and receiving the sea postage on all correspondence between the United States #nd France, via England, conveyed rosé the Atlantic by United States steame: as when conveyed by their own packets which was, that double sea postage having to be f expondence forwarded by United the great buls of the United State «, via England, was sent by the Cunard lin £. Sinee rial arrangement above referred to went into ope- on, no change has been made by Great\Britain for the aea postage of letters conveyed by American packet nier its operation, the single rate of portage be the United States and France. by United States packets, in six cents higher on each letter of the weight of one quarter ounce and under than by British packets; onseqnently, much the larger fart of the correspon- is still diverted to the British lines. For instance, ng the weight of the French mails received at New York by the Cunard packets to be the same with that received by these packets at Boston, and reckoning four Jetters to the ounce, the number of Freneh letters | brought by the Cunard !ine during the year was 237,579, "hen forming just half as many trips, wae 41,408—less | one-litth, The present treaty in other gives ap vantage to Great Britain, and tes to the ury of the United States. Ui its provi- sions, as will be seen by appendix A, an excess of at least $75,000 British postages has, during the last year, been collected by the United States for British office over and above the whole amount of United States stages collected by Great Britain. This large Ralance of British postages has been collected at an actual expense of about $61,000, in the shape of commissions to our postmasters; and this de- partment suffers also the additional loss by exchange, &e., necessary to place the money in possession of the British ofice in London, of not lene than $3,500. When it is considered that all this outlay is made on our part without receiving any equivalent jn return, one of the of the existing arrangement ix pointedly exhibited. No satisfactory progress has been mado since my last report toward efiecting a postal convention with France, “vie three hundret and forty-eight thousand two hun- dred and tifty “. The object of Congress in the pastage of thia act ! seems to have been to build up a naval i which might temporarily be employed fer commercial urposes. in order to enable private individuals to uildand equip these steamships in the mode pointed out by Congress, euros of movey were advanced to them, , and to sustain thern until wanted for government pur: poses large stim of money were paid them for conveying | the mails. If in the progress of time it is discovered that these steainships are not suited for naval purposes, | or that the large aid their owners for mail trans » | portation hav: hecking the energy and ent fongress, in | my opinion, is contracts, August 5, 1994, 44,464 00 | if it ean do so consi ly with th. By the | __—— | terms of the act, and of ihe contracts entered into be Total..... 989,64 Ub | tween the nay vent apd ta companies in pur- Estimated expan S4tjoat suance of the twill be stenthat Congress reserved to itself the r purchase the ste: nnexion beiw . t panies ax een paid for their ves. » appraisers, mutually chosen, 3 th suis fixed by € } and other | contiuue to be exre tructs are to he ranspoctation of the hh, wn) if continued, all te indivicuals uncon- High, how: o | nol by the aid of went, ‘no one can be paid after the ex- Ir the present con chase thei . eowiil be for pat prices, n ter all the 1 passenger tion of the a fair ren and the mt will then service which it ves Let which ought to rervice, incl Isthmus tran 03, semi-monthiy id for the i to twenty-six, and eon theusand two hundred pusomd dollors @ trip, making lred and fifty- yy. to thirty {*the yearly cost of t | eight thousand dolla | compensation « | Congress to | time after ¢ ay have present rate not to be p m Liverpool and the Un » goverament pay the Ounard line the of ove hundred and seventy-three thousand three paved mo For ve weekly service, the seven steamships ¢ the line running alteenately betw oland New York and Liverpool and Ho: nihousand six hundred and true there is 2 diflerence In the’ ton- rd lines, and that the Ameri- ir voyages ina shorter time: but speed of the two lines any valid reason why n the prices paid re shoud beso the two governn The steamehips Hum bol 4 Franklin, of th and Havre line, have both boon wreeked during the er was lust fa the month of December, the latter July, 1854, in er pa since beon conveyed, accord hips, and thus | ‘ ry thing has heen dene which the faith of ¢! nation. ‘| requires | {cis of course of great importance to the commercial terest he mails should nor haw the contemplated arrangement with Belgium been yet consummate: Some steps have heen taken with reference toa postal convention with Mexico. A mutual exchange of dead letiers has already been agreed upon, and carried into effect: and I now await a 1 rojeet, which Mexico is te pro pose, for a more perfect arrangement, by which it is ex- pected the rates of postage between the two countries will be materially reduced. Under our postal convention with Great Rrita‘o, the Philadetyhia Post Office, with the concurrence ef that government, has been constitated an office of exchange for United States and British mails. The articles of agreement on this subject are hereto annexed. | regret to state that my proposition for the reduction of pam- | phict and magazine postage between the two countries to one cent an ounce on either side has been poritively declined by the British Post Department. The combined present altogether too high, being eight cents for all works of this kind above the weight of two ounces. | In the month of March Jast an arrangement was made | with the proprietors of the: Australia Pioneer Line of monibly packets to convey mails regularly between New | York Port Philip, Australia, at two cents a letter, | one-half cent*per newspaper, and one-quarter cent an ¢ for pamphlets and inagazines; and, with the view ens the cheapest practic th that country, I have fixed matter by that line af tive cents a leticr, two cents each for newspapers, and one nice or fgaction of an ounce for pamphiets and pre-payment required, These rates embrace hoth the United states inland and sea postage. As the United States postage cannot be prepaid on incoming letters by this tine, t re treated us ordinary ship letters. Similar arm nerds have Leen made during the year with the proy ms of the steamers Black Warrior and Cahawba to ouvey tnals semi-monthbly be- tween New York and Havana, and New Orleans and er; and alsd with the pro “is to convey mails once in York anil Nassau, New ff Havana, at the same every Iwenty Providence rive of e¢ ation. Py these ogreements an important point has heen gained in sustaining the department in tho efiorts which should be made in all future arrangements to keep the covt of the ocean service, if possible, within ‘ts re- ceipts To the appendix (marked | attention and that of Cone: Te exhibits full statint information on the subject of the foreign mails; embracing the amount of postager, inland, and foreign, on mailable matter received and sent by the different mail steamship lines doving the the amounts of letter postages on Britieh, Prus- B and Havre mails; ai partion thereof col- Great Britain, Prassia and nd the amounts of unpaid aad \ sent by each of the lines of » and net revenues received by ‘el of the transatlantic mail lines are shown, and also the revenue derived from the cor- ewith Great Botain, Prussia, and Bremen, respectively, 0 the visting postal arrangements | with thore hineluding and excluding the United State . It also shows the number yers exchanged during the year between the United states and Great Britain im British mails, between the United Stutes and Bremen in Bremen. mails, and between the United States and the Kingdom of Prussia in closed wails; the number of letters (in ounces,) received aud sent in closed mails under each of our closed mail arrangements, and the number of letters and newspapers conveyed by the several home lines of veean steamers, Other valuable statisties connected with the foreign mail servi Ise fully staio?, The siactene will be duly on of Cdngress. These tines ov ending the 80th June, 1854, ihe amount for the previous The increased amount hay been rigorous exaction than hereto. ctive service, The aggregate Juctlons for tie last year Las thug n way of turning by | A,) Linvite your pay.icular Tesbs deductions for ths amount to $110,486 69. year war $37,920 31, wainly caused by a m: fore of forfettnres for amount of fines and y increa: 1. pleased to say that the introduction into the post offices of a better system of responsibility for mail has resulted in checking the waste of this species property. ‘The consequence haw @ decrease twenty per contin the number of letter mail bags pros eured during the year ending £0th of June last, as com pare! with the preceding year; though the ordi ine a crease in the transportation of letters has requ’ 4 greater number of bags than were actually uy My assistants and chief and other clerks have taithe fully ationded to all their doties during the past year. JAMES CAMPHELL, Je the President, Drsssren 1% CanaDa—About the tr. Jean Rancour, & tradesman of cireumstances, embarked with LAMy TANT. end of Octoly family by way of Havans. On pany ate permitted to on amers, and thisex- n of their supplying oy Santa Barbara, q | Sat Lnis Obispo, ¢ Sen Pedro, semi | monthly hy « coast stenimer from San Franciseo, in due connection wit ( }. of pay. ? Uirongh route, without change | progress ha Ye since my last annual re- Hons with Gri Britain re- | a8 contemy | our postal conve rate of posta, upon letters ar 4 h Post Office agdom from the States packets, xh the United States to colo: United Kingdom, or of the nign countrien—and ‘vice versa— 1s tberaie which is now, or which by the Aritieh Post Office npon 407 ponses oetod a | countric a" at departure, ets convey ~ between the United Kingdom and the United . Ry this article « alinilar lege is anenred to Great Britain in reap Kingeom, te be otters to and f the United Twa ed through the United States, But it nd newspapers passing throogh the United | Kingdom “to and from France,” are expressly excepted from the stipulations of said article, The two'eontract- | ng parties, however, agreed To invite Pre nter fate commeantes without } mn order to ©! the conve ' uh the berritorie United kin Stat and of Fr: otiy os tho interoits of the thres count: ‘The clause above referred to, exe respondeace between tne United States a the advantages of ti viing the eor- wl Franee from convention, was strongly objected to by Mr. Bancroft, who negotiated the treaty on our part, and be was induced finally toconsent to it, only on cing assured by. the British goveroment that “the treaty stipulations between England an) France ren- dered its insertion necessary, aa without it the latter pewer wowdd have javt couse of complaint against the | Michi to Vsconmins, below the Saguenay, where be had « His family consisted of his wife. teen, and two sons a irteen and ; possessed four houses in St. Roch. Tough weather came on soon after their departure, and he frail ves was very near foundering off Goose slaml, However, on the 24 November, the vessel being gre by & strung ¢ asterly wind, ¢ Nohiness of cargo prevented ber from sinking. Their sufferings from coll—being in wat waist— may be imagined, but cannot We deserted Th driited into Tacousac bay, within a few shore, and not a soul in ‘view to assist them. In thie critical situation a young man named St, Michael threw: achest of drawers overboard, and, clinging to it. reached shore, in such an exhausted state that he lay down senseless for some time, One of the cons at- tempted to land by the same means, but periehed. St. e's faithful dog at length brought some of the in. habitants te the spol where his master ner selene, ‘They gave him every necessary attention, Rancour family succumbed from cold and exhaustion, and soom after their bodies were washed ashore, bodies were brought up to St. Roch, and om Sunday last the five cofiins presented a melunehol were conveyed to their final vadra pate ther ae Usual -ervion.—Quelec Meroury, Now. 28. filled with water; bat TrowsLe IN Cneren.—In Police Cow terday, Mr. Abel Pulhan oo Bg ha muro charce ot aveaulting the Rev. faaae J. Wet! Charlestown, in the porch of the North Bonnett atroet church, with a cane, 'y morning. The testimo- . Weberbee was an occasional > thet eighteen months ago he rages ogainat the regular. Pavid T Gellen, that he Tubsequently withnren tex that thie led to a controversy, and Mr, Falbam, who is pew owner, vignified his intention to society. He advertised his pews tip taba et ine advertisement within the cbarch instead of in Mr, Wetherbee, thinking that Mr. Fulham bad nO th to place lis advertisement in the body of the church, toe moved it, Mr. Fulham met him om morning iq the lobby, questioned him about the matter, a senflig Gusned, and Mr. Wetherbee's hat was knockod att by Mr Fulham's cane. This constituted a technical asawult, and Mr. Fulharo was bold in the eum of $100 for trial the January term of the vie sler, Dee. 6 et Monlelpal QuurtaniBectow Comp rrr eeses—i—‘itits~S