The New York Herald Newspaper, December 19, 1858, Page 2

OUR POSTAL AFFAIRS. Annual Report of the Postmaster General. Post Ornck Devantsterr, Dec. 4, 1868. To Te PReapest OF tue Unrre Stat — Sm—I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations avd business of the Post Ofice Department since my communication to you of 1st of December last. EXPRESS MAIL AORNTS. In my last annual report allusion was made to improve ments which were expected to result from the employ- ment of express agents to accompany mails on the great routes from New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, west. ward, ‘Such service has now been in operation long enough to demonstrate that its importance was not over-estimated. Ageuts start with the great mails morning and evening from New York for the West—the latter going through without change wo Cincinnati, the formor to Cleveland— aud being held to strict accountability for all mail bags placed under their charge. Similar agencies are established between Cincinnati and Bt. Louis; and those between Baltimore and Cincinnati and Philadelphia and Cincinnati, referred to last year, have continued in successful operation. The latter route is just changed so as to make Chicago, instead ‘of Cwueinbati, a terminus; and the express mails will be conveyed through in about thirty six hours between Phila- eiphia and Chic The Cincianati mails for the Phila- delphia route will be in charge of the New York express agents between Crestline and Cincinnati. The advantages of keeping mails ander the constant supervision of the agents of this department, for the jougest distances practicable to be run, are 0 apparent that some of the usual shorter routes for agents in ditfe rent sections have been consolidate, and further changes ot this gort will be made from time t time, as far as con stent with the proper assortment of mails for way offices; whale it may aiso be found necessary to iucrease the num ber of express routes for delivering closed bags, without reference to the exchange of tails between the smaller oflices. The pumber of such bags, already very great, must be multiplied more and more, iu order to avoid the delays in cident to distribution on he way between remote points; avd nothing short of the undivided attention of agents directly respousible to this department can iusare for them: such regularity aud safely as the | pebte have the right to ‘expect. The govern meut, having by law the monopoly of the mail service, should spare no efforts or expense to place it above the r 1 which has attached to it of being be: hind indivi¢ ntorprise ag to certainty and speed, and less adapted t wants of tra ‘ommerce in their widely extended ratnitications, whieh cau only be satisted om bu with & mail sy appliances to make it perfect, Le effective to that end NEW YORK 2°D NEW ORLEANS KOUTR. li possiole clements aud ar as human ageucy ean On the Ist day of July last an arr took effect by which mails were to be conveye ea Washington a New Orleans in four a y way of iuech Virgin e, Chat Junction, with the all by railroad, ot ‘ninety miles” in unfinished portions of Ub Railroad, which is supplied jar as the time is concerned comi: ew | Orteans to Washingtou,) the wi has ately Deen performed with but few interruptions, althoagh in the beguaieg there were some unexpected difficult conuected wih the stage portion of the route. Going soul, the scheduic contemplated the rannving of cars by pelt from Canton to New Orleans, but the early appear ence of the yellow fever, as aa epidemic, and its great virulence, interposed a serious obstacle in the way ot this e, the railroad company considering it ruinous to interests to approach the tafected district, except ng the day tine. ‘The mails were thus necessarily yet over night (twelve honrs) at Canton, and deli m New Orieans twelve hours bebind the stipulated . AseY have, however, been given that such celay shall po longer continue, and it is not doubted that the contract schedule will soun be fully complicd with, insuring the delivery of mails from Wastiagtou at New Orleans within four and a half days. The parties to the foregoing arraugement have farther stipulated that from abd after Ist July next the ime shal! be reduced twenty-four hours, makitig the communication between Washington and New Orleans in three days ant & half, or between New York and New Orleaus within four days ‘The mail service in geveral betweea New York and New Orleans, during the past year, bas becn rather more exempt from the delays Jarities by whict it has vsually been cha vd daring aud direct next year by the completion of a contiuno tuilroad connection through Virginia, Tenueesee, and Mis sissippi; that is, via Gordonsville (instead of Riehinond) to Lynchburg; thence to Knoxv an’ direct (© Chattanooga, (omi'ting Dalton, wor to G Junction, and over the Mississippi Central and New Or leans, Jackson apd Great Northern r I last year referred to rout tablished and advertised by this departinent, from Cod , Florida, to » Orieans, and from Fernandina, Florida, to New York, in steamers, as being « in connection with # railroad in course o! ross the peninsula of Florida, from Fi Key, to constitute @ new route from Orieaus, with & view to the speedier aud more transmission of the great Northern and Southern tails. T communicated proposals whieh bad -by received to. ¥ mails between New York and New Orleans in five days, coupled with the condition that no pay mandea for any trip vot performed within that t calied attention to the subject as one of vast p est. My views of this new route remain une owing to the unfinished condition of the raitr the large expenditure of mon: bas been made in th ST. LOUIS AND NEW ORLEANS Matt The hope was indulged last year that before this time raitroad connections would be so nearly completed that the great through mails between Cairo and New Ork would be conveyed much more expeditiously and r larly than can be done, in the nature of things, b boats This improvement has not yet been effected, but mation bas been received within a fow days wh dere it certain (hat the railroad communication will be opened before the end of this ye Anticipating this state of tu lettings of conte: the M as follows — From St. Louis, , ae weil tavolved, uo progress ¢ Negotiations ot tbe subject. ‘tment, at the sippi river route via Cairo, to phis, three Cairo, to Memphis, thre on witernate days, a Six trip@ weekly cach way betwyen Cairo and Mow, Fronr Memphis to New Orleaas six tm ope additional weekly trip between Mempli s Jeon, and four additional Weekly trips between St Fran csville und New Orleans tun The eort of the mail service by there rontes bewween Cairo and New OGricans is $462,018 avoum, which amount, compared with the of the @teamboat service in operation ap to 30th Jane lant between the Paine points ($432,435), shows a saving of $100,856 per annum: aud it ie peculiarly gratifying, in view of the great redaction of cost, to stale, as Tam Died t that the new serview is je all reepouts more ea tisteetory than the olf. Tt is performe! wiih the utinost posible regniartty, snd affords every fac uty that can be reasonably expected by the people whe are directly inte rested i the Missiexipp! river ma ‘The shortert time vy the river betw Cairo and New ‘Orleans bas been tour The agticpaied railroad service, via ma and Geand Junction, Tetnesere, aod Canton, Mis probably be med in two cays each way, a $122,425 per simum. Thier sum, a the rivet malls under the new contra 18), makes for bo yer annum, leaving over the cost of the r OVERLAND MAN 1 the last sem id bad been ta y E1eHS, approved Sa of March master Geuers! t tract f ure letter mal between th Peo mt ably to the oncinsive and Uiumph * arrival were anvounoed © Mmenairations of joy nat ex tof Mr. Sader, the natrvetive and carious | ' to know by wildernets was fest y United Mates, end the tw opgert afd tone 0 any country portant TRNPANTEP ES By ap act of Congress of Ma: tabiebed from tepee, to Ran Fras regular lettings bede Were rece In December, 18 1854, @ route wae ex * Orleans, by thmue of Teluan It ‘War advertised for the next miracts in the spring of 1856, but no te was re-atvertised and that was for semi It not having ned by the bidders iF Ferviee, been accepted negutiots with the department, which resulted in making @ con tract on June 8, 1658, with Louisiana Tehuantepec Company on the following terms, viz-— To convey mail from New urleans, by Minatitlan, Suchil, Ventose and Acapulco, to Sau Francisou, twice a month, abd beck, in safe and substantial steamers be incen New Orleans and Mioatitian, in cafe and rubstantial river gteamerr between Minatitian an! Seebi), and in post coaches of goud covered pring wagons between Suchil and the Preifie; the residue of the re ‘San Franciaco fm tteaunere, the pay to be at the rate of $286,000 per an wum, with the understanding that the mails may be ex anged with the line between Panama and San Mrancisea, or near Acapuleo, without chanye of pay; and with the further understanding that the maii*e may be exchanged with the aforesaid line at Ventowa, or ower port within a short distaner of that place, at the anuual compensation of $250,000. Service to Commence at any time between the first day of October and the firet day of November, 1868, n the thirticth day of September, 1859. formed in Gitecn lays sally commenced on the 2th of October, pices which, it is believed; promise com Besides being an additional channel of communication With California. whieh may tend to bring about competi- of contracts for the whole mail ser os pewans. thie roate affords to certain rections of the Union the Advanta six days clower copnectien @ ith Calforna than hut heretofore been enjoy As far borth or cast as New York, it bes the advantage ome day ; and in cares of emergency, Ly using the tele that city equally with New Orleans, may commu- ie cost six days after the departure en rioate with the P of the Panama bine dhe Cou AO Wa dy a Pudeunuss of suggestions ia the fol letters, addressed to the Hon. WilKam H. English on the 24th and 25th of May last, in response to inquiries made on the subject: — Pong Orrice Drvanranr Wasuixctos, May 24, igss. Sim—In reply to your cammauteation of the fnstent, T Rave the honor to state that no contract has been entered into with any party or parties to carry the California mails by the | Tehuantepec route, Applications tor such & contract having been repentediy made verbally, and perhaps in writing, the | departneut advertised for pro} ‘which may be seen in he printed poumphlet of proposals for Louisiana, page SL. | “Having advertised for proposals on this line, and received | one of more bids on it, the department, after taking suitable time for deliberation, has come to the conciusion to establish mail service thereon from New Orleana, via Tehusate] gtd | Acapuleo, provided a satistactory contract can be wants tor that purpose... The service is not proposed to be put on further than to Acapulco, because the present line of steamers from ame to ever, proposed to make the first contract for ‘a longer period than one ‘year from the Ist of October next, ao that this con- tract aud de one from New York to Aspinwall may expire a the same time. In the course of this year the Tebuantepec route may have been fully tested, and it8 ca- abIRy to furuiah the shortest, cheapest and safest mall route fo California fully demonstrated. ‘The Department, by simul taneous expiration of the contrasts on these two rotites, will be enabled to determine which one ‘or whether to keep uy both, neccmmodating the malf and the passengers from ‘ew Yon jew Orleans reapectively, but paying each ac contingto the amount of mail service rendered. respondence from the Atlantic side will be received near! week later than at present, and from California to the Atlantic States in like proporiion. “Yhat is to way, that whilst letters sentfrom Boston and New York to California by Panam: would reach Acapulco about — days after they had been wr ten. others sent from New Orleans, via Tehuantepec, to Ac uleo, would reach there in about — days—thua practically: rnishing nearly a weekly mati, instead of a semimoniniy ‘communication As at present, The terms ot the contract are not yet definitely settled, and therefore capnot be set forth; but the department does not auli- | cipate much dificulty in being able to obtain the service on Tensonable and satisfactory terms. The suthority of this department to make aueb a contract may be found in theeerond section of the act of March &, 1851, which ‘he Pestmaster Geueral considers ausple and undoubted, Serious double bare been expressed as to whether the road has been yet or will be made in tine suiicient for the perform- *uce of the covtempilated service, ‘The department, however, will take care in malaog any contract to provide that where there ia no service there shall he no pay, und that no fines or forfeitures rball be reautted for failures arising (rom want of A suitable road, or from obetacies presented by the insuilicien- cy of the river navigation, or of tbe bave at either terminus of the transit. If, therefore, the river, bay or road sball not be uiticient, the ‘contractors, not the ‘government, will be the lamers by it The Tehuantepec route has long been a favorite one with the government and people of the United States. No opporty::\'y bas been lost in endeavoriog Uy secure it, Having at last «= cnred it by the terms of the Grdsden treaty, and areason ole Probability How existit: that the route has’ been, or will io a short time be, placed tt. a condition to receive the service, the | department sees no good reason why it shyuld not cater on the jayment Of those advantages so earnestly desired and 80 log anticipated by the people and government of the United State. Tu proposing to make this contract, he Postmaster Gener id to decide @ny controversy which now exists or safler arige between rival claimants under the grants re of the Mexican government. Who are the (rue own 1 10 make the road is lett to the proper tribunals artment that parties of undoubted to be in possession of the road, lawful owners of it, Bave proposed to perform ¢ If'in this there shall be any mistake, the hthe parties will terminate with their loss of the Ad. and the department be as ready to contract with the suc cessful claimants as with the present ones, In any point of view it would soem to be the interest of the true owner of this right, whoever he may be, that this contract should be made, J matertally aid in the early completion of the road, and ish the assurance that atter tae United States shall ‘have econ itin the transmission of her mails. no wanton or V revocation of the right would be tolerated, * Department, ip arising at the conelsion that the time when the mail secvice of the United States ought to pon this new aud additional ronte, has not been in fuenced in the slightest degree by mere geographical partiall ties Kightly conpidered, there are no rival and separate inte- is the North or Nortleastto be projudiced'by the establish ment of this ronte Tf it be shorter, aafer and more « xpeditious than other routes, itean and will be adopted by the people of that portion of the United Stetes, both for portal and travelling purposes. as free ly and tully as by those of the West or Southwest Ifit pre- {ho such srikirg advantsges, then more southern transits, suck os Panama, Chiriqui and Nicaragua will continue to be used ty all the Northern or Nortueastera portion of the Union, webilet fhist of Ty pee would probably be used by the peo: ple of the Western or Sonchweatech States, whoss geograpica! Sonitions rer der itto them the most desirable tramsie “ain very sespecttully, your obedient servant AARON V. BROWN, Hon, Wiuztas H. Exutisit, Chatrman Comuniiiee Post Oftices and Post toads, Post Crrice, Dirantwent, May 25, 1858, £in—in nddition to what was submitted to you on yesterday iu faver of now establishing the Tebuantenec route to Califor nis, 1 Ley leave tasay that, in one point of view, the whole na- Uc ae» whit may become deeply interested iu the successful vetabtishmast of this route. nlepec ie nearer to us, and Mes within the Gulf of Meaico, whichis destined to be hereatter an Aimerican sea, cover the whole of which the United States must exercise, from rrulieg motives, « ditinet and masterly control. Tt is, thai transit across Tehuantepec ia 4 aud would be more easily and certainly pro ints the hands of ap enemy than any uiore iston to establish this additional mail permitind conagterations of the oiber lines to deter Thoe who embarked their means in the cor aud to be th ¢ Par ama ro A Unat the: antages of the Chiriqui tran priority which deep and tranquil psconferred upon it, They knew, also, that * ti) ageinet them a most formi- mharked in any of these Central uut Tebadutepec, by its contiguity. ited States on hoth oveans, and its p, must, in some future day, become an st to the American people, All this srefore, be proaumed to rely for suc {meDt oD no implied obligation on the part of the vor the construction of any other passway mus which time and future discovery might show to be mor nvepient and usetnl, ‘Those who have embarked their means in the construction of this road over Tehnantepee have had to encounter the uh esoblishmnent of many overland ro fornis, which must necessarily be move or less detwimental te ibeir interest, Monopoiles on none of these transit routes, citer across the Isthmus or on the main land, ought ve encouraged oreven to 1. The United States dave never sought (0 make them suck. Ip every right of tran sit which they bave either sought or obtained they desired 1 exclusive privileges for themselves. They bave always regard ni the Fabt of Way over that marrow atrip of country which pniteathe two American continents a8 a great public neces and whieh must, therefore, be enjoyed by all the ete ermmercial nations of the earth” Ttmna he on te Reoesalty that « Iarge portion of the world is compeliat to have transi over #!] these rontes, that individuals who embark their moans in their construction must rely for the success of their invest. ment. Fortunstely for them, there is more danger that, all. there will be too few, instend of tow many, of these grew tthe we of mak: The two Ameri themselves out in so longa line north at sonth that they intercept the commerce the travel und the correspondence of more han half Uke habitable glebe. sail bins given way to the stean vessel expediuon demands tbe direst shortest possivle time. The unttersa) temper of the eee when ablishes ths ow Orleans hy Tebaan® Dalifoenta. The passen the Southern and Southwestern Stutas, whe desire t) go i whe nlutornis, Wi rhe require go. un ited miles in the ai start for 6 nt, going t own natural emporiana, N ont direct and make the in nearly half with half the expense now required So of all correspoadence to 494 from the same rexion Of coustry. . ‘This zpme of ny reosone and views became 0 connennichee otmy scowl, In tie early wart at this leuer, Goat, alihough I had pot clowed the contract, yet I Rad concluded to do #9, an’! that nothing remuined but “the adjustment of the terms oi tt With Tule npology for the length of this communication Tre mado your obedient servant AARON V. BROWN Hou We vawhl, Bsus, Chairmen Committee Post Oiices Tort Rowts. Cran ROwTR, ‘The routes between St, Joseph, Missouri, and Salt Lake City, and between Salt Lake and Placerville, Calitornia, | have been go tinproved that the tripe though from St. Jo seph to PI | in thirty-elgbt day For some months with remarkal commencat op ne | of postages, ia the warm joostrations of a It har rece | ext applause, « moet crthur/nst 1 from the poo led forthe p character. ree of August 3, 1834, am: freta ip There December last. at the urgent £0 nterertet ia that rection of country . a ratte were 1 tate with the jowest eying mails & aqierque, kK, at $17 ant from Indepeudence, hy perq pouth, at $80,006 per annno Bers we Commenced on tic Tet of Oct.ve + and, al als 1 time hae net 19 allow of reports ae toits progress, there is ever that ul de will be fulfitied, ax yed to th peab tion of the departmet TP EXPENSES OF THR DRFATMEST coe of the department, over aud above ite re ave regularly increased ever since th. reluc'uoa It would, however, be sly out to RPO upon the Treasury is to progress ina ra to what it has been for the last few postal system is extended ever th | Whole try fre to the other. can be but Ntthe for ing from_ o d the other Pacific Stat Ex te, commonly e route, from St. Paal, in Minne to Sea in Territory, no other is now thought of as being likely to beeome necereary. The estimate for the trans portation of the mails for ‘the next fiscal year, 1859-'60, when completed, over and shove the anticipated reve hues, mey therefore be regarded as the maximam which will probably be required for some time to come, if, however, Congress in is wisdom shail not be willing to sco aveb an amount ma ble to the Treasury in future, the following #1 tw the means of keep: the expinees within t anes of th pectfully submit with f Congress should be parce d explanatory of the ch 8, 1846, which meskes it “the duty of the tiuster General, in all future lettings of contracts for the transportation | of iis, to let the same, in every cure, to the lowest er tendering suificrent poarantees for faithful performance, without other rofe renee to the Ls necessary to prov security of such trans mere ‘mphatic, it ehould prov Fostinaster General shall net inany cate whatever accept a bid for tail eer vice hav ence to the conveyance of pascengers ur freigh kind other than regular mail tof sveb legislation would be to substitute stages with two horses on routes where four-horse coaches are now employ ed, while stages in their turn would gi place to the buggy, and, indeed, oftentines to horseback conveyance. In the few eases where four-horse vehicles aid be necess account of the large amount of mail matter, the difference hetween the cost of passenger coaches and the plainer and cheaper wagon, sui for convey ing the mails, would be very inconsiderabie, and ep, also, 8 proportionate saving woul! result in the case of stoge nged to a plainer and cheaper conveyance: If the whole transportation of the mails wore thos ar. ronged, by means of what are commonly called and known a8 ‘Star bide,” it would accomplish @ reduction in the transportation account of probably one million of dol lars per annutn The entire discoptinuance of four-horse and two horse mail coaches wonld not necesearily follow: for wherevor the number of passengers would make it profitable, con. Wactore would pul @wploy goush Reryive, Wheaever the Eee Francisco alwaystouch at Acapulco, andcan take on the New Orleans mail and passengers. It is not, how. | the practicability of | Its alleged that by starting this line from New Orleans cor. | one travel on apy route offers no such inducement, there ex- ists no obligation on the part of government to pay an extra sum for mail service, in order to promote con- venience of travellers. ‘The rapid extension of railroats has contributed most largely to swell the expenditures of the department. Wherever a new road is opened it becomes nesessary to convey mails on it, and almost invariably ata rate of pay for above that on coach routes, while, in many instances, the latter must be continued or oiler Service provided for the offices which are not reached by the railroad, tuus doubling the expense. As an example, it may be stated that the railroad service between Cuinberland, Maryland, aud Wheeling, Virginia, including route agents aad mail messengers, now | COR cs icduserss veces $44,095 per annum. Service is algo necessery on the old stage route at....... Eien 5,900 per annum. $50,895 per annum. ple ighcet pay for conveying the throvgh mai! on thie route was,.... 27,600 per annum. Increase .. «$23,295 per annum | —Or nearly 100 per cent. But if it be desired to relieve the Treasury from the requisitions upon it for the service of this department, | it will be necessary not only to reduce expenses by ciseonnecting the’ mails from the transportation of | passengers and freight, but to increase the reve- nue by the imposition of rates of tage approachiag more pearly the value or cost of transportation and delivery letters and printed matter. A move in this direction was made at the lust session of Congress by the introduction ef a bill in the Senate having for its chief objects the raising of the three-ceut rate upon let- ters to five cents, and the abolition of the discount now allowed by law for the payment of newspaper and pamphlet postage quarterly or yearly in advance. It is believed that the effect of this bill would be to raise the revenue from post about $3 500,000, without taking: nto view the provision it contains in relation to the trans- mission of public documents. The immense masses of heavy books and documents sent through the mails to «!! parts of the country devolve a very considerable expense upon the department for larger moans of transportation than would be required for the ordinary mails. This ex pense, itis true, is compensated, in part, by the annual apy ro] riation of $700,000 from the Treasury by the acts of Mav 1847, and March 3, 1851; but this atlowance is not believed to be one half of what such matter would amount to if charged with postage. The discontinusace or modification of the franking privi- lege having been suggested by several of my pre ove fors a8 a means of increasing the revenue, I shall not how notice the subject further than to present for conside- ration such & modification of it as it appears to me can be readily adopted without subjecting members of Congress to the charge of postage on their personal or official cor respondence. Itis proposed that in lieu of the franking privilege now allowed by law to members of Congress, porta ware | of the Senate aud the Clerk ofthe House, or such othe c - 8 transmitted by them in the mails, aud keep an account of the stamps fur nished to each member, to be paid for out of the contin = fund of each Hor It ts further proposed that all etters and packets, except newspapers addressed to mem- bers of Congress, shall be propaid at the mailing offic In this way the departinent would be compensated for the service rendered without a resort to the inconvenience of keeping daily minute accounts of the postage chargeable on such mail matter. It is evident, on the slightest reflection, that the whole theory on which the Post Office Department was originally founded bas been in @ great measure departed from, Its kreat function, for many years, Was the transmission of mail inatter proper, such as lettors, newspapers and light pamphlets, from oue part of the country to avother. The icea of the government becoming « common carrier of persons and merchandise was never entertaiued. But what ia the transmission of the immense mass of book matter, amounting a ly to hundreds of tons, but mer- chandise, whether om private book establishments or from the two houses of Congress? In a single instance the transmission of the books, &¢., of one member (trom Utah) has cost the department between six and seven thousand doliars. Why cannot these be forwarded under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate and Cierk of the House, either by the ordinary modes of con- veyance or by the application of postage stamps, as on other mail matter? Another conside forcibly presses itself on the mind in relation to this department. Many ocean steam lWues have been tablished, not realiy to meet the postal wants of the country, but to give mid aud assistance to our growing and expanding commerce. The department could have no re- turns in postages that would at all compensa for their expensiveness; still, as it was of the first importance to cotumerce and agriculture to have such lines, the duty of establishing them, it was thought, had as ‘well be de. volved upon the Vost Office Department as on any ot ‘The great necessity and propriety of establishing co necuon with our distant posse: ile, both by sea and land, was universally acknowledged. The route by Vagama has never repaid in postagery alt ite pense; yet the nation bas becu, inher trade and © merece erated a thousand’ fold. So of the g1 overla ain one of which has been estab- lish * enactment of Congress, None of the latter cao ever make postal returns at all pro. portionate to. their cost; but through their agency pearly one-alf of our republic will be developed in it® agricultural and mineral resources. Other references might’ be made rly — showing that the Post Oilice has of bite years been made th instrument of accomplishing many things of great na- Hioba. importance net within its original scope and pu pose of unerely sending lotter? aud news pap | piace to another, Wis not fa, theref jiness by the mere receipt of postax: in that in accomplishing gr mmerce, to the settlement and security of the coun it has brought some charge ou the Treasury beyoud ‘outributions. The other departments subsist wholly on the Treasury, briuging no returns whatever into it. Why then should it be thought strange that the Post Office | Department, wien charged with opening bew sources of © to the Merebunts, NeW Markets for our age 48, and placing ¢ direct and judependent come ith the other na tions of the ), should not be able to accomplish these sults upon'a three cent postage on letters, aud oa < matter almost no postage at ail? exact principle of jastice on this whole subject I conceive to be that in ¢ fing ite ordinary bust transmitting © *, t should be thrown on jts own Fy er any sory fea or on the land, is required of it, mainly, if not sively for euch as the extens.on of our spread of our population anil the devel anious resources Of our country —tle ht wo be borne by th These national purposes, Ls the action of the y wstional” objec . Sboald ther superaides posta © aijusted for ¥ Tt isin the light of t of this department ou rm) is no longer @ machine composed of trausm «sion munty the great ploneer of etvilizet touicit of mntcil of tndividual ant oa she! by auy ante ad its high mission slvess Onght Bot to be ype hension of ite true eb 4 these general remarks to th: Prescot rate of po tage, feed te ction below five cents and the alrea’y greatly reduced rates op | } curtailed the usefa wean of t | 1 I service with t and wurortuity te all Improvement tn a life 80 earnwatly ¢ (the Unied St Luiwetory mail fact | with the present im ate tne |} lea ¢ dense p | rate might bear some reasona tom 4 of transportation; b r ntry the United now reacting | ne ocean to the other, mu etios of it three cents we o bein stablobment of 0 Ji our great cites of the v engbit within th ant therefore inadequat U.reo conte. ly tat Lhe peo wt oss t their en cout Xteneive COrreRpoE 0, Washi tom and Oregon, Whiiet “ mn valloy | will have t@ pay only three conte, To svodt eatistaction ver for ] titted to the 2 rater, regulated by distave ner Wis tom af Cong: t0 of five cents for ail diet aner t | inces of the department, dieminiot, if 4 | tirely prevent, i hoavy drafts on the Treasury bert promote the interest © oy t In retation to t | toll to what extent it i* be to bs } these te whom ¥ inw, Wat by the liberty to sign their names under | some prete thority to do 89, of » a athority | atail. Its imposwib 8 of t | United Stat wk the ei ' 1 therefore revent the Post Ofer eon sown } with parti«an dort | should pay, if it fs | even approximate by Congress that mite! at public cxpenee, let th 1 charged to members who frank wateh over the privtleg dd prevent abuses w detec | NESHER OF PORT OFFIC | The whole number of post offices in the Caited States, on the 80th Jane Inst, was 27,077, of whieh 400 are of ‘the class denominated presidential.” The number established during the Inst fiscal year Was 2,121, an! the number dis: comtintue being an inerease of 1,391. The number postmasters appointed during the year was 8.284. Of ese 4.505 were to Af vacancies occasioned by resigna tion, 998 by removals, 278 by deaths, 292 by change of nates and sites and 2,121 on establishment of row offices The whole number of offices on the Ist of December, 1868, Was 28,573. TRANSPORTATION STATISTIC’ On the yoth of June last there were in operation 8,206 tma)| jontes. The number of contractors was 7,044. ‘The length of these routes is estimated at 200,603 miles, divided ax follows, viz— Kaiload, miles ove cece ABT ‘Bteamboat, oe 1008 Coach : + 88,700 Interior grades. “165/499 ‘The total annual transportation of maiis Was 74,765 491 miles, costing $7,795,418, and divided as follows — Railvon, $5,763,482 miles, at 82,828,001 ; about eleven cent mile. me Steamboat, 4,609,619 tiles, nt $1,233,016, ab 1) seven Ceute wud FwO mule twen NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1858. Coach, ae 206 salen, at $1,909,844; about nine cents “ee a. lerior grade 6,695 miles, at $1,823,357; about six cont and tstee mllla sation SAAT: Com with the service reported on the 30th June 1857, there is an addition of 18,002 miles to the length of mail routes; 8,859,424 miles to the total annual transpor tation, being about 6-11 per cent., and of $1,173,372 to the coet, or 17.46 per cent, ‘The aggregute length of railroad routes has boon in- creased 1,901 miles, and the aunual transportation there- on 1,495,508 miles; 6.05 per cent; at a cost of $268,404, or 10.44 per cent. The length of steamboat routes is greater by 1,798 miles, and the annual transportation 51,401 miles, costing $241,018 udditional, or 1.10 per cent on transportation, and 34.38 per cent on the cost. The addition to coach routes is 4,871 miles in length, 464,804 miles in annual transportation, or 2.43 per cent, and $499,018 in cost, or 85.87 per cent. ‘The aduitional length of inferior. routes is 9,082 mites; the additional annual transportation 1,847,621 miles, and the additional cost $163,082; being 6.83 per cent, in trans- portation, and 9.87 per cent in coat. Appended to this report is a table (marked A) showing in detail the mail service of every grade, as existing in each separate State and Territory, on the 30th June last. Also a table (marked B) showing the increase or de- creage in the several grades of service, and their cost in each State and Territory, during the last fiscal year, to- gether with a detalled statement of routes on which im- provements have been made and additional expense in- curred. The lettings of new contracts for the term commencing Ist July last, embraced twenty-one States and Torritories of the Northwest, West and Southwest, including Califor- nin, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon and Washington. ‘The following table shows the new service, us in opera- tion on the September, including the overland mail route from St. Louis and Memphis to San Francisco, also the route from New Orleans via Tehuantepec to San Fran- cisco:— a Miles in Miles of annual ia » t 5 5 Railroad i ou 8,972,860 $1,022,437 Steamboat...) 16,146 8,321,462 1,361,758 Coach. ...0222.. 40,085 18/933,727 2/580,460 Inferior modes. .115,647 18,997,016 1520555 Total.........180,351 45,225,055 $6,485,210 Compared with the service on 30th June last, the length of routes is increased 27,973 mites; the annual transporta- tion thereon 9,026,666 miles, and the cost $2,243,166. Divided as follows, to wit:— Length. Annual Transporta'n. Cost. Railroad. + 876 807,047 $271,168 Steamboat 2 6,201 456,590 337,553, Coach. 211/861 1,298/814 luferio vile 9146 ‘345,616 Total increase... 27,973 9,026,666 2,243,156 Appended hereto is'a statement, marked —, showing the routes on which additional expense was incurred. On the 30th of June last there wore in the service 440 route agents, at a comp $334,750 00 28 express route agents, 28000 00 23 local agenis, 29/989 00 1,464 mail messengers, 184,634 41 Moking a total of. sescssecss SOTT8T8 GL ‘This amount, with the’ jucreased cost of ‘ser- vice under new coutracts commencing on the first of July.. --+ 2,243,156 00 Added to the cost of Service, as in operation on 20th June last, cesecceesece %)198,418 00 Makes the total amount for the current year.10,015,047 41 ‘The expendiinres of the department in the fiscal year ending June 80, 1868, amounted Worcs nt -$12,722,470 O1 For transporiation of inlaud maiis, including yay ments to route agents, local agents, and mail messengers... seaeecesene 7,821,656 83 For trangportation of foreigit mails, to wit -w York to Liverpool. $33,758 48 w York to Bremen Charleston to Havana w Orleans to Vera Cruz. . Aspinwall to Panama, Ageucy to Pabama, For compensation to postmaster. 1 2!365,016 28. For clerks in post offices 918,272 73 For ship, steamboat and way letters. 16,613 38 For cfiice furniture for post oflices 2,927 70 For advertisin 128,034 92 Yor mail bags 38,454 19 ror blanks. SBR: 106/277 76 mail locks, keys and office stampa 13,485 09 For mail depredations and special agents. 73,527 OL For pestage stamps and stamped envelopes 93,019 10 For dead letter claimed, eevee eee 98 For wrapping paper, - 87 i 60,220 : 74,038 For payments to letter carriers 1 10 For inigce!iancous payments... . 193,544 02 For payments for balances duc on ‘British 282,408 17 0 ik cand 2,859 14 on Hamburg 1,866 13 mails seeeeee 26,343 47 Total of expenditures... .....6. $12,722,470 01 If there he added to the above $91 90 lost by bad debts, and the sum of $925 36 gained on the suspense account be subtracted, thew the net amount of expenditures will be 21,630 56, as adjusted in the Auditor's office, rors revenue for the year 1858, including receipts ter carriers and from foreign postages, amounted to $7 486,792 46, as stated below:— Letter postage, received in money. << $904,299 13 Kecv.ved for postage stamps and envelopes sold oe 7 + sees 5,700,314 03 Received for postage on newspapers and panphlets..... ‘ 591,976 90 Received for postage for registered letters 28,145 16 Received for fines... aateas 85 00 Received on account of emoluments 80,644 96 Received from letter carriers. . 174,038 10 from dead letters unclaimed , 3,410 66 ADCOUS TECEIPUS......ee eevee 3.878 92 Total revenue... To the gross) revenue = al a be wided the permaneot_ annual | appropriations amounting to — $700,000 rz wo - ment by the acts of March 3, 1847, and March 3, for the irangportation and delivery of free mui! maiter Pongress and the executive departments, thus making whole revenue of the year amount to $4,186,792 86, falls short of the expenditures, as adjusted on the tor's books, $4,534, 843 70. L beg leave to invite attention to the fail and bi tisfartory report of the Auditor, hereto append: warkec——. From thie interesting document, 1 the following bref synopsis of the operations the departient in the past fiscal year:— The balanee stand.ng to the credit of the department, on © Auditor, on the 30th June, 1867 sa a =. $1,169,896 08 pis of the departinent from all during the year 1568, including a $925, 35 on ibe suspense account, ssceseeeee T/40T,718 21 jations e year see 4,679,270 71 Making t $13,200,874 9T The whole amount of expenditures in the year, mele ling $81 90 for accounts closed B22 ef 4 tes a2 rain amounted to ‘fi ts The amount of the ‘varions’ appra during by bad debe, Wat... cece «012,722,561 91 1 the credit of the department on 1868... css $008,313 06 MATE OF Keck AND RRPRNDIFCRIS IN 1859. Exrpeditures, caggregate sum appropriated by the act of Congress, approved June 14, 185%, for the service of the Post OF foe Department fa 1850, exelueive of the transportation foregn mails, of payments for foreign postages, and to letter carr’ Rios. sak «$14,036,530 00 For the transportat) mails between Charleston and Havana, act Jane 14, 1868, 60,000 00 For the trans pertation of the mails over the Tothinns of Panama, act June 14, 1868... 100,000 00 For the mail between New York and Havre, the postages as allowed by the fifth sec: tow of the act of June 14, 1868, estimated Bhivss cose 0 sesaes susbeuasens 91,000 00 For pay me countries, 325,000 00 For payments ¢f letter carriors. 1851, cot mated 176,000 00 1859 MEANS FoR 1 Petimated expenditeres |r $14,776,620 00 redit of the de. or's books, on the $08,313 00 balance etanding mt on the at receipts, te estimated at U1 the appropriations mate by the acts of Maren 3, 1847, ren 8, 1881, and J 8, there i apy the expenses of 1860 the eum of, 7,786,080 00 Total means for 1859 Dedicienes of means for th OCEAN AND FU ate ammount of postage “ mails transported from July 1, 1467, to Febra: ry 19, 1868, by the steamers of the New York and Liver pool (Uollina) fine was $111,102 52, and by temporary Heamebips employed on same line during residue of the ticcal year, ending June 90, 1868, $41,607 13—making a $162,820 65—postages for the year. The postages line during the yoar ending June 30, 1867, amount- mails conveyed during the last flacal the United States steamers of the New York, ton and Rremen line, were $102,008 09, and by ork, Southampton and Havre live, $106,023 26, crenge of $35,161 69 by the Bremen, and an in” crease of $1,973 21 by the Havre line, as compared with tLe previous feeal year. ‘The amount of letter postage: upon mails exchanged with Groat Britain during the year ending June 30, 1868, wos $802,771 64; with Prussia, $325,768 60; Bremen, $27,005 OF; France, $205,826 42; Hamburg, $15,879 74) twit. decrease on British maile of $71 42) 115 on Prus sian tills of $1,108 97; on Bremen mails of $24,177 07; and an iuerenss on French mails of $164,038 23,'and on Homborg mails of $14,820 14, compared with the pre ceding year. Net increased letter postages on Bare frat mule, gua.T40 2. The arrangements with ‘rance and bam! which have recently elute operation have caused a giversion of much of the cor respondence with the tof Earope hereto fore exchanged vin England and via rem the routes vin France and via Hamburg, whie' ac for the large decrease on British and Bremen maiis dartaz the part year ‘The total postages on letter mails exchanged with Fu rope was 91.578,147 82. On mails sent to Greet Britan $950,180 68) to Prussia, $190,706 96; to Brews ‘The pastages pe 866 36; to France, $101,414 66; and to Hamburg, $10,- 37. Total sent, $697,535 92. On maiis received from Great Britain, 06; from Prussia, $131,997 65; from Bremen, $16,039 66;' from France, $104,411 75; and from Hamburg, $5,571 37. Total received, $68),- 611 40, Total es collected in the United States, $842,024 53; in Great Britain, Prussia, Bremen, France and Hamburg, $685,522 79. Excess of postages collected in the United States, $307,101 74. Total wail and California lines, $306,747 47; from the Charles- ton and Havana line, $9,126 42: and from the New Or- leans and Vera Cruz live, $4,859 37. I ‘egret that, since the expiration of the cou- tracts for the Bremen and Havre lines, our cean mail steamship service to has not tablished on any permanent basis. The ships of the New York and Liverpool line were withdrawn in t.¢ month of February, 1858, and no service has been e formed under the Collins contract since that time. is contract being with the Navy Department, the Postmaster General had no control over it, and, of course, no power either to enforce fulfilment or to annul for repeated failures, as in the case of ordinary mail contracts. The temporary contracts for service to Southampton, Bremen and Havre expiring on the Ist of June last, 1 was very solicitous either that the trips upon the Collins line should be resumed or that the contract should be declared at an | end, Fo that by ne® arrangements I could secure the full number of weekly trips, by American vessels, neces- sary to alternate regularly with the ships of the Cunard liné. Hence, soon after the adjournment of Congress, T sought to ascertain whether or not I could depend on the resumption of service under the Collins con- | tages for the year from the New York, Aspin- | | | | tract; but it was not until quite late in the summer | ‘hat I could obtain any reliabie.information on the subject. At length a proposition was made to resume the service, provided the ships could be allowed to make Portland, instead ot New York, the American terminus of the line.’ This proposition was’ declined by the Navy partment, and, the contract stit! remaining in force, it was out ot my power to engage other than temporary service by the single trip on that line, as authdtized by a provi- sion in the firat section ofthe act of last session maki appropriations for ocean steamship mails, This delay aus uncertainty in respect to this line had the effect also, inde- pendently of any other cause, to prevent the making of any permanent contracts for the other lines necessary to | furnish the full number of trips required, and the result has been that all the service performed has been entirely of a temporary character, Upon the Collins line, up to the 30th of September, 1858, nine outward and’ seven inward trips have been performed for the sca postage en the mails conveyed, at an average sum of $5,379 per round trip,’ and five the sea and inland postage, amounting to $7,125 per trip. Upon the Bremen line, fiom June’ 1, 1857, to October 21, 1858, inclusive, fourteen out? ward and fifteen inward trips have been performed by Cornelius Vanderbilt for the sea and United States inland stage, averaging $8,621 per round trip; and upon the ew York and Havre line, from June 1, 1857, to October 6, 1858, inclusive, the old Contractors have made sixteen round trips on saine terms, averagibg. The fourth ses ferred to, provides that “it shall not be Postmaster General to make any steamship or other new ful for the contract for carrying the mails on the sea for a longer pe- riod than two years, nor for any other compensation than the sea and inland postages ou the mails sc transportod;’” and the fifth section of said act confines Ue compensation to the sea postage only, if the transportation is by a to- reign vessel. Can the service be obtained ou these terms? I believe i may be, If decmed expedient to employ foreign vessels, it is certain that parties now stand ready But shall foreign ontract to take the mails for the sea postage, this service be relinquished entirely to steamers? and if net, will American lines under the existing law? Nothing is clearer it ts for the interest of this government to employ Ameri- can ib preterence to foreign steamers for the conveyance of our mails, if the n be secured on the terms author: ized by law: but whether this may be done is a matter of doubt. Save during the winter months tiere would probably be no difficulty in getting the mails carried on these terms; but for a period so short as two years, it is basiy probable that contracts with American lines’ could be obtamed to carry regularly the year round. To se- cure tosuch lines their due share of the postages, it is essential that perfect regularity should be observed in winter a8 Well as during the other montbs of the year, by at lesst a weekly departure and arrival on cither side, The want of regularity heretofore has had the effect to give the advantage to the British lines. The dence is now before me that of the correspondence, for instance, between the Uuited States and Switzerland, out of 5,000 letters, 4,860 were transmitted by British vessels, owing, it is believed, mainly to the circumstance of the known regularity of these vessels in sailing on a given day. Why may not the same regularity be established and maintained by American ships? Let this be done, and no good reason "is perceived why they may not carry an equal proportion of the mails, the postage on which would afford a fair compensation for the service. This 18 sts: ceptible of demonstration. For instance, the aggregate amount of sea and United States inland postages on the mails by the different lines of United States and foreign mail packets between the United States ant Europe, for the year ending June 30, 1855, was $1,206,869. This, for semi-weekly service, would give an average of $12,181 the round trip, or at’ the rate of $603,434 per annum for the weekly service desired from an American line or Noes, with the prospect of a steady increase from a con- stantly increasing trade and correspondence. As calculated to furnish the requisite facilities of com- munication between Europe and the Southern and South wertern States, the projected lines between Norfolk and England and between New (Orleans and Bordeaux, in France, are among the most important to be established. Tt is unnecessary to pomtout the advantages these lines would ‘be certain to have in developing the resources of those States. They could not fail te be otherwise than highly satisfactory. The lines to Bremen and Havre tonching at yuthampton, should be continued, and, i y able, in creased to vemi-monthly serviee. A Bremen company are now running fine steamers semi-tuonthly between New 4 Rremenbaven, carrying the mails for the If thus can be done by parties in Bremen, why Vaited States, sckly hot, aleo, by enterprising citizens of th and thus secure a regular and permauent nicationY Such an arrangement would not o pest nenns for the transimiss) United States and contivental Europe, and it be to and from the Kast Indies by the way of Trieste, Dut it would also be highly advantageous in a eomtnercial point of view. With reference to an American overland communication to India via Trieste, I am credibly informed that lations are pares to this end between the Lloyd Steamship Companies of Bremen and Trieste and the intermediste railroad compa. nies; and that it is intended to take effet so foon as a weekly line is established between the Unitet States and Bremen. It ir believed that this ronte will far nish cheaper and better facilities of communication than any existing route. if the compensation for ocean steamship eervice 1s to be limited to the postages, it cannot be ex; that parties will contract for so short a term as two y and obligate themecives to carry during the winter months. I would, therefore, reapectfully recommend that the law be 80 far modified as to extend the term for ail eneh con tracts (0 a period not exceeding ten years, ut the dixcre. tion of the Postmaster © > ‘As regards o line from some suitable port in the United States to Brazil, and the extension of the Cstifornia line from Panama to the South Pacific coast, whieh, for com mercial as wellas for mall purposes, it ie ao desirable should be established, and the Mne from New Orleans to Vérs Cruz, it is apparent that the postages to be derived theresrom would defray but a tiflimg portion of the expense of the serv 1 regard it as highly important that the line to Vera Craz showid be contin From the Ist of July tothe Ist of Novem, ber of this year, there was no mailapon this line, and temporary Pervice is pow performed for the postages oaly, in the hope that Congres# will immediateiy authorize the making of a peetfully recomme be grantes Mract ata reasonable compensation, [re thie, and that the same authority ne8 to Braz! South Pacific, ‘The contr: levton and H will ox pire on the 30th of June next also arent, ill require other aid thaw what be’ derived from the postages to sustain fr lines, as well as the lines to coastwire; and, whether suse from the postag subject ty that re Croz and Havana fornia, elon be classed ptible of being sustained of not, should not, in my riction. But with refercm where this reetriction is not impored, I wou! fully recommend that the Postmaster General be pro Libited from entering into any contract, except mader advertisement, inviting proposals in the ordinary way, The objection heretofore urged against the stem of mivertisement, that frrespou Will underbid, for the parpese of selling out for a bonus to others who are able to perform the serviee, will no longer hold as regards foreign lines, since the act of Jane 27, 1848, prohibits the transfer of any contract for transport the mail to a foreign country, my last anneal report T recommended an appropria tion for one year's extension of the mail ship con tract om the Pacitic, between Panama, San Frauci#eo and Astoria, in order that the service by the connecting lars on the Atiantic and Pacific sides of the Isthmus of Panama might terminate «imultaneonsly, ax originally intended by Congress. A specie appropriation for this parpose w: made in the act 14, 1857; but as the fourth se provision, also, above men tioned, that the compensation under any new ocean mail steamahi» contract shall be limited ta the postages 09 the inails 8 transported, the question Was rawed as to whe ther this provision was intended by Congress to apply to the proposed extension of the ‘ife mail svevnship contract. This question wae submitted to the At torney General, who decided that it could not have been fo intendag; and, accordingly, the contract with the Pacific Mail Steamshiy Company, which expired on the Ist of Oetc ber, 1858, was extended at the same rate of com o the let of October, 1869, the date of expira contract on this side of the Isthmus, the com- pany agreeing also to transport from the Pacific terminus Of the teh antepec transit, to and from San Francises, all mails regularly conveyed between New Oriewns and euch Vacific terminus of the Tehuantepec route, without addi jonal compensation. New York and New Orleane Steamship Company, running « line of steamgre between those cities vin Hy vana, heretofore carrying only a ship letter mail, have entered into contract with the department for semi: monthly trips, except in July, commencing let of August last, and to continue till 86th Jone, 1860, at a compenes tion’limited tothe sea and inland ‘postages on the ma: transported. Up to 12th of November, sit round tripe have been periormed, the average pay per trip amounting to $903 Hy the time the contracts for the California lines via Panama and Tebuantepee expire on the Ist of October, 1869, it is probable that the ronte by Lake Nicaragua will have been reopened and in successfal operation. ‘This presents the question, whether one, two or ail three of these routes shail thereafter be employed for mail par poses. The Teluantepec route is the shortest and most readily protected againet interruptions; bet it will be com. paratively too new, and the line of staging too long, to furnish with certainty adequate and satiefactory commu- nication between our Atiantic and Pacific ions. ‘While it is dovtined, no doubt, to become a transit of the first importance, and will deverve the highest patronage and encouragement, still iteannot supersede the necessit; of Che of more routes through Central America. In A every year is demonstrating that the United States may need, not only for postal, but for commercial purposes of vast magnitnde, additional transit rontes, e Panama Isthmus route is now used only under a contract with the railroad company, who, in torn, bolt it by a charter granted by the local government. This company might at any tine refuse to contract with the United ‘States, Or ie demands for transportation might be 89 exor- round trips for | bitant as to amount to a pronibition. After much contro- versy, the has not been able to reduce the tion of the mails upon it below one jundred thousand Galiora per annum—a price believed be entirely too high for only forty-eight miles of railroad, and there will be the same exposure to exorbitant demands upon the Nicaragua route, under the direction of a private company. To relieve the Department from a condition so dependent, as well as to create a competition which might prevent cxtoriion, it is of the highest importance that the route by Nicaragua should be re-opened, and its undis- turbed use for the transportation of the maiis, passengers, troops and munitions of war, secared by the solemn gua- rantecs of a pnblic treaty. Without this, in view of the un- stable condition of the local governments of Central Ame- rica, the safety and security of the transportation can hard- ly be relied ov. Coutracts given by theee governments to individuals or companies, in the absence of a regular treaty, under which, if necessary, the power of the United States might be invoked to enforce fulfilment, may be irregularly if not unjustly revoked, and tho department be emberrassed by the rival claims 6: contending parties, unable to determine satisfactorily with whom it shor contract. The late treaties with China and Japan, and the rapid growth and vast mincal resources of Australia, have made all the transit routes of Central America of increased im- portance to the United States. By them the Atlantic sec- tion of our country would be enabled, cqually with that of the Pacific, to participate in that Asiatic commerce which made Tyre, Alexandria, Venice and Genoa the market houses of the world. It is the almost exclusive enjoy- ment of this trade which makes Great Britain the first commercial Power of modern time The United States, from her mediate position between Europe and Asia, and from b agricultural productions, particularly Uhose of Cotton aud tobaeco, ought new to par- cipate largely in the advantages of this trade. This sho would be enabled to co by the tree use of these transits, and by the other communications already opened and. in successful operation between the Atlantic and Pacific States, cepeciaily when these communications are taken n connection with the establishment of a steam mail line ‘rom San Fraveieco to Japon and China. Such a line, it is | confidently believed, would draw to it not only the corres- pondence and travel of oar country but of GreatBritain and most of the continent of Europe. +, With its commercial profits, would probably sustain it without any other subsidy than the postages on the mails conveyed. After the first three years the department feels confident that no subsidy whatever would be required to sustain it. Be- fore even three years will expire there is every probabllity that & line of telegraphs wiil be completed from San Fran- cisco to New York, and, indeed, to every important city ‘on the Atlantic. Such a line is alreaty made, a8 we un- derstand, nearly to the summit of the great Nevada. Let- tere written in Engiand and many parts of the Continent are transmitted by steamers to Boston, New York, &., from nine tocleven days. They can be transmitted by tele- graph to San Prancieco in or two days at most, and thence shipped by the mail line to Japan and China,’ Aus- tralia, ke. No other mode of communication can be as expeditious as this; and such ecrrespondence would, there- fore, constitute, with the regular full letter cortespon- dence passing rough this country, no inconsiderable ele- ment for the support of such ating. Ttis a very singular fact that the Minister from pan to the United States, im- stead of coming eastward direct to Sen Francisc thence to Wasuington, is expected to go to Encland by the Isthmus of Suez thence take passage to the city of New York. So cur Ministers to ¢ nust go and return by the sume cirenitous route, ‘Tue probability that by suitable exertions much of this trade, travel, and corres- ndence Cah be mace to pass over this continent, is to ¢ found in the strenuous exertions now making by Great Britain to secure the same through her own Canadian posses- sions. This rivalry of effort is for the greatest commerce of the worla,and should ealt fort! doultiess it will, the energies of both nations to secure such portious of it ag each shall think itself fairly entitied to receiv: ave the honor to be, very respectfully, vour obedient AARON V. BROWN, THE LECTURK SKASON. VHB, TULLY WILL, BY INVITATION, DELIVER: an aldress before the Sixty nioth Kegiment’New Yore State Militia, at Mozart Hall, on shursday, Dec. 23, 1854, at 8 P. M. Subject—rreedom and Slavery Contraeted, by a Giance at Ireland's History. Tickets 25 cents IGMORA JESSIE MERITON WHITE MARIO WILL deliver her lecture on “Venice vod the Roman Repubils in 1849," on Monday evening, Deo 20, at 8 o'clock precisely, ab Clinton Hull, Astor place. Price 25 céuta. SIGNOK ALBERTO MARIO WILL DELIVES AN (TAL- ian lecture on Italy, on behalf of the Union and Brother- hood Society, next Thuraday, 2d inet, at P.M, at Profeawe MeNullen’s Hall, 21 Kast Twentieth street corner of Broadway. ‘Tickets can be obtained at the door; price 25 cents. ESQ, WILL READ A POEM ashington, oF the’ Vion of Liberty.” before Men's Christian {yion. aa the second lecture of the their roome in Clinton Hall, on Monday evening, the Thy o'clock. Tickets 25 cents: for sale by Thatcher & inswn, 523 Broadway, and al the door KICHAKD WARREN, President. F. Boxnrav, Jr., Reconting Secretary. ‘ON LITERARY UNION.—LECTURES.—THE lecture to Uhis course will be delivered by agher, Eeq. in_place of Rey. Dr. Cummii ounced, on Tuesday evening, December 2t x . Admission 250. ‘Tickets may be obtained af the primeipal book mores and at the door, on the eventing of the lect TILLIAM W. BaDGER. entitled * the Youn, = — ancien = WATCHES, JEWELRY+ a. AMONDS AND Jt WELY 40 PER CEST LESS THAN COST. k of rich JEWR' RY, WATCAES, DtA- TRLETS, CHAINS, LOCKEES, &o., belonging to Ling to $40,000, is now otf public at 40 per'cent less than coat price Thawe intend will do weil (0 call upow LOUIS ANRICH, fo purchase presenta for the bolidays Broadway, 685 Two doors above Amity sirvet. ANSTRUCTION, FRENCH GENTLEMAN, GRADUATE FROM PARTS, giving lersons in the @ret schools and families of this city, ‘Wishes to engage two or three hours every day or in the even: ing as lustructor in the French language at pupils’ OF as bie own, ‘The best ret (will be given and requit Terms moderate. Address A. it. C., Union square Post office Capen. OF LANGUAGES, 9 BROADWAY.—P. A MARTINELLI, Principal —[nstruction given io . ierman, Hpanieh and [allan Cluses.are furmed day evening. classes, ¢ quarter. For ciron: lars foaturber ABrinaii Mpply ae above to, MARTIN CADEMY OF PENMANSHIP AND BOOKKEEPING, U8 Hroadway.- The subscriber receives new papila da ing the day and evening, for thorough instruction in writin, Leokkeeping, de. ntire satisfaction guaranteed to all, ord young. OLIVER B. GOLDSMITH Asa OF WRITING, ROOKKEEPING, ARITH- metic, 62 Bowery and 255 Fulton aireet, Brooklyn, open ‘instraction every diy and evening. Ladies’ writns Isseonn fixteen lensone.” “Ay a» teacher of penmanship and book- kevping | Colonel unrivalled." Brooklyn morning Journsl. OFS OR MEN PREPARED POR BUSINESS, AT DOL beara Commercial Academy, 69 Liroatway, will become Sioek Im Agures, rapid buainoss penmen, and jpeactical book Keepers, Applicanta may now ave 29 per eeut by securing: anon before the Ist of Jan, Two $10 seatefor book. Veoping sxeaut, C ©, MARSH'S: COUNTING ROOMS 5 or Practice and tuetraction Vaine stands mn Rook keeping and business aftatry, ‘at MB Broadway, Appleton Building. Cleculara with tering, on application, VENING EXPERIMENTAL & ALEC TCL Be for oral a id Browdway, by Prof. VER. inventor of t or » chemical be ‘Th.se leseone are formed mm classes for mation! sindecta. RENCH LESRORS GIVE LADY OR GEN. oman experienced in teaching Apply ai 290 Hicks street, tween Harrison und Degraw, Krook!yn = BY A SPANISH TEACHER WANTED.—A GENTLEMAN DE 0) sirous of aequiring the above lengnage. woul ltke to meet With a lady or gentleman thoroughly aequatnted with it, with whom to thke private lessons. journal of Com- merce ofliee. Addrens &. 8, OCULISTS AND AURE FSS RELIEVED BY A NEW INSTRUMENT, y invented, aud called the “Artticial Ker Drum, which is very stmple tn ita courtriction, and is inserted in fare ato be seareely ceptible. Hundreds have heen re. Heved oy them. They are wagutactured and wold wholeente and retail by GEO. WADE, 85 Pulon street Peres THE ARTIFICIAL EVE. WITH NATURAL AND PXPARSSIVE } TION on Re extadtiahment THE PHYSIOG SOMCAL HARMONY Of persone deprived of an exe: Performed without any preperatery chicurgival operation and without »ny trouble or pala, BY tuk CeLene aren Professor BOISSONNEAU. Senior, Maker by appointment, of artifetal eyes t the ciril and milt tary hospitals of Paris, London, lrussela, Turis, ae. ember of revere! ees 7 mem of several orders, AKIS. F. GAGNE, ovniist, puptl of Professor Roinenasin, Senior, and his aole and apectal agent for the United States and Canadas, 82 NRO ADWAY, Entrance in Twelfth street, No 494;, New York, Office hours from 10 a. M. to 4 P.M. ~~ A “~ : — BULARD BALA, BACATELLE BALLS, AND. FIP teen all pool of patent 7,109 pec seat chen wari re We. WELLING. to's manataetaner inventor, Broome atreet. BUAIARD TABLE TO LET OR FOR SALE —eRLAN RE tent Wination crabions, w hed, will be soit ata fargan at No. 4 Hall place, rear of Tompkins marke TRW YORK BILLIARD AND BOWLING SALor S14 Hroadway, ‘This aplendid sstoon has jast been refit fed ond farniahed with six of Win. H. Grifith’s celebrated mar Je bed and elastic combination enshion tables, Ow up for public playing. “The bar will nt ail d with the choicest liquors, wines at d semana. MIMO HRY WOUDKUPF, Manager, HELAN'S IMPROVED BILLIARD TARLES AND COMBINATION CUSTITONS. 19, 1886; OCT. 98, 18K EC, PATENTED Pea ig, 1008, SUV. 16, 1894 °— tables are now well Known to be the best in the Jenene ee NEWSPAPERS, Fe NEW YORK SATURDAY PRESS. —RVERY LOVER of act, of Merature, of luxury, of the drama, of music, of ‘of philosophy, of Wit, of eeprit, of the truth, of his fam Fail elf, shonkd subcribe at once to the SATURDA TRESS, tor the love of the good and. the beautiful, ag well aw for the love of his fellow man —the publisher. Office No. 9 Spruce treet, Vrice $2 4 year. SPORTING. y*porren CAN ARIES, BEAUTIFUL SONGSTRR! FOR holiday presenta, mocking other fancy birde, for sale 1.8) Naasnu street, New York,