The New York Herald Newspaper, December 7, 1864, Page 2

2 FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL. Tersnay, Dec. 6—6 P.M. The gold market bas been iv the withaanding tbe excoureging mews from Sherman's ermy, and a strong Cisposition was manifested towards the close to qperate for @ rise. Quotations were as fol- dows:— 10.00 4. M 8:00 P, M... 31004 M 400%. M.. 2:00 5:00P M 1:00 P. 6:30 P. 2:05 P. The stock market was dull at the first board, with an improving tendency. ‘The closing sales, as compared with those at the second of yesterday, showed the following vartations in prices:—Huason River deciineu 2, Obio and Mississippi corticates 4, Quicksilver 4, Mariposa 3g. Fort Wayne Advanced 5, Cieveland and Pilisburg 14, Rock Island 3y, Erie and New York Ceutrai were steady, Government gold bearing securities were steady ata large advance, the rash of buyers being almost unex- ampied, in comsequence of the prevailing belief 4} no further issues of gold bonds will be authorized, Coupon five-twenties were most in demand, and those of the old issue improved 9%, and of tho pew issue 1%. Cqupon sixes of 1481 experienced tbe largest advance—namely, 234; coupon ten-forties rose $y. ‘At the open board at ove v’ciock quotations improved, and a speculative feeling manifested itself, At the second regular board the market was strong, with an upward tendency. The variations at the close from the morning prices were as foliows:—Erie advanced 1, New York Cen- ‘tral , Hudson river 134, Reading %, Michigan Central 154, Miinots Central 134, Michigan Soutnern 23, Chicago and Northwestero 134, Chicago and Rock Islaod 15, Fort Wayne 14{, Ohio aad Mississppi certificates 1, Quicksil- vor %. Government gold bearing securities continued strong, and there is every probability of their advancing con- siderably further, although the conjectures of some par- ties that they will rise vo 150 or even within thirty per Cont of it are impessibie of realization, as a moments re- flection will prove. The seven and three-tenths currency notes now on the market ure convertible, at the expira- tion of three years irom the 16th of August, 1664—at which they are all dated—into six per cent bonds; 80 that indirectly these notes invoive the purchase of gold bearing bonds, snd as they can be Dougbt at par and interest, less 2; commission, the gold bearing bonds cannot rise beyond a cortain limit unless wader a foreign or unusually active domestic de- mand. They will probably rise immediately to 112 under the latter alone, and to 116 in combiuation with orders from Eurepe; but uotil the sale of she geven-thirty notes is stopped more than this annoi bo looked for uniess the abundance of unemployed capital Bhould stimulate speculation in governments instead of petroleum and other mining stocks end railway shares. Speculators as well as the capitalists: of the country have yet to learn that it is to their inte- Fest to sustain the credit of the government, and that mational bankruptcy would fovolve the oankruptcy of pearly all. Tbe National Bank act has made the mone tary system of the nation so mach dependant upon the credit of the government that a decline of the one would involve the collapses of ti. other. ‘There are some who prop: esy the worst consequences Of the past and present financial policy of the country; ‘Dus if Congress is only guided by common sense and the Guggestions we have made from time to time, these may be averted, If it is still rash or blind enough to perse- ‘vere in the course hitherto pursued, the end may be easily imagined. The advance at the second board om coupon five tweaties was %—the new and the old issue being on a par. Coupon ten-torties advanced 3g. One year certid- eaten wold at 977. At the open board at half-past three the market was Grouger, and continued 80 on the street, in sympathy with the upward ture of gold, ' ‘There is a plethora of capital offering on cal! at seven Per cent; but lenders are reluctant to go below this rate, tm view of the opportunities to employ money advan- ‘\ageously in goverument and other securities, fhe dis- oount line continues inactive at eight to eleven per cent. ‘There is very littie frst class commercial paper offeriv, owing to the curtalimeat of credits both among the mer- cantile and basking community, and the consequent dis- Position to do busivess on a cash basis. Foreigo exchange is dull, and the rates are as quoted yesterday—1003; 109% for bankers’ sterling at sixty Gays, and 110% 8 110% at three days. Merchants’ bills Gre stil! offered at 107% a 1083¢, and francs at 5.09 a 5.14 atebort sight. There was a shipment of $62,000 yeater- day by the Corsica. ‘The Secretary of the Treasury's report will probably be laid before Congress to morrow, and meanwhile we have the remarks relating to the finances in the President's Message to reflect upon. The receipts of the Treasury flor the year ending the 1st of July last includ. {mg loans and the baiance in the treasury om that day 18683, were $1,3©,796,007, and the aggregne disbursements were $1,298,056,101. The Feceipts for customs duties were $102,316,152; from Janas, $588,333; from airect taxes, $415,648; from foternal revenue, $109,741,134; from miscellancous @ources, $47,511,448, and ‘rom loans applied to actual expenditures, including former balance, $623,443,929. ‘The President, we are glad to find, agrees with the Secretary of the Treasury thas increased taxation is ren- ered necessary. He makes a suggestion that Congress ‘would do well to take a bintfrom with respect to ex- ‘@mption from taxation and seizure for debt of some future issue of government securities. But we need bardiy say that distinctions of this kind would be in- nd the only way tn which Congress can act upon the recommendation isy by making all the securities of the government exemp: from seizure for debt. ‘The amount of the public debt on the Ist of July last fell short of the estimate of Mr. Chase by $3,995,079, and the President believes thas this ‘fact exbi bite @ satisfac. tory condition and conduct of the operations of the ‘Treasury.’’ We are sorry that we cannot coincide with ‘Mr. Linoolo in this sanguine view of afairs. “ This fact” simply amounts to nothing whatever. The Executive highly approves the national bank sys- fem, and says it will be for Congress to determine “wbetner or not any furtber legislation is advisabie for the suppression of State bank issues.’ He, however, fails to recommend a curtailment of the privileges of the Bational banks, He might have suggested that io view @f the latter there sbould be a suspension of in- forest on the gold bearing bonds depusiied by them, and im exchange for which they received, and will continue to receive, under the act as it stands, @inety per cent in currency. The financial portion of the message concludes with the remark that ‘‘it seems quite Clear the Treasury cannot be satistactorily conducted unless the governmentcan exercise a restraining power over the bank oote circulation of the country,” and considering that the ational bank issucs are already more than seventy millions, and that they are itkely te increase rapidly to three bupdred millions, 3 limit to these issues by taxation is & necessity, in the absence of « prompt withdrawal of a corresponding portion at least of the direct imsuce of the ‘Treasury. It is reported that the Commissioner of laternal Revenue advises a tax on sa.¢s of one-ball per cent, bat we propose a tax of at least two per cemt, and (his would tall lightly on tne whole commanity. ‘The busivess at the United States Sub-Ireasury tm this city voday was as follows:— + $241,000 + 1,166,973 11,414,188 32)484, 730 ,000 Baiance.... +e ‘@abscriptions to government loan TeaspAT, Deo. 6—10:90 A.M. 100 she krie RR 93% 115% 200 a le” 0 a 116%¢ 50 Hudson 100000 US 6's,6-20,cou 105+; 400 do. 1 200 Wi, 100 160000 do. .vew ies 105° 300 50000 = do. . now ins 105-300 200008 6'8,10.40,cou 99% 600 10000 100 do. 100 Il! Con RR....810 128 Chi & Reok I RR. 1065¢ 100 wo WT 00 Pitts, FeW&O RR 103% wm Ge... +. DIO M031 | | WEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DKUEMBER 7, - 103% 5 103 SECOND BOARD. MAvp-past Two O’cioox P. M. 10 136 6's,’S1 r.exi 1036 20000 US 6's, *I.cou 110% 100 Mich Con Kit.s50 128% 8000 U5 6°5,5-20 rg 108% Ee -. 50000 US 68, 6 20.6. 2088 44000 do......... 109 50000 do. . pew iss 1.8% 352000 do. .new ise 10834 ChRR, 100000 do..new iss 109 200 Mich So&NinRR Tl }y 20000 US 200 i eo 10000 Tr m7 3-10A&0 117% 100 ‘ 15000 US 6's, 1 yror 97%, 100 9000 Missouri 6's... 65°" 400 - 11909 do. 66 100 do.......b5 723% £000 Obio & Mi 800 Chie &N WeskR 42 40000 do... .... 36100 Giese jake 42 800 shs Cump Coal pt 463g 400 Chi &N Wes pid 17 200 Quicks’er Min Co 87 = 100 do .....810 16% 109 os 200 do. 3 16% 100 100 Cleve & Toi RR.. 109 100 600 Chic & RE Is KR. 106 500 NY Centr 00 a 106% 1000 Erie R R.. 1 150 Hud Riv RR. 100 a CITY COMMERCIAL REPORT. Tuxspar, Dec. 5—6 P. M. Bregapstorvs.—Receipts, 12,212 bbis. flour, S47 bbls, ‘and 2,700 bags corm meal, 78,263 bushela wheat, 3,823 do. corn, 202,988 do. oats, and 7,006 do. malt. The ad- vance in gold imparted increased firmness to the market for State and Western flour, and prices ad- vaneed Sc. @10c., with @ moderate demand trom the trade, with some speculative inquiry, the sales being 3,000 bbis. extra State for all February and the lass halt of January at $10 60; also, for immediate dolivery, 14,000 bbls. Stave and Westerm, 1,200 do. Southern, and 550 do, Canadian, Rye flour was quiet, with sales of 160 bbis. at $9 25.8 $9 45. Corn meal was scarce and firm, with no sales of moment to report. We quote:— Western trade brands.. Extra St, Louis, Common Southers erereretererey weseromnres wokSSneecss aSSassessoss SSEsssesess POPS rereeee 3 e s ° = s +The wheat market opened le. a20. highor, with a moderate demand, but closed dull and heavy. Tho sales included 85.000 bushels, at $2 24 a $225 for No.1 Chicago epring, $2 20 (or No. 2 do., and $2 47 for amber Michigan, Rye was dull and declining. Barley was in moderate mand, with sales of 6,300 bushels State at $1 93 a $1 98. Barley malt was duil, with nothing of moment doing. The corn market was uogott‘ed aad’a trifle lower, witha moderate demand, Sales of 15,000 bushels mixed West. ern at $1 90 in store, and $1 94 delivered. Oats opened deeidedly firmer with @ fair demand, but closed dull at 9d. @ Osc. for Cunada, $1 a $1 02 for State aud $1 03}; @ $1 05 for Western afloat xnd in store. Beeswax —We hoard of no gales but the market was firmer. Corion.—The demand was decidedly more active to- day. holders having granted a concession of about 4c. | Der Ib., which led to fair business, Sales 1,200 bales. We qnote:— Uplana. Mobile. N.O, & T . 120 120 121 121 26 127 lz 128 129 190 130 131 FRmGRrs were rather more active. Engagements to Liv. rpool, by American, 200 tierces beef at 1s. Ga, , 7,000 Dusbeis wheat at 23d., aod per neutral inclade 500 Herces beef at 23. 3d , 1,000 hides at 12s, 6d., 40 tons tal- low at 15s., and per steamer, 500 bbis, apples at 58., 1,000 boxes bacon at 30s. , 1,000 vere | es ehoese and 800 packages butter at 40s., 500 hope at i¢d.,and 160 tlerces beef at 78. To London bole. olf cuke at Aotwerp 200 hhds. cases tobacco, and 1.200 boxes extract logwood on private Sere, ‘A foreign brig 2,600 bis. to St Thomas at 65c. r dbf. Provistowa. —Receipts, 1,074 bbis. pork, 4,083 pkgs. Deer. 1,342 do. cut meats, and 116 do. lard, ope pork fn gold, he inauiry belog chiofy apecuieivo, with sales gold,.the inquiry being chiefly speculative, wi les of 500 Bbls,, 1863-4. seller all tbe tnoath, a $33, 15: 500 bbls. mess, 1864-5, seller February, at $38 50; 1,000 bbis, , buyer do., at $38 50; 50 bbie. do. at-$39, and 500 is, do., buyer March, at $30 50. The sales on the spot were 5,000) bbis., at $32 60 a $32 7: for 1862-3 mess, $38 75 a $34 50 for 1863-4 do, exsh and regular ways, $3250 ior prime and $36 $36 60 for prime mess. Beef hams were frm and in Moderate demand at $28, with sales of 235 bbis. The eet market wae dull and Heavy under the inrge arrivals: wales were 250 bi! at $78 $12 for country mess, $200 $22 50 for new plain mens, and $22 50 a $25 for now extra mess Cat meats were moderately active and firm at 1634¢. &18%e. for shoulders and 180. a 2lc. for hams, with sales of 250 pkgs.; also 21,000 Ibs. shoulders @t 17c...iu bulk. Bacoa was cnty in'moierate demand, with sales of 100 pkzs. Cumberland cut at 17c., in bulk. ‘The lard market was rather firmer, with sales of 2,000 bbls. and tes., at 194¢¢. a 201¢c. for No. 1, 2130: w 22140. to prime steam and 22 3c. a 23¢. for kettle. But- iaymoderate inquiry but. firm, at ac. a 48c. for Western and 44c.a 66¢. tor State. Cheese was more active at l4c. « 23c. for common. | Waiskey.—Receipts, 265 bbis. The market was unset- tled apd somewhat irregular, thougb quite astive. Sales 1,200 bbis. at $1 90a$1 95 for Western, closing with $1 93 bid and $1 95 asked, NEWS FROM THE SOUTHWEST. A letter from New Orleans, dated November 26 (via the Mississippi river), states:— General Canby is rapidly recoveriog from his severe wound, and is now able to attend to his official business datiy. . Gevera! Ullman 1s now tn chief command of all the forces at Morganzis. Nim's celebrated Second Massa- chusetts battery is now stationed at Morganzis. Lieutenant A. D. Valiade, Eighty-fourth Untied States Safantry (colored), of New York, was killed on the 234 of November in an affair on the outposts. On the 25th of November Actiog Lieutenant Thatcher, commanding the gunboat Gazelle, was murdered by rebels while ashore on an island at the mouth of the Red tiver. His body was borribly mangled. ‘The Mississippi river has risen eighteen feet at Mor- fanzia in one week. & One bundred and seventeen bales of cotton arrived to- day. Fifty-four of them go tost, Louis. General Baford has ordered the lives around Helena closed to everybody, Stragglors arriving at Helena on steamers, as soon as discovered, are furnished with passes and required to leave immediately. The Memphis Democrat says that forty-five prominent Citizens were receotly arrested at the mouth of the White river, by order of Generai Buford, for attempting to pur- chase cotton with permits from Mr. Ellery, United States Purchasmg Cotton Agent, at Memphis, mr. Ellery des- patched au agent with letters of instructions to investigate the case and report tobim. Upon his arrival at Helens General Buford peremptorily refused to investigate or Permit him to proceed up the White river, ordering Bim to return to Memphis on the Srst boas. ‘The steamer James Watson, was detained at Helena, ber officers being charged with illegal operations in co ton, Among tbe papers captured oa the rebel oficers during Colonel Karga’s raid joto Arkansas, was an affecting ap- peal to the rebel General Kirby Smith by ex.Geoeral Wirt Adams, whe has been conscripted end reduced to the ranks. ‘The steamer Ciara Dobson, from New Orleans, has ar- rived, She was fired joto at the bead of Dead Man’s bend with munketry. Noone was burt. The rebels oo- cupied Goodrich Landing, which the Unionists receatiy abandoned. Vicksburg and New Orleans papers by this steamer contain no news, Toe markets at New Orleans were un- obanged The Unioniats have withdrawn from Johnsonville and the Tennessee river. * Large quantities of clothing, boote and shoes, were re ceptiy forwarded (rom Memphis, via Mobile, under charge of Captain Whitlock for the relief of the Union prisoners, MORE OF THE FENIAN CONSPIRACY. An Ora: Ledae Broken Into—Portraits of Qucem Victoria Mutitated. Toronto, C. W., Dee. 6, 1864, ‘The excitement in regard to the Feoian Brotherhood is Tevived and becoming more and more intensified. Last wight ao Orange Lodge was broken open and all its property destroyed by the Fooians. Some fue portralis of her Majesty Quoen Victoria wore disgracefully mutilated. ‘The excivoment to day is running bi ‘violence are entertained. achusetts Mayoralty Elections. Boston, Deo. 6, 1804. At the municipal elections yesterday, E. C, Fits wae Fe elected Mayor of Chelsea; J. W. Merrill, Mayor of Cambridge; A.D. Briggs, Mayor of Springfield; Milton Bonney, Mayor of Lawreace; George H owiand, Jr., Mayor of New Bedford; Kd. H. Bowett, ‘Mayor of Taunton, ang E. P. Builingtoo, Mayor of Faii River, » and fears of OUR POST OFFICE. Arnual Report of the Post- master General. INCREASE IN THE REVENUE. Our Posta] Arrangements With All the World. Neariy a Million of Dollars P Foreign Steamship Owners for Carrying American Mails. Curiosities of the Dead Letter Office. Three and a Half Millions of Dead Letters Per Year. Twenty-six Thousand Photo- graph and Daguerrectype ‘Likenesses Missemt. Over a Hundred Thousand Lettors [legibly Dirested Per Annum, Bie &eo., So. Posr Ornon Drrantwent, Nov. 2, 1864, Sm—The postal revenues for the year ending the 30th June last were $12,433,253, and the expenditures of this department during the same period were $12,644,786, showing an excoas of the latter of $206,532. ‘The average annual receipts of this department from 1859 to 1861, inclusive, were $8,745,282, and the average annual expenditures for tho same period were $14,482,- 008, showing on average annual excess of expenditures over receipts of $5,736,726; and the average annual re- colpta {rom 1362 to 1864, Inclusive, were $10,871,530, and ing an average anni irene ie ee seme cage ‘The excess of receipts in 1864 over 1861, the frat year Of the rebellion, was $4,038.967. Although the: tion of receipts as against the ex- Deen increased ou account of pos ary States, the above gervice in th + an improving financial condition of the department highly creditable to the administration of my immediate jeceasor. The estimate of expenditure for 1864 was fixed at 000 ,000,.10 which was included the sum of §1,000,000,, appropriated (or tbe overland mail service, log $365,413 ded. yor ‘the other hand, the revenues of 1864 wera estimated ‘at an {ocrease of five per centum.oa t! of 1862, making $8,714,000, while'they actually reached $12, 438,- 263, or $3,724,263 more than theestimase. This increase te crepe of a spenctaes tn 1864, compared with " increase of ex) |, oon those of 1363, 8 11%f per centum. wha the increase in, the revenues for the game year 113 per cout, exhibit promises an increase of the revenues for 1865 over the-estimate submitted im the report of last on the revenue of 1364, making. Batimatea defeiency of revenue compared From this aun must be deducted the amount of (ue permanent 4 oi pled to compen- Sate the department for carrying free mail matter, under acts of March 4, 1847, and 13,184,647 9918,052 700,000 pt) eee - By which the estimated defloienoy is reduced - to. ease nen ees cropenon: seeeceee | Q2IBi The grants for the transportation Of free mail matier the jast two fiscal years bave not bees expended. Assuming that the amount of $700,000 for the last year {g still wvailuble, no appropriation (or soy deficiency in the revenues will be required. Io maktug the estimate of probable expenditures for 1366, the amounts actually expended under the several beads duriug the past fiscal year bave been taken asa basis, but an jucrease become in several Of the items named bas necessary, particularly io the appropriation for postage stamps and stamped envelopes, the estimated cost of the fatter being tmeressed $140,000 per annum, tccording to the terms of = new contract. MUMBER AND VALUS OF STAMPS AND STAMPED ENVELOPES. Buring she “scal year 334,054.610 postage stamps, of the vaiue of $10,177,327; 26, stamped envel amounting to $765,512, and 1,574,500 newspaper wrap pers, amouoting to $81, |, were issued. The total value Of these issues was $10,974,320, wo per of the stamps and stamped envelopes sold was $10,776,- 689, and the amount used in the prepayment of postage was $9,878,155. AMOUNT OF STAMPS LOST IN THR MAILE. Notwithstanding thig esormous issge, the losses of stamps in the mails amounted only to’ $1,206, and of envelopes to $31. This result may be {a part atiributed to the system of registering each package of stamps and ‘envelopes matied, ald to the fact that route agents and postmasters at separating olfices are also instructed to keop @ record of ail such packages passing through their oftices. During the year 1869 (the year immediate: preceding the adoption of this system of registration), the vaive of postage stamps issued amounted to $5,279,405, whilst the losses in trausmigsion during the last 91x snomibe of that porled. ware $4,373. Bince that time the losses have , although the issue bas wmcreased about 92% per cent, NUMBRE OF PACKAGES OF STAMPS. ‘The pumber of packages of stamps sent out during the year was 58,500, 0/ stamped envelopes 16,638, aod the Claims allowed for deficieacies in the number of stamos amounted to only $29, and in the stamped envelopes 80 cents, showing grea: care on the part of those iutrusied witn this brancn of the business. SUPPLY OF STAMPS TO TUR ARMims, Postage amps are regular!y supplied to the armies of the Povemec and Cumberland, through s agente of the department located at or pear the headquarters of each, Since the imauguration of this practice—about the Ant of Jaly iast—the agent statioued at City Point, Vir ginte, bas sold stamps amount! to $20,778, and the 00ga, $5,210. BOUBERY OF MONRY AND STAMPS HY ARMED MEN, BIC. Under the act for “ the relief of postmasters who bave Fobbed by Coafederate forces or rebel gueritias,”’ one bundred and thirty-nine ne Le been mado, te LOSSES OF OFFICE FIXTURES, ETO. Losses of a somewhat diferent ckaracter frequently Occur, relief for which cannot be granted without ed. ditional legisiation. 1 refer to cases where, by reasou of the presence of armed forces, a Post office ie and the joes the fixtures and furniture, aud to cases where the loss 16 occasioned by our ows troops. ‘The report of ny Predecessor two years since recom. mended that such losses be provided for, and I Invite Attention to the subject, as soveral such claims have been made where tbe losses have occurred through mo fault of the pustinaster. NEW CONTRACT FOR STAMPED ERVELOPEA, the last session of Con; ‘9 bill was passed for the relief of the contractor for tarnishing the depart- ment with stamped envelopes and newspaper wrappers, oder the provisious of which the existing contract ex: ‘on September 11, 1864, when a conditional contract |) was made, to expire December 31, 1864, at an advanced rate (or stamps aud envelopes ISSUR OF NEWSPAPER WRACTERS DISCONTINUED, After the award of the contvact above referred to, the department nad the contructer received a party to New York claiming to be t! Daper wrappers, with notice that rights. Under these circumstances, and in view of ehormons advance to the contract price of the article, the department decided to discontinue the issue for the present. TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS. ‘The service as it stood on the June last in the States of Maine, New Hampeb ‘mont, Magenchu- setts, Rhode Isiand , Connectio w York, New Joracy, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryinnd, Obio, West Virginia, Michigan, jaa, Iiivois, Winconsin, lowa, Missourt, Miovesota, Kentucky, Caliiornia, Oregoo, Kansan and the Territories of } Nebraska, Washington Colorado, Dakotas and Nevada, to 6,083 mail ‘he mumber of contractors being 6.06% The vice 16 miles; steamboat, 7,278 miles; ‘oe. And secirity,”” 109,278 mles—conti ivided as follows,” viz:—Ralltoad 28,301,94 % 11 conte a 12 conte a 80,901,281 ab |, While was an jacrease in the anndal transportation of miles, and in the cont of $77,803. ‘aggregate compensation of route oquete, looat agents, mail messongers, baggage masters io charge of express mails and agents empioyed on steamers cou vey. ing metis to Southern ports was which, ad 1 o the cont af service in operatiog. on WOU of June, Led more sham the amount actually: ex: | (35,818,409), makes the total cost of mall transporta- Hon at thas Gate $6,365,222 ‘MALL LarTiNas OF ‘The co! term ior the miidie section, comprising the S ivania, Detuware, Mar of June last, and Julyfolowiug, » The bow term Commenced ou tie 1st Service under these lettings, for the first quarter of the Contract, euded Soptember 30, Lé4, 18 exhibited by the annexed statement, via:— “Gelority,” cer @ud security 6,845,996 RAILROAD COMPAR! Notwithstanding an express provision of law (section 29 of act of July 2, 1836) which provides “that no-person whose bid for the on of the maiimay be ac- log their service from quarte! been necessary for a series of years, to enable the auditor to issue orders in favor of the companies, for the colleo- Map of mon the hands of postmasters on the routes, ‘And the adjustment of uecounts ior serviccs rendered. Attention bas been catied to this subject by my pre- decessors for the purpose of securing additioual legisia- Won imvesting the bed of this department with power to compel compliance with the law by prohibiting pay- ments except on executed coutracis, ‘The matior Iw dis: cussed by Postmaster Geveral Holt in his report of be- cember 3, 1859, and again alluded to December 1, 1360, and also by my immediate predecessor in bis reports of December 2, 1861, and Lecember 1, 1862; but, believing thas the law is suilloieutly explicit as It fow stands, 1 d Bot propose further legislation, in the hove tl the several rauroad companies will uo longer refuge to enter {ato the obligations assumed all other peri oon. tracting with the government. Should I be disappointed io this reasonable }, 1 shall not fati to call upon Con. gress for such legisiation as the necessities of the service MAILS ON THE ATLANTIO AND PACIFIC, To the last annual report attention was called to the ungetuled accounts of persons employed to convey mails ‘by sea to the military and naval forces and inhabitants at New Orleans, Pensacola and other ports, rendered pecessary by the insurrection in the Southern States, and also for service performed in steamships on the North Pacific coast during the winter of 1662, when the usual land routes were interrupted by extraordinary floods ‘There services were necessary to provide [or communicution with the soldiers and sailors engaged: ia the de'ence of the country, and tho people isolated by an act of Providence, and were autherized by several acts of Congress. The Auditor of the Treasury for this de- partment, adjudging tue contracts illegal, doclined acting on the uccounts of contractors and orders of the !’ost- master Geveral, rendering an appeal to Congress weces- sary. This rebuited io the legislation contained in the ith Section of the ‘Act to provide for the conveyance of tails to foreign porta, Xc.,/’ approved March 26. 1864, under which the sum of $18,060 bas been paid to sev Parties for the sea service, per‘ormed by order of tor General on the Atlantic coast and Gai of Mat to she 80th of September last. jaim made by the steamsbip owners for service Pacific coast, duting the tloods of 1562 un t the rate of $3,000 per month for three months, but the amount deemed adequate by tne depart ment was $8.642 for the whuie service, avd this was the sum reported to the Auditor as due the claimaute; but Congress having fixed the gum to be paki for this service at $1.509, which they declined to receive, tne claim is ‘still unadjusted, OVERLAND MAIL3, ‘The contract for service vp the route from the Missis- er, via Salt Lake, to Piacervilie, Cali/orn! oh 2, 1861, expirieg on the 30th June last, an urrangement was made with the same parties for coa- beg the service ou the same terms to September 30, Under an advertisement dated March 22, 1864, inviting suls (or service irom Atchison, Kavsas, of St joseph, Missouri, to Folsom City, California, Joho H. Hotatand, of \anorster, Pennsylvania, was the lowest Bidder, st $760,000 per amoum; but bis bid baviug ‘been subsequentiy. withdrawo, contracts been mide mith Ben, Holladay, of New York, for the Service. between Aichison, or St, Joseph, and Salt Lake City, at $365,000, and with Wm. B. Dins- Bere, President of the Overland ‘Mail Company, also New York, trom Salt Lake City to Folsom (ity, at $385,000, making au aggregate of $750,000 anpum. ‘These parties are belt to be able to fulfil their obil- gations. The contracts are frum October 1, 1864, to Sep- tember 30, 1868; the trips to be made ju sixteen days eight moutba in the year, apd in twenty days tho re Tarining four mobtha; to couvey tl mails oly, mall matter prepaid at letter rates and ail local or matis. © aber and document mails for the Pacific coast are to ‘ve carried by sea, via Now York ond, me temporary. arrangements havin; made for ir conveyance, wii the sum ‘bawned in, the la of March, 2, 1 viz-—-$1¢i annum, malin; AJ expense lacrid e(y sod racige ialig’acs, over ‘$910,000 per an- Dum, or $90,000 less than under the former contract, ‘Owing to ludian depredations, the overland service wi much §\terrupced during the muoths of Auge and Sep- tember tat, sod@tor a period of four our fi ‘whole mail ior the Pacilic coast aud the Territories was Decessariiy sent by sea from New Yori. proposals were invited for the oo to 1866 and 1868. But one bii was received, that pany, at 000 m, whic ‘was Geemod extravagacs for the service reyul.od, an Socepted to Jume 30, 1865, only with a view tW agua ine ‘vite cumpetition, which bas been done. PRMMSA ROUTE. Purauant to the ta section of the act of March 3, 1861, ana the section of the act of February 2, 1963, the contract for service on the route from St. Cloud, Mingesota, to Pembina, in ‘Territory, was extend: ed to June 80, 1865, und the trips increased Crom oue 10 two per week, nt auincroase of compensation of $17,157 ennum. As the contructs on allether routes in the Bie expire Juve 0, 1866, this will be relet (or ope year only, 80 that 1t muy be embraced in the contract section to which it beiongs. The topographer aving been in- structed by my to prepare a set of maps, by Btates or groups of states, designed to show ail the per- manent routes, distances and post offices thereon iu the United states, other statistical iniormation, I have ee ee — — nee in thew Preparation. found, bowever, that in conse. quence of the enbanced price of all articles purchased Vorough, the gent fund, chargeable with the o the fund, as previously estimated, will be insufictont, having regard to ether de- mands upon it; and | therefore recommend that an appro- priation’ of $10,000 be made for preparing and pubiisning it ts believed that the proceeds of the sale ment will eventually more than reimburse the entire outlay, Jeaving @ surplus which will diminish to that ex. tent future appropriations for contingent purposes. $2,600 per nder the act of March 2, 1861, aud for all travel- ling and mcideatal expenses no rT gum than two ra for each day employed be allowed under the act of March 3, 1845. It tg not supposed thas Congress intended to reduce the Pay of this oflicer trom $3,230 to §1 825, but such is the effect of tho law, and I inereiore recommend such a modification of that section as will restore his iull saiary. of $2,600 per sonum from the date of the passage of said act, and to provide for his actual traveling expenses a sum not exceeding $5 per diem. Although, at the time Of the passage of the said act, $2 per diem was con. sidered suMeient for the trave!ling aod mcidental ex- penses 01 these officers, ia vow ivadequate, and | re- commend that all other special agents be atlowed a sum not exceeding $4 per day while employed. For several years after the occupation of the Pacific coast by the United States, the agent of this departmeut stationed st Sen Francisco Bad larger powers thio usually confided to special agentes in the Atiantic States, particularily iu refereace to the adjustment of con- tractora’ accounts, the practice belng for him to give cortilcates of service performed under mai! contracts, on which the Postmaster at rao Francisco made pay- ments, The socounts were then transmitied to the Au- ditor for eatry aod fical settiemeant. io ths manner pay ments to mail contractors wore expedited, but doubte Srising as to tho autbority of she Postmaster Geuemi to confer such powers on @ subordinate officer, they were withdrawn, and ihe Vacific agent is now on the same footing with all other officers of bis class. It is be- Veved that the junctions of this officer could be en Jarged with advantage to the pabiic service, an vious legislation i necessary, atteation is called subject. To this connection it Is proper to add that, from in/or- ation which bas recently reacted me, 1 am apprehea that the postal service in ho Panis States is not is as pre- the {60d condition as should nd {may bave Occasiog to communioate with pon the sadjeot during ite approaching vession. ARMY MAILS. Inquiry has been mado of Lieutenant General Grevt Petative to the existing arrangements for supplying our armica with mails, with the assurance cf my oarnest purpose to co-6perate with him iu carrying into effect uny desired improvements of that service; and Iam gratified ve learn from his reply that the sysiem of receiving and forwarding mails now ip operation {s eatireiy satisiac- and thet ‘our soldiers receive their mail mutter ‘with as much regularity aod promptoves as is possibie for armies in the Held, xod with porhaps as wuc celerliy \d recurity as the most favored portions of tho coun- He also iaforme me that the policy originally dof excluding civilians irom the mail service the lines of the army, dotailing for that duty eniisted mea of tatelligeoce aud lity, will ve com- ‘inued DELAYS OF LETTERS IN DISTRIBUTING POST OFTICRS. For many years she reguiations of this department have required that every post office should mail levers direct to every other ofiice not on the route K any distri- botiog ofice, und that all other letters should be mutiea to the Urst dtetributing off) on, Involving consider 0 Feporie of this department, Ibution schemes have been proposed vo uD, Which is still considered The waiajority of letters While the ox pense atvending the work to twenty two dis: tributing pos: ofices nmounied, during the fourth quarter 4 ly two Bundred thousand dollars, being at the rato of wight buodred thousand dollars per year, or about sixty-two per cemtum of the whole expense of clerk hire in ail offices, ILWAY POST OFFICES. The mailing of all letters direct from one office to an- cy T situated, in so vast @ territory as that thio the United States, is objectionable. The distributing post offices not meeting the neces tbe service, experiments have ced, ted to delay, 1864, ip the cars, and oo arranged that they can be despatched without delay on connecting routes. Thus it is foucd What the tr ‘esumission of letters is ex from twelve to twenty-four mours. Similar export bave made on the Foutes (rom Chicago, J!!., to Clinton, Da- Yenpors and Dubuque, k — lows, with equally salisfaotory Attention hes-been given to the. putting in operation the railway Netribatiie we ater aie points, an the companies which bave bee asked to turn: becessary Car facilities have generally responded f bly. ‘pe great Kastern and Western routes to Ciev: land, as weil ween Washington aad New York, the Size and import of the mails and tke amount of dis- tribution to be done are such us to require accommoda- tions to the extent entire car, West of Cleveland only a portion of a cer will be used on each route, nord make the work of raliway pst offices effeo- change in the mode of mailivg letters is necessa- 'y. All offices caunot mail direct, neither cua all @ raiiway oflice, The work will, theref re, be di Dotween, bead offices and route offices, the former being ‘those which are the initial or termioal pomts of routes and the laiter those offices or atations on the direct Ih ling p-stmasters will be required, for whom | regommend Provision be made by law. SUPERINTENDENTS FOR RAILWAY POST OFFICES. ‘The latroduction of the proposed scheme will neces- sarily be atteuded*with diifculties, and must be accom- plished gradually. ‘The classification ef offices alone ‘will require ti labor, and for the present ras thon wil) be Himited. to. lew principal railroad lines. Until a ecessary Classification is completed, and the railway distribution organized, it is anticipated that ditions! exponses will be involved; but it is hoped tbat the final eilect will be to reduce expenses cennected with the presevs RoE he per 180, which f Suiy last, all ac counting for paid letters bes been dizpe: with, thus saving much labor berotoiore required in mailing letters and in keeping accounts The transeripts of mails sent and received under the old system, at live of the princi- Pal oftices, amounted to fifty thousand folios. The ac- counts from the same offices fer the quarter ended 20th Reptember: last, during which changes were only par- tieily insroduced, show a saving in this respect of nearly fifty per cent. Thas, iv various ways, the ordinary ex- penses Of post offices are expested to be diminished so as to.compensate for the cost of railway distribution. But, whether this resuls be fully attained or not, the expedi- Lion of maiis will be insured. STATIBTICB OF FOREIGN SERVICE, The aggregate postage, (sea, inland and foreign) upon the correspondence exchanged with Great Britain, Prussia, France, Hamburg, Bremen avd Beigivm, amounted to $1,399,605, being an increase of $174,930, a8 compared with the last year, and $21,458 in excess of the largest amount realized iu avy provions fiscal year, ‘The collections fo this country amounted to $851,730, and. in Europe t $517,875; excess of collections in the United States $863,855 This reault is significant and gratifying, showing a largely Increased correspondence with Kurope, notwithstanding the Civil trouvies agitatiag the country and the interruption of postal communications with the Southera States. TRANSATLANTIO TRANSPORTATION, pot he gia ae mail transportation wag performed a8 follows:— By the foreign steumships of the New York and Liver- pool, Canadian, Bremeu, and Hamburg lines, $770,865, tract mail packets of the Cuuard and Gal- way lines, $629,240. ‘The amount paid by this department for mail steamship service to and from Kurope was $371,740—the steamamps ‘eoelving the ea postag* on the mails conveyed ‘ag Compensition for the service Uf this amount the Liver- pool and New York and Philadelphia Steamebip Vompany received $202,914 for fifty-two outward aud fifty three in werd trips betwoen New York, Queeustown and Liver- pool; the Canadian mail packets, $77,175 for fitty-three round trips between Portland aod Ltverpogl and Quebec and Liverpool; the North German Lioya steamship Com- pany, $46,149 for sixteen outward and fifteen inward trips, end the New York and Hamburg steamship Com- pany, $16,601 thirteen outward and twelve inward trips between New York and Southampton. PRITIGH NORTH AMEKICAN PROVINCES, The total péstages on the correspondence exchanged with British North American Provinces duriog the year amounted to $307,371, being a Increase of $1,628 over the amount reported tast:year. and of $129,618 over that for the previous fiscal year. The postages collected ia this country amounted to $168,755, and in the Prowinces to $138,615: excess in favor of ihe United States, $30,140, ‘This extraordinary imcrease of correspondence ix proba- bly partly owing to the {act that large numbers of rebel agents, symmp.thizers, aud relugees Rave taken up their temporary abode 1p Canada and the otuer Provinces, WAST INDLA MAILS ABD COST OF TRANSPORTATION, ‘The total postages on the mails conveyed to and from the West Indies amounted to $60,990, and the cost of travsporting tbe same to and from Havana and ower West India ports was $40,387, being $19,658 is than the United States postages om she matis convey: Bi fore the steamers omyloyed in this service reeeived as compensation the gross amount of United States postages ‘upon the cores traneported, without allowing Cor.the expenses of the inland service; but as no contracts: were executed with the department calling for the of @ speoiiied number of trips, according to ‘a fixed.ecnedule of sailing days; aod as the malistney ed received no greater care or attentien while in it is ordioarily giveu'to firat class freight, It was considered by my lecessor proper that the com- Pensation for the sea portion of the service ahould be so adjusted af to provent loss tothe postal revenues; and ments were accordingly concluded by bim with ‘ietors of all the stexmahip Hoes, except two, sween New York aud Havana, for a fixed com- jon by the trip of $125 each way, or $260 per round trip. if not exceeding the United States ‘on the mails conveyed. Propriztors of two of Senor namen Wane eae r of compensativo, ry were ‘entitled to the gross amount of e8 under the provisions of the fourth section of whe act of Jape 15, 1860, which autborizes the Postmaster eral so cause the mails to be transported between 1 ‘United States and apy foreign port er ports, by steam. ships, allowing theretor the sea and tnjand postage if byaa Americas vessel, and the sea postage only if by foreign vesset. The provisions of this sectioa have mot been con- strued by this department as requiring the Postmaster General to allow the ses and ip! Postages on the wails conveyed, to all Americas vessels, but simply as limiting the compensation in any case to that amount, The payment of $250 per round trip, limited to the postages, Baving boen generally accepted by the proprie. tore as ample remuneration for the si ecrvice between New York and Havana, po reagon occurs to me why it should not be adopted as the uniform compensa- tion for all the steamships employed on that route. 4s doubts bave arisen rolative to the proper construc- ton of the fourth and fifth sections of the act of the 14th of June, 1858, and the fourth section of the act of the 16th of June, 1560, which io effect superseded the last mentioned section, 1 recommend additional legista- tion authorizing the Postmaster Goneral to cause the mails to be transported between the United States and any foreign port or ports, or between ports of the United States touching at a foreign port, by steamship, allowing ‘and paytug therefor, if by an American vessel, acy sum not exceeding the sea aod United States inland postag and if by a foreign vessel, any sum not exceeding t ‘Ben postage on the mails so conveyed, 4 ‘ha PRIVATE SIUY3. protect postal revenues from losses incident to the uoauthorized conveyance of letters by private ships ‘Or vessels departing from the United States for forui Countries, | recommend the passage of & conditiva pf Clearance, tuat tho Of any steamsh p or ott port or ports, snail make oath or Rot received oo board his under bis care or witbin bis toa foreign country which bave not been reovived direct- ly from the post office at the port of departure, except Buch as are directed to thejconsignes of the snip or vessel. CANTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN MAILS. ‘The United States postages upon the correspondeace ex- changed with Central and South America, via Asptawall and Panama, smounted ty $14,208, all of which was paid to Cornelius Vanderbilt for the sea and Isth . ‘The provisions of article three of the United States and Canada postal convention nave been so modified, by Agreement between tbe respective post departments, as to abolish the laternational (etter postage of fifteen cents per single rate, heretotore levied upon letiers passing be- tween Canada and California, Oregon aod Washington Territory, thus establishing a uniform international post. age for letters of ten cents the single rate, prepayment optional, between Canada and all parts of the United States. without regard to distance or route of convey- ance; and the benefit of the same uniform international rate of ten cents has also been extended to the corres- exchanged with the provinve of New Bruns- UMITRD STATES AND CANADA POTPAL CONVENTION, Our arrangement with Canada adopts the principle of optional prepayment, in both gountries, of the oombiued rate of jnteraatioual postage, each country retriniog all the postage which it coliecta. It is the most simple form Of international postal arrangement, inasmuch as it dis- peases entirely withaccounts betwen the respective post departments, and bas been ad witl the other provinces erate Newfoundland. With tho view of se- caring uniformity in our postal reiations with those provinces, & recent eifort was made to obtain the concur. rence of Newfoundiaod tn a like arrangement, which I Togret toway was uusuccesstul, the Briish Post Lepart- meant declining to give its assent to the measure, on ac- Oount of Lhe additional British packet postege of (our poncs Sterling, which is levied tor the sen service to and (rom the island, and ecerues to Great Briain, YVANCOUVERS ISLAND AND BRITICN COLUIMA, The initiatory steps taken to conclude sitailar postal arrangements with the colonies of Vancourer' fod dritisn Columbia, revorred to — as yet been attended Pa GREAT WRITAIN. Additional article to the United States and British Postal convention have been agreed upon, constivuting the Britis pack oy at Colon an office tor tne ex- change of in the Post office of } means of the United States packets plyiny bot Ports; the object boing to prevent the deiay to corres Pondence forwarded from the United states to porte and places on the Atlantic roast and interior of New Granada, Previously caused by tts transis across the Isthmus to und from Panama Ad arrangemont Dar algo been oonciuded for expediting the transmission to destination of unpaid tettera ad- reaved to the Unived states, recaivea at iwmama by British packets from countries on the weat coast of south Amorica; this department agreeing to eol'ect, and ag. count to Great Lritain, throngh the ollie of the Brivsh packot agoncy at Panama, for the vepald postage charged theron BREMBA AD BAMYCRO—RXEMPTION OF PACKETS Rom CAPTURE 18 oF le Ap additional article to the Cotted States and Bremen, and to the United , bot gg avout ively, was executed oa the 28h of March \. spectively, se of the Interpational correspun- tenrtg war, by ateamahi wu Pprevonsion thon felt that tpg bn the north Of imrope might interrupt jong 4 advantageously performed 4 bury ines Of mail packets, ther the veutrality of aaid steamers might mre be secured Mplomatic correspondence, bur this dear: As DOR een advised of the renult. Our poste! oun with Groat Britain and Mexioy, reapectively, recognize the 1 pringiple that, even io Wine Of war betweep the goutrach , ‘the war the mail service 60 thon tatee to ascertain means of Parties, their respective mail packets shall ie8Puarteation witout tmpediment or molestation Six weeks after ® notification given by either of the governments, and delivered to the otber, that the fs to be discontinued ; and as all governments hat mon interest iD c ceptional treatinea| ackets iu case of war, to the end of maintaining rity to international ‘postal communications, it Subject worthy of consideration whether, by tr stipulations between nations or otherwise, like pr pie might not be establushed between ail governm with proper safeuards against the transpertal persons or articies contraband of war. NEW LINES OF MAIL PACKETS RSTABTISHFD, During the past year anew live of Freoch mail pa bas been establisbed between France end the Ug States, the steauiships piving, for the present, di betwee Havre und New York, and making regulal Partures from each port, on Weduesday of every fo week. The Cuited States exchange offices of New Y Boston and /'uiladelpbin despatch avd receive a regularly by means of this line, correspouding wit French exchanging offices of Paris and Havre, with the French mail agent embarked on board of ket. perbis department has also concluded an arrange! for the transportation ef the maiis, tortnightly, bet Boston and Halifax, Caoso and Pictou (Nova Scotia) Charlotte Town (Prince Edward Isiacd), the proprit of the steamer to receive, as full compensation for ge. SCrvice, & moiety of the United states postages o muilg conterred. NEGOTIATIONS OF POSTAL CONVENTIONS. A correspondence has been ed with several off ost depariments represented by commissioners at Paris Intercational Postal Conference, having f r its ject the negotiation of postal conventions, on the the Paris resolutions, with those countries on the CAf nent of Europe with which the United states hxs bitiiy suslalned nd direct postal relation, as well as for thi vision and amendment of existing postal couventio i) ‘ag to make them conform as jy as pragucavie f Woerat- principles of postal progress recommende . that conference ag the basis of interndtional arrd ments, Yavorable responses have been recé!¥¢d the several post departments interested io this subj STEAMSHIP SERVICE TO BRAZIL. In conformity with the provisions of the act authorize the establishment of ocean mall stean Service between the United States.and Brazi|,”’ appr: May 28, 1864, av advertisement was issued taviting posals fur carrying the mails of the United Stites monthly line of frst class American sea golog w ships, between a port of the United States north of Potomac river, and Rio Janeiro,sin Brazil, touchi: St. Thomas, in the West Indies, and at Pernambuc: Babia, in Brazil, for s contract term of ten yéurs. to mence on or before the first day of September, 1865, todate from the day the tirst steamship of such leave the United States with tho mails for Braz ree Proposals were received for this service. Joweat and the accepted bid being that of. the New ¥ Nuevitag aod Cuba Steamship Corapany, with Th Asencio & Co. and Manuel J, Mora, of New Yor: guarantors for the performance ef the required ser at the sum of $240,000 per annum, to be divided eq) between the two governments. ‘The act authoriziog the establishment of thie lig American steamships was the beginaing of a new ¢) | the history of our ocean mati service, which is being’ formed principally by steamers suiliog woder foi flag. The government by this measure acc the policy of co-operating with ‘the indiv enterprise of our citizens in. ‘eatabliabing|] direct mail steamship commanication with the prin country of South America, with the objeot of prov. ‘@ reliable and speedy transmission of go rresp nds and developing @ profitable commerce, lézitimately | longing to us by reason of our geographieat pos:tion which has bedn diverted into other. is by to) of regular steam: communications with other c tries not so favorably situated as ours for tonductin extensive trade with Brazil. At presevt our ouly regular and reliable route of p« communication with Brazt! and adjacent South Ame! range, aac of so cPlonrtanistsieing o auvet F of, those countries maintaining « subsid Hoe of mail steamers plying to and from Rio Jan established nominally for postal Ly opt but real the, interest of commerce, which 1s fostered and d loped by regular Inail steamehip communication. ROUTE FROM SAN 'FRANOMRCD) TO JAPAN AND CHINA y COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES, ‘There are other ocean routes besides the one to Br} which dan be snfely and profitably occupied by Ame: | Noes of mail gieamers, route bety San Francisco, Japan aod Chin | by foreign mall packets, is 40 a commercial oC little longer, if any, than those bet these distant regions, alded ‘by the superior ex tion of. railway ‘te the Ath such facilitie wil “make ‘* practical nece for the-eommercial :: Europe, tries of Asa. 1 considerations, and othérs whioli'wilf®readily su; toemseives, render it important that Pacific properly belonging to us, should be by Amer, mail the profite of whiel, with the additic ould justit; lines, w ‘AID 0 PROJEOIRD BTRAMSUBR, 4INES. Experienre has demonstrated oy. licy of priating targe sums Of money out of" Public trea, to gratify wspitit of vational emulationan the supp G exponsive mail. service upon routes the. profits of wi} are Siete ‘steamships of other bations, aod _ oat ‘the Ce meget ponrne to'be ser tof our sale noes, ot Erect incidental aid to pAtecies, stam Noes to boring countries as thy nd open up tf after their establishment open up t citizens new avenues of profitable and comme!) The principle adopted im the: lat muthorizing steamship service to Brazil, of inviting competitor the service, is in sach harmovy with the spirit of com: policy, and promises s6:beneficent result to commend itself to my 88 one that shoul invariably adnered to, But if there bea departure f this polley it may be well to.consider the expedienc adopting the pian of using a portion of the large our Of government vessels that will be unempioy: opr ion of peace in the forming of m: Ting with) principalcommercial marts of the world io such ma) s will promote the interests of commerce in the t1! portation of persons and property. g Including the suspended post offices, inclu suspen on the 30th Jane, 1564, was 28,878, fw the loyal and 6,902 ia the disloyal States. bér of Presidential offices is 705, and 28,173 are under, appo'ntment of the Postmaster General, Dariog the year 619 post offices bave been estadlis! ‘788 discontinued and 211 changes made of names sites, The number of cases acted upon was 5,579. 1 thousand sevea hundred and thirteen postmasters t been appointed, of whom 3.023 were to fill vacancies casioned by resgnations,674 by removals, 259 by de 183 by change of names and sites an@619 on catab | ment of pew offices, j The fifth section of the act above re‘erred to au Fires the Postmaster General to allow at the office of York, and at the offices of the first and second ciast roasonable sum for the necessary cost of rent, fuel, li whole nu: 16 aod clerks. No authority is given to allow for 07 necessary items,such as repairs of furniture, clean stationery, pri and 01 incidentals requireci large oMces, and I beg leave to that the nel] sary authority be given to appropriate = reason: amount out of the revenues of the respective officer meet such contiagencies, ; SPECIAL AGENTS AND BAGGAGE MasTens. At the close of the fiscal year there were twenty / cial agents, whose salaries amounted to $34,100; 1 tundred and fourteen route agents, receiving $313,¢ Ofty-three local agents, $32,002, and one hundred fi masters in charge of éhrough sod exp! mails, $6,730. LETTER CARRIRRR, ‘The free delivery of mail matter by carriers bas b Introduced at sixty-six oflices, employ ing, at present, carriers, at an aggregate anogal compensation i . NUMPER OF DEAD LETTERS RECRIVED. ‘The number of dead letters of every description ceived and examined during the your was 3,508,! being an increase of 958,409 over the preceding y« attributable mainly to the return of large number army and navy letters which it was for im practica to deliver. MONEY AND OTHER VALUANLN Lerrars. Daring the year there were registered and remall the respective owners, as contaming money, 25. letters, containing an aggregate of $131,611, of Bamber 20,050, $104,685, were dolive: department, ‘bo: ors, Aud persons chiefly to soldiers and a ently at places of mailing or ress. The number of dead letters containing papers of vali other tham money, as deeds, bills of exchange, dra) checks, &c., received, registered, and returued for livery to the owners, was 12,496, and the sominai vi of the enclosures therein was $1,615,604, being an crease over the provious year of 4,104, or about fifty cont, while the mecrease in the value of the enclos was but $71.416 The oumber of these letiers delive ‘was 11,378, or ninety per cent, LETTERS CONTAINING LIKENESERS, JEWKLRY, TC. During the year 45,880 letters and packages were ceived containing r photograph, Aageerreotypee and al oles Cope thie Dumber, 29,999 were seas out delivery, 26,607 of whictr contained photozraphs and Guerrecty pos, 1,410, articles of Jeweiry, and 1,982, ot Miscellaneous articies. Of the whoie oumber sent ¢ 18,213 were dolivered to either the senders or parties jressed, the pcstage on which amounted to $1.044. SALN OF ARTICLE# NOT DELIVERED fa Bay last a iarge m 1 of puckages containing 2 Cellageous articies which bad been accummlating (or ral years, were classified and sold at public auction, proceeds amounting to $1,175, AGGREGATE: OF VALUAMEN LETTERS, The number of ble dead lotters registered Bont vut for delivery wae U8,187, being 23,974 more tH the precoding year, and there were returned to th jutant General's, Quartermaster Genoral’s and other 10 oifices 11,116 ‘lettors and packages sootainiay muis rolls, descriptive Lists aod soldiers’ discharge pip: 66,691 lotters containing postage stamps and mouoy, Joes guras than ope dollar, oF articies of less than ¢ dolint 9 value, were returned to the sendors, UNMATLASLE LETTERS. RTC, The aumber of lotiers whied It was found imposatd! forward irom the ollces witere deposited, ar to dover the parties addrersed, bew uso of the poutage bong Paid, oF on account of being ilegibly directed, and wh. Were I CoHsequence ENE to Lhe dod letter oillc®, 116,912. Of this number 72,074 were “beid for portage being addressed to foreizn countries, to woich the p bere Of postage ts compuisory, orto those country A large number of this oy address wh: er, and ip Instances contained enclosures of valve Daring the your there were received at the depart 5.112 applications for missing letters, for ail of examinations were made and the applicants notif the resuit LETTERS ADDRSIRD TO PLACHS WITHIN THE REARLLIOUR BT At A large oumber of letters addressed to rebel localit] Dare beeg revuraed (rom various qouryes W Whe