Newspaper Page Text
IHFwASIUNGTOK UNIOK,I ^S^Jvg- ^ . i ? \ pnbltaM b/GUHMILIls Wiaimj., ( - ' i a '. W ^f|W A f) I 4 ;j l.x<k/" .4L I " _ 1 uib* UNION WJUHNCiN, L at , Wt MtU>u?J3h 4 11 [W J " ' iff V A , >- -\ ' ?> ^ij 8 ' ^ ^ ^ A A. a >i>ll.t lu ?mI?k ribew. l^~vK=ir:s AsMJJJp fptilSIJlItMlflll ilt nil =~s=s? BeifeHS, wiU U# cUkifod S8 per *biium. ^ ' ^L| . l/A L ?'w .?x ?<i tu? I 4,llli*uko; uUixcrlbrr#, and not TIlKtlMIMVltKKr.; IMOJI, will L? |.biil?.l V NrJuwtaJ >l?i Saturday, at $1 |~t auijuui for otla Ko|>) , flu I " ~~ ~-~TT=?- - '?- Til -.? ?* AKVKnTlfiVO tfcpor i "J"1'. ?U?l Ho luj li , t '*#J':t t> ^ 1 J i ' i ^^ ^' ' ' |1 ?I I 1 ,?k. ht.kki y i-.\joA,. ru,y ur?, r<?MoMrv ? i. "miitr, union, j(m> ub oamrnru'riox." - - ?' '? :J2 I ? 22I2UEi!? (in,Aiioo ?IU ?H |,..bli, I . I ,i?ry ^.mnu, iio.n.lug . ,t tU f?l 1 : ? ' ' .. <-. 1 i?? ' " J I MU4 : '"f f"1' cut'y,?- f?r atmuiii ; Uiro* o> iMca lor U flv. \/lll V I1/ MA ,>/>.. ?ar . / - . - _ ? ?? ' ? - 1 ? ? . __ Ei*h?l,i..? - -- _.t . w ?" ?i- u.ut). ..k-a.wu,?intt ?id,tu HjL. AI\. JNU. 200. \\ ASM I NTf J-Tf i V riTV \rnw clii\ , i. , ,, ' i.r. , |.U.u. iii.) toli.tbttua ?l ?uy ... M Villi I JU lUi> LJ 11, \\ Pj J ) \ RSI) A \ |)| f ' VI |>|t [) , , InfO . '^rouuwteai,, I ? ' A 1, 8, 1858. TWO CENTS. -.X'-^TJZZXJSri ' ~ ' ? ? a,,. ,i u.41.,, rW(.t On'w. 1 liKFOHT OF THE POSTMASTER UENEKAL. I ? - ? ( Post Orwt Dcr iktuknt, ] December 4, 1S58. TotKt PrUiuuU c/ the I ndeJ Statu Hm I have tlie honor to submit the following report 1 of the operations anil business of the Post Office 1 Vp.111- 1 giaut since my communication to you of 1st Decorubei last 1 k&l'ukm mail aowla. i lu my laitt uunual report allusion vmih mode to iin- ' provoweuU which were expected to result from tlur urn- ' ploymeut of expns* events to accompany mails on tlio ureal routes from Near York, Philadelphia, and Baltiluore, westward Such service t?n now h'en in dion lone enough to 1 (leniuiibti lie lh.it its laporldlM WM|M( OVM estimated. Aveutb?t.iitwillithegie.il ijiii:i.1 morning ulul evening ' from New York foi ti e West?the hitter going through ' with ut i luiiiee to i'ineiiiniiti ; the former to ( leveUud - 1 and being held to strict accountability for all mail l>ogs 1 placed under their charge. Mniilai agencies lire estublbhcd between t.'illcilinati Mi l St. Louis ; and those between Baltimore and Cln- < niniiti and l'kilailelpliia and ' 'ineiniiiiti, referred to lust 1 year, have continued in successful operation. The latter 1 unite is just changed -o n.s to in do- ('liieie;o, instead of 1 Cincinnati, u terminus; and , the express mails will lie 1 nuveyed throu-'h i" about thirty - - i x hours between ( Philadelphia mid Chicago. The Cincinnati mails for the 1 ... I 1 I..1.;., .,.,,1,. will l?. in Ww Yorh < *- I mil """*"*"* ? ? * ? p? ..is agents between (.'resume ami Cincinnati 1 < 'I'liu advantages of keeping mails under the constant su- | jiervisionof the agents of this di'iKirtiuent, for the longest \ distances practicable to lie run, are no apparent that some of the usual shorter routes for agents in different sections ! have been consolidated, and fuithcr ciiunges of this sort will he mode from time to time, as far us consistent with i the proper assortment of mails for way offices; while it i may also he found neeessary to increase the number of | express routes for delivering closed hags, without refer- I , euee to tiro exchange of mails hot ween the smaller offices. ; The number of stieli hags, already very great, must he j i multiplied more and more, in order to avoid the delays j | incident to distribution on the way between remote jrohits; ; and nothing short of tlio undivided attention of agents ] directly resjsinsilile to tliis dep irtinoiit can insure for i the mails such regularity and safety as the public , have tliu right to expect. 'J'lie govornihont, having , by law the monopoly of the mail service, should , spare no efforts or expense to place it above the , reproach which lias attached to it of being behind , individual enterprise as to certainty and speed, and | less adapted to the wants of trade and commerce in their i widely-extended rainifications, which can only lie satis- ] tied with a mail system combining all possible elements , slid appliances to make it perfect, as far as human agency can lie effective to tbut end. NKW YORK AND NEW ORIJIANS ROI'TB. 1 On tlio lot day of July List an arrangement took effect | ly which mails were to he conveyed between Washing- | t. a and Mew Orleans 111 four and a half days, by way of lliihmond and Lynchburg, Virginia, Uristol, Knoxville, I Chattanooga, and Grand Junction, Tennessee, and Jack- i t son, Mississippi, all by railroad, with the exception of a j t Hap of ninety miles in Mississippi, between tlie uniin- , ished (tortious of the Mississippi Central It id road, which i< supplied by stage service. So far as the time is con- ' ( earned, coming north, (from New Orleans to Washington,) the whole service lias lately been performed j with but few interruptions, although in the beginning there were some unexpected difficulties connected iiitli the stage portion of the route. Going south, tin' schedule contemplated the running of cars by night Iiuiq Canton to New Orleans ; but tlio early appearance j of tlio yellow fever, as an epidemic, and its great viru- ' ] It-ace, interposed a serious obstacle in the way of tillsscr- I 1 vi.i' tin' milmnd eoninanv crmuidnriiur il I,, fl,,.',. , Interest* to approach the infected district, except during < the day time. The mails won: 11ms necessarily delayed ] ever night (12 hours) nt Canton, and dollvered in Nov | Orleans twelve hours liehind the stipulated time. Assurances have, however, been given that such delay shall i uo longer continue, and it is not doubted that tho con- i tract schedule will soon he fully complied with, insuring \ tire delivery of mails from Washington at New Orleans i within four and a half days. < The parties to the foregoing arrangement have further i stipulated that from and after 1st July next the time shall I tie reduced twenty-four hours, making the comiuuuica- : t tion between Washington and New Orleans in three days \ I and a half, or between New York, and New Orleans within i four days. ! i The mail service in general between New York and i New Orleans, during the past year, has iiocii rather | more exempt from the delays and irregularities by which 1 i it lias usually been characterized, and there is scarcely n ! i doubt tli.it very great improvements will lie etfoctcd du- j t ring the next year by tlie completion of a continuous and ( direct railroad connexion through Virginia, Tennessee, and t Mississippi ?that is, via Oordonsville (instead of ltich- j ? uiond) to kynclilmrg ; thence to Knoxville, Tennessee, ! and direct to Chattanooga, (omitting Dalton, Georgia;) j thence to Graiirl .liinrthui, and over the Mississippi (!en- j trol ami New Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern rail- i roads. 1 last year referred to routes established by law, and 1 advertised by Litis department, from Cedar Key, Florida, ' c to New Orleans, and from Fcrnautlina, Florida, to i ( New York, in steuinem, as being designed, in con- i nexioii with a railroad in course of construction t across the peninsula of Florida, from Fernandina to Cedar , Key, to constitute a new route from New York to New ( Orleans, with a view to the speedier and more certain i transmission of the great nm them and southern mails, i I communicated proposals which had been received to u cuiivuy mails between New York and New Orleans in live day a, coupled with the condition that no pay would | u I* demanded for any trip not performed within Unit [ <] time, ami called attention to the subject as one of vast t public interest. My views of this new route remain unchanged ; but owiug to the unfinished condition of the t lailrcnd, as well as the largo expenditure of money in- .'I V?lved, no progress has been made in the negotiations on a the lubject. sr. mi is ami sew oulkaxs mail. r nie hope was indulged last year that before tills time * railroad connexions would be so nearly completed that < P the great thrjiujh mails between Cairo and New Orleans j 1 iv iiild lie conveyed much more expeditiously and regul>dy than can be done, in the nature of things, by steamtints. f' 'Phi* improvement has not yet been effected, but iufor- " matioii has lieon received withiu a few.days which renders ; K' it certain that the railroad communi -ation will be opened J 151 hef-re the end of this year. I ^ Anticipating this state of tilings, the department, lit j the Idlings of contracts, divided tho Mississippi rivci routes us follows : I lwoin St. Louis, via Cairo, to Mempliis, three times u ' " week. tr Irom Naslivillo, via Cairo, to Memphis, tlireo times a rt W| k ; tlie two routes running on alternate days, making j ''' '* trips weekly each way between Cairo and Mempliis. \ H from Memphis to NewOrlcaus, six times a week, with " u;)c additional weekly trip between Mempliis and Napo- | 1N ?uu iour aoainoBU weekly tiips between 8t. Fran-1 wville nll(t jjew Orleans. 11 Tuc cast of the mail aorvioe by there router between 1,1 '' lirosod New Orleans in $2t;2,t>l8 ;*r annum, whicli ''' Wnuiit, compare'I with the cost of the steamboat see- | vi'" in operation up to 30th June last liotweou the same i '' points, 11432,333,) shown a giving of $1(10,715ptr (innurn; \ " i* peculiarly gratifying, in view of the nic.it redm | ''' lion of cod, to state, us I am enabled to do, that t lie new j "vice in )n all respects nj >re satisfactory than tiie old. ; 1M 'ii* l>erfortjiail with the utmost possible regularity, and 1,1 ssonU (-very facility that em Iks reasonably expected l?y j 'i'1 )HfO[ le who are directly Uitcrertnl iu the Mississippi '' river mails. <" I lie rhortcst time bv the river between Cairo and New j'" deans has been four days "re anticipated railroad service, cm Jackson aqd Grand :l'' '""'lion. Tennessee, and Canton, Mroi -ippi, will proba- i ll* I" "formed iu two days each way, ami at n cost oi "" """it $111,425 pfr annum. This sum, ml.led to the e\ I*'1 for the river mails under the new contracts, coin- I ""ing 1st lull last, ($2I)'J. M8,) makes fill lM>tli the 1 ""'land river routes $379,043 />.t annum, l-.iving at ill a OM ' -nin of I.1-!?,?!)!) /*r annum over the coat of the river alone u)> to 30th June I wt Hr no OVERI.AKO MAIL BOt'TK. (n it the last ie?>ion of Congress I reported fully the j dope tU.it hod boon taken to cany into execution the act >f Congress, approved 3d March, 1857, authorizing the foetmaster Oeneral to contract for the conveyance of tliw utile letter mail between the Mississippi river and San Krunciaoo. The conUuct was executed on the ltith September, ls67, and service commenced within the twelve months, latuely, on 15th September, 1858, ugreeubly to th? pro vUioiiM of ho id act. The department is happy to announce it* conducive uid triuinpluuit success. Its departure and arrival were muouncod willi unbounded demonstrations of joy and - sulfation. 1 submit a detailed report of Mr iiailey, the agent of this department, who came over in tho hint lino of si iges which left Suit Francisco for St. I/iuis. It will ho an important docunieut, not leas instructive at the present time than it may lie interesting and curious !o those who, iu after-times, may he desirous to kuow tiy what energy, skill, and perseverance the vast wilderless was lirst penetruted hy the mail stages of the 1'uited States, and the two great oceans united hy the longest ind most important land route ever established in any :ouutry, TMIt'AXTU'BC ROITK. l$y an act ol Congress of March 3, 1855, a route wus istaldishod from Now Orleans, hy llic istlimusof Tuhuail epoc, to Han Francisco. It was advertised for tho next egular lotting* of contracts in the sniing of 185li. hut io bids were received. In December, 1.857, tiie same route wits re-advertised. >111 y ouo proposal was received, uml that was tor seinijtoutlily service, at $2811,000 per annum. It not having km.1 n accepted, negotiations were opened by the bidders with the department, which resulted iu making a contract on Juno 8, 1858, with the Louisiana 'i'ehuantepec Jompany on the following terms, viz : To convey mails from New Orleans, by Miuatitlan, iuchil, Veutsxsa, and Acapuloo, to San Francisco, twiiv a month and back, in safe and substantial steamers between New Orleans and Miuatitlan ; in safe and substantial rircr steamers between Miuatitlan and Stichii, and in [tost coaches or good covered spring wagons between Su,'ldi and the Pacific ; the residue of the route to Sun Francisco in stomoeis, tlie pay to be ut the rute of $28(1,1)00 per annum, with tiiu understanding that the mails may tic exchanged witli the line between Panama and San Francisco, at or near Acapulco, without change of pay ; and witli the further understanding that the mails may lie exchanged with the aforesaid line at Veutosa, or other port within a short distance of that place, ut the wnual compensation of $1250,000. Service to commence it any time bctweeu the first day of (X'tolier and the first Jay of November, 1858, and to terminate on the 30th lay of September, 1850. Koch trip to be performed in fifteen days. The service actually commenced on tlio 27th of October, 1858, under auspices which, it is believed, promise complete success. Besides being an additional channel of communication with California, which may tend to bring about competition at a future letting of contracts for thu whole uiail jervice between tint two oceans, this route ulfords to certain sections of the Union the advantage of six days' closer connexion witli California than has heretofore been enjoyed. Asfarnoithor east as New York it has the nlvuntagc of one day ; and iu cases of emergency, by using the telegraph, that city, equally with New Orleans, ruay communicate with the Pacific coast six days ufter the departure of tho Panama'line. This contract was made in pursuance of suggestions iu tho following letters, addressed to the lion. William H. Knglish on the 24th and 23lh of May last, iu response to inquiries uiade on the subject : Post Office Dsi'autul-vt, Washington, May 24, 1858. Sir : In reply to your communication of the 20th instuut, i have tho honor to state that no contract lias been entered Into with any party or parties to curry the Juliforniu mails by the Tehuantopec route. Applications for such a contract having been refieatedly made verbally, mil perhaps in writing, the department advertised for prototals, which may be seen in Cite printed pamphlet of proposals for Ixiulsi&ua, page 51. Having advertised fur proposals on this line, and revived one or more bids on it, tliedepartincut, after taking iu liable time lor deliberation, bos come to the conclusion to establish mail servk.. thereon from New Orleans, >ia Teliuautepec, to Acapulco, provided a satisfactory xmtruct can he mode for that purpose. The service s not proposed to Is: put on further than to Acupulco, iiccauKo the present line of steamers from Panama to san Francisco always toucli at Acapulco and can take on the New Orleans mail and passengers. It s not, however, proposed to make the first contract for i longer period than one year from the 1st of October seat, so that this contract anil the one from New York to Aspinwall may expire at the same time. Iu the course if this year the practicability of the Teliuautepoc route may have been fully tested, and its capability to furnish he shortest, cheapest, and safest muil route to California ully demonstrated. The department, by simultaneous a pi ration of the contracts on these two routes, will he mablod to determine which one to select, or whether to tcep up both, accommodating Hie mails and thu pusseu;ers from New York and New Orleans, respectively, but laying each according to tho amount of inuil service enderod. It is allegod that by shirting this line from New Oreaiis correspondence from the Atlantic side will lie revived nearly one week later than at present, and from California to the Atlantic States in like proportion. That s to say, that whilst letters sent from Boston and New York o California by Panama would roach Acapuloo uliout ? lays after they had been written, others sent from New ! )rlcun*, via Teliuautepec, to Acupulco, would reach there ' n about ? days ; thu-, practically furnishing nearly a veekly muil, instead of a semi-monthly communication I si ut present. The terms of Ihc contract uro not yet delii.ilcly settled, .lid therefore cannot lie ret forth ; but the department j Iocs not anticipate much ditticulty iu being able to obtain he service on reasonable ami satisfactory terms. /The untlioiity of this depaitment to make such a con- . root may be found in the 2<1 section of the act of Murcli t I, 1H.M, which the l'ostinaster General considers ample j ml undoubted. Serious doubts have been expressed as to whether the ' e.ul has been yet or will be made iu time sufficient fur j he performance of the contemplated service, The do- [ ailment, however, will take care in making any oonrnct to provide that where there is no service there shall | e no pay, and that no tines or forfeitutcs shall be remit- j ?l for failures urising from want of a suitable rood, or | rom obstacles presented by the insufficiency of the river avigation, or of the bays at either terminus of the trant. If, therefore, the liver, luiy, or road shall not be ifficicnt, the contractors, not the government, will lie ic losers by it. The Tehuantepec route lias long been a favorite one ith the government ami |ieople of the United States, o opportunity has been lost in endeavoring to secure it. aving at last secured it by the terms of the Gadsden caty, and a reasonable probability now existing that the mte lias been or will iu a short time be placed in a conition to receive the service, the department sees no good musm why it should not enter on tire enjoyment, of lose advuutuges so earnestly desired and so long anticirted hy tlie people and government of the United States. Iu pro]MM<iug to make this contract, tire l'ostinaster eiioial does not intend to decide any controversy which aw exists or may hereafter arise lictwceii rival claimants uder the grants or decrees of the Mexican government, fho ure tho true owners of tlie right to make the road is ft to tiie proper tribunals to determine. It is enough for tho department that parties of unlubted reSDonsibllitv. claim in'/ to l>? in rn., >:ui ami to Ik: the lawful owner* of it, have proposed to ' irlorru the desired service. If in this there shall be any is take, the contract with the parties will terminate with eir loss of the rood, su<l the department be as ready toconiu t with the successful claimants a>; with the present io?. In any point of view it would seem to bo the Inrest of the true owner of this right, whoever he may , that this contract should be made. It will materially J in the early completion of the road, and furnish the j uiranee that after the llnite l States shall have entered | it in the transmission of her in tils, no wanton or Hie- | I revocation of the right would be tolerated. The ilepartinent, In arriving at the conclusion that tho j i tie hod conic when tliuamail service of tho United Stales gilt to hi' placed upon this new ami additional route, j s not been influenced in the slightest degree by more ogiuplilc.il partialities. Kightly considered, there aro ! : rival and separate interests of tho north or northeast j i he prejudiced hy the establishment of this route ! < If it be shorter, safer, and more expeditious tnan other | t ronton, it can aud will be adopted by tlin |>ool>lo of that IKirtiou of the Unite.) KUtrn, both for |K>stnl auil travelling purposes, as freely and fully as by those ol the went or southwest. If it present no such striking advantages, then more southern transits, such us Panama, Cidriqul, and Nicaragua, will continue to bo used by all the north era or northeastern portion of tlio Union, whilst that ol IVhtuur tepee would probably be used by ihe people of the ! western or southwestern Mates. whose geographical yon lions render it to them tin most desirable transit. I um, very respectfully, your obedient servant, AAKON V. BROWN. Hon. William H. KxuLmit, Chairman Committee Cost Offices and l'ost Heads. Post Omi t Ukpaiummit, May 25, 1858. J Sm : In additiou to what was submitted to you on yesterday In favor of now establishing the lVhuaulejiec route ; to California, I beg leave to -ay that, In one point ol j view, the whole nation as a unit may become deeply In- j ti?t futfil if. f li*y muvMiifnl t\f thin rfintj> Tehuaut*|>ec is nearer to us, and lion witliiu the Gulf of Mexico, which Ik destined to be hereafter an A me titan 3iu, over the whole of which the United States must exercise, froin overruling motives, a distinct mid masterly control. It is therefore fair to conclude that u transit across T<*huaiite]a-o in tone of war could and would be more easily uud evitainly protected from falling into the hmuU of an enemy than any more distant one. In coming to the uoociuaiuu to establish thin additional mail line, the department haa not permitted oousideia tlons of the [leraonal interest of individuals on other lines to deter it from action. Those whocmburked their means in tlie construction of a railroad across the Panama route knew tliat they hud to encounter the advantages of the Chliiqui transit, wii.li all the superiority which deep and tranquil hurlxirs on both oceans conferred upon it. They knew, also, that the Nicaragua lake would raise up against llicm a most formidable competition. All who embarked in any of these Central American lines also knew that Tehuautcpcc, by its contiguity to the territory of the United States on both oceans, and its more defensible position, must, in some future day, become an object of peculiar interest to the American people. All this they knew, and must, therefore, he presumed to taly for successful Investment on no implied obligation on the part of the government not to favor the constiuction of any utbet p.vssway across tint Isthmus which time and future discovery might show to be more convenient uud useful. Those who him- embarked their menus in tiro construction of this road over Tehuantepec have had to euooun- | tor the subsequent establishment of uiany overland . routes to California, which must necessarily be more or less detrimental to their Interest. Monopolies on none of these transit routes, either across the Isthmus or on the main laud, ought ever to be encouraged or even tolerated. The United States have never sought to make them such. In every right of transit which they have either sought or obtained they desires I no exclusive privileges for themselves. They have always regarded the right of way over that narrow strip of country which unites the two American continents as a great public necessity, and which must, therefore, he enjoyed by all the civilised and com tnerciai nations of the earth. It must be on this ueoos sity that a large portion of flic world is compelled to | have transit over all these routes, that individuals who ! embark their means in their construction must rely for | the success of their investment. Fortunately for them, j there Is more danger that, after all, there will he too j few, instuad of too many, of these great thoroughfares : to meet the wants of mankind. The two American | continent* stretch themselves out in so long a liue I north and south that they intercept the commerce, j the travel, and the correspondence of more than half j the habitable globe. The sail has given way to the steam verse), arid the passion tor expedition demands tho most direct passage in the shortest possible time. The depart- j : moDt but yields to this universal temper of tho age when I it istublishe* this line from New Orleans by Telliumtcpec i to California. Tim passengers from tiie southern and , southwestern (states, who desire to go to California, will j go longer lie required to go hundreds of miles in the j wrong direction in order to start for California, hut, go- | ing to their own natural emporium, New Orleans, stun out direct and make the journey in nearly half the time I and with half the expense now required. So of all eor- j rcspondonce to and from the same region of country. Till* ejjxxf of my reasons and views became necessary in consequence of my uvo val, in tliu early part of this letter, that, although I had not closed the contract, yet I had concluded to do so, and that nothing remained but | the adjustment of tliu terms of It. , With this apology for the length of this comniuulea- j. tion, I remain your obedient servant, AARON V. BROWN. Hon. Wuliav II. English, Chairman Committee l'ost Olticos and Post Roads. t'TAH ROITK. The routes between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Salt Isvke City, and between Salt Lake and l'laccrville, California, have been so improved, that the trips through from St. Joseph to l'iacorville, and buck, are performed once u week in thirty-eight days each way. For some months post this service has been pcrfotmed ; with reinaikuble regularity, insomuch as to merit special j commendation. It bus received from tho people of California the ' warmest applause, and culled foith public demonstrations of a most enthusiastic character. By act of Congress of August 3, 185-i, a mail route, was established from Neosho, Missouri, to Albuquerque, ! New Mexico ; and oil March 3, 1835, a route was estate j lished from Independence, by Albuquerque, to Stockton' j These routes were udver.isod in December hist, at the uigciit solicitation of citizens interested in that section of country, and contractu were entered into with tliu lowest bidders for convoying mails from Neosho to Albuquerque, once a month und back, at $17,000 ycr annum ; and from Independence, by Albuquerque, to Stockton, uuco a moii th, at $80,000 jxr annum. j Service commenced on the 1st of Octolier last, and. al- i , tbolicli sufficient time Iiiii. ??nt cl.i..Jlul l.. nil .0' ... I ? - c - - I'" " "" "? ?" ? ? port* uk to iU progros-i, there iH every reason to believe that the contract* will lie fulfil led. and tho mail* ( conveyed to the satisfaction of the department mid the j public. | THE WM'KNHKK O* THE Dll'AlTIIEXT. 1 The cxpcuscH of the department, over mid above its revenues, have regularly increased ever since the reduction of postages. It would, however, be obviously erroneous to suppose that this chnige upon the treasury is to progress in a ratio proportionate to what it Iiah been for the last few 1 years. Our |KiHtAl system Is now extended oyer the whole country faum one ocean to the other. There can be but little further expense resulting from overland connexion witli California and the other Pacitic States anil Territo rics. Kxeept one other route, commonly called the north- t em mute, from St. l'aul, in Minnesota, to Seattle, in Washington Territory, no other is now thought of as he- 1 f ing likely to become necessary. Tho estimate for the transportivlion of the mulls for the next fiscal year, , 1859 '60, when completed, over and above the anticiputed revenues, may therefore la; regarded us the maximum which will probftbly lie required for some time to come. If, however, Congress in its wisdom shall not bo willIng to sco such an amount mode chargeable to the teens- (l ury in future, tho following suggestions, as to the means ( of keeping the expenses within the revenues ot the de- 0 partmcnt, are respectfully submitted : An act of Congress should tie p issed explanatory of the H net of March 3, 1845, which mukes it "the duty of the t Postmaster General, In all future lettings of contracts for r the transportation of the mails, to let the Hatuu, in every f case, to tlfO lowest Ifirfrjer tciplering sufficient guaranty , for faithful perfeftnanco, without other reference to fhc j, mode of such transportation than may lie nocossury to o proviilu for the due celerity, certainty, and security of ? such transportation " And to make the law mure nip d phatic, It should provide tlmt the Postmaster General ? shall not in any case whatever accept a bjd for mail set 0 vice havlmr JU>? is fnnmuM tit (lu> .a - ?r. j } | I or trcight of any kind other than regular mail matter. i u The flToct of suoh legislation would Ik1 (o substitute : 1 stages with two homos mi routes tvhort) four-homo cum lie; ' a ltr? now employod, while stages In their turn would give | V place to the buggy, ami, indued, oftentimes to hornelim. k' g conveyance. In the f?w o.ises where four-homo vehicle* ' u would he necessary, on lu.count of the largo amount yf | ci mail matter, the dilterence between the cost of pifcMingor i I ooai lie? and the pint no r and choaixn wagon, sufficient for | ft oiiveying the mails, would lie very coisiderable, and an, : si ilso, a proportionate saving would rt .it in the cast; of I g stages when changed tu a plainer ami chuaiwr conveyance of equal capacity. If the whole transportation of the mails were thus arranged, by mean* of what are commonly culled ami known tut "star bida." It would accomplish a reduction in the tiansportution mxount of probably one million of dollars per auuuui. The entire discontinuance of four borne ami two-horse mail coaches would not necessarily follow ; for, wherever the number of possengept would make it profitable, contractors would still employ coach servicu. Whenever the travel ou any route offers no such inducement, there exists no obligation ou the part of government to pay an extra sum fur mail service in order to promote the convcuienco of travellers. The rapid extension of railroads has contributed most largely tar swell the expenditures of the department. W herurci a new rouil is o)H-ncd it becomes necessary to couvey mails on It, and almost iuvsiiably at a rate of |siy far above that on coach routes, w hile, in many iu. lances, the latter must I. continue I or other service provided for the othces which are not reached by the railroad, thus doubling the expense. As an example, It may he stated that the ruilroad service between Cumberland, Maryland, and Wheeling, Vlr glnla, including route agents and mail passengers, now cists- - $44,995 per annum Hsrvice in ul?o necotMrjr on tiro old sftge route at---- ?-? 6,9110 per annum Total-- 50,BUS per annum. Beforu the completion of tho railroad the highest [tay for conveying the through mail on this route wa?--> 27,<;00 per annum. Increase - 23,295 per annum, or nearly 100 |>or cent. Hut if it tie desired to relieve tho treasury from the requisition* upou it for the service o( this department, it will be necessary not only to reduce expenses by disconnecting tho mails from the tran pollution of passengers arid freight, hut to increase the revenue by the im|ioHillon of rates of postage approaching more nearly the value or coat of transportation and delivery of letteis and printed matter. A move in this diiection was made at the last session of Congress by the introduction of a hill in the Senate having for its chief objects the raising of the three-cent rate upon letters to five cents, and the abolition of the discount now allowed by law for the payment of newspaper and pamphlet iMintage quarterly or yearly in advance. It is believed that the effect of this bill would be to iuisc iiiu luvuiiuc ir(.>ni posiuges uuoui. ?.>,ouu,uuu, ivimoui Liking into view the provision it contains in relation to tho transmission of public (locum ate. Tint immense musses of heavy books ami documents sunt through the mails to all parts of tire country devolve a very considerable expense upon the department for larger means of transportation than would bo required for tiro ordinnry mails. This expense, it is true, is compensated in part by the annual appropriation of $700,000 from lire treasury by the acta of March 3, 1817, and March 11, 1851; but this allowanci- is not believed to Is' one-half of wliut such matter would amount to if charged with postage. The discontinuance or modification of tire franking privlegu having been suggested by several of my predeces sors as a moans of increasing tire revenue, I shall not now notice the subject further than to present for consideration such a modification of it as it uppcurs to me can be readily adapted without subjecting members of Congress to tire charge of postage on their personal or official correspondence. It is proposed that in lieu of tliu franking privilege now allowed by law to meinlaus of Congress, the .Secretary of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House, or such other officer as may be designated for tlie purpose, furnish the members with postage stumps to tie used on all letters, public documents, and packets transmitted by them in the mails, and keep un account of tiie stamps furnished to each momber, to lie paid for out of the contingent fund of each House. It is further proposed that all letters and packets, except newspapers addressed to members of Congress, shall lie prepaid at the lflfeiling office. In this way the department would be compensated for the service rendered without a resort to the inconvenience of keeping daily minute accounts of the iiosluge chargeable on such mail matter. It is evident, ou the slightest reflection, that the whole theory on which the Post Office Department was originally founded bus been in a groat measure departed from. , Its great function, for many years, was the transmission ' of mail matter proper, such as letters, newspapers, and j light pamphlets, from otic part of the country to another. | Tho idea of the government becoming a common currier > of |iersons and liicrcltandiso was never entertained. Hut ! wli.it is the transmission of the immense moss of book- ; matter, amounting annually to hundreds of tons, but merchandise, whether sent from private book establishmi nts or from the two houses of Congress ? In a single i instance, tlio transmission of tho books, &c., of one mem- i her (from Utah) lias cost the department between six and seven thousand doll us. Why c iniiot these be forwarded under the direction of the Sccretaiy of the .Semite and Clerk of the House, cither by tho ordinary modes of conveyance, or by the application of postage stamps, as on other mail matter 1 Another consideration forcibly presses itself on the mind lit relation to tills department, i Many ocean steam lines have been established, not really j to meet the postal wauls of the country, but to give aid ; uud assistance to our growing and expanding commerce. The department could li.ivo no returns in postages that ! would at nil compensate for their expensiveness ; still, i us it was of the first importance to commerce and ngvi- ; culture to have such lines, the duty of e.ituhlishiug them, j it WTjf; thought, hud as well be devolved upon the Post i Office Department as on an3' other. The great necessity and propriety of establishing con- ' noxion with our distant uosscs.-ions 011 the Pacific, both by Mil anil land, won universally acknowledged. 'i'lie route by I'm i am a Ims never repaid in postages half its ex[k.-iiso ; yet tbe nation lun? been, in her trade and commerce, remunerated a thousand fold. Ho of the grout ! overland ronton, the main one uf which has beou estab- | lis hod by the express enactment of Congreee. None of j the latter can ever inuko postal returns at all proportion- j ite to their cost ; but through their agency nearly one- I hall of our republic will lie developed in its agricultural . uid mineral resources. Other references iniglit ire made j dearly showing that the 1'ost Oitice has of late years been made the instrument of ai'ooinplishiug many things ' jf great.national importance not within its original scope ind purpose of merely sending letters and newspaper* from one place to another. It is not fair, therefore, to i ununre its usefulness by the mere receipt of postages, j toy to complain tlyut try accomplishing great ami lasting I jepefiU to the oummsree, to the settlement und security ! if the country, it has brought some charge tin thetrcasu- ! y beyond its contributions. Tbe other departments sublist wholly on the treasury, bringing no returns whatever j nto it. Why, then, should it Ih> tbouglit strange that he I'ost Office Department, when charged with opening low sources of commerce pi the merchants, new markets or our agricultural products, turd placing our government | >nd people In direct and lndc|>cndcut comninicatlon with he other nations of the earth, should not lie able to nc- , omplisl) these great, results upon a three cent postage . >n letters, and on printed matter almost no postage at II ? The exact principle of justice on this whole subject I oncoive to be, that., In conducting its ordinary business f transmitting correspondence, it should l?e thrown enirely on its own revenues Tint whenever any service ' ri the sea or on tire land, is reiptireil of it, pgohriy, if lot exclusively, for national objects?inch as tlie ex ten- i ion of our commerce, the spread of our population, and Ire development of tire various resources of our conn- ! ry the cost thereof, in all fairness, ought to ire borne y tbe national treasury. These national puriioaes, if nc- | itnplislied through the action of the Navy and War I>r- j juthionts, as tl|ey might lyr, would necessarily fall ! n tiro national treasury. What difference, tUun, ; horrid there is: in tlris resi>ect, when the same , 1 pile* are superadded to the post Qfftce (tcpaitnicut, 1 ' i-hose rate of jiostages, its oitly menus of raising rev- j nun, has lx'en adjusted hu very different purjioses ' j 1 t is iri tire light of this distinction that the opeitiorvs uf this department ought to l>o examined, t is no longer a machine composed of horses, stauos. nil mail luff*. for tho tnuvordHilun mainly of tUo pil t|? oorrtapondoupe of individuala i It tine become tho ; root pktqeer of civilisation and progress ; it ii< the agent f conimorce and Intelligence ; it visits every town and ( ity ; it ootnea home to almo.it every domicil of thr conn- i ry ; and ita hipli mim.ion of individual and national use i ilnc?h ought uot to Ihi diminished by any utiaappratianion of it* true charac tor and function*. Applying these ' ( moral remark* to the precise <juo*tion of tbc pi went rate ' t I of postage, I feci bournl to nay that the hut reduction bci low tivo cents mill the discount allowed oo the already ' (nUly reduced rutos on piinte:! matter have greatly curtailed the usefulness of the depui tiucut in extending our mail service with that celerity, frei|uoucy. and unifoiinity to ulI jurts of our country which the spirit of improvement lu every department of limines* nnd of social life i so earnestly demand*. There are many portions of the : United States which have not yet rece'ved satisfactory mail facilities, and are not likely soon to do so witii tliw : present inadequate means of the dopartmeut. | lu a compact and dcuse population the prcrciit rut. 1 might boar some reasonable proportion to the actual cost ' of transportation; but in a widely extended country, like the United States, now reaching from one ocean to the other, and in many |K>itioiis of it thinly populated, three cents would seem to be altogether insufficient to meet the actual expense incurred by Die government in sending forward the letters Heretofore our entire California corrcHpomlunco haa been conducted at ton cents, it being ovu i 3,000 mile* by the l'Anauia V>utc. Since the establishinent of our varioiia overland routes, however, uil our | great cities of the valley of the Mississippi are biought .-m.l.. il... -i niiii ...li..., ...i >l..... ...ill u? >i... i? I.. .... .....CI., ...... .I.CIUC. ..... JM.J .... ...u... f|uute postage o> only three cent* it is not likely tliut the people of the Atlantic State*, and especially of Mich huge cities, will he willing to pay ten cents on their ex tensive correspondence to California, Washington, and Oregon, whilst thone in the Mississippi valley will have to pay only three cents, 'l'o avoid this source of dissatisfaction and the practical inconvenience of having different rates, regulated by distances, it is respectfully sub initted to the (superior wisdom of Congress whet her one uniform rate of tive cents for ull distances would not enlargo the usefulness of the department, dimmish, if it did not entirely prevent, such heavy drafts on the Treasury, and best promote the interest "and convenience of Unpeople. In relation to the franking privilege, it is impossible to tell to what extent it is abused?not ofteu, it is to be hoped, by those to whom it is allowed by law, but by others, who tuku the lilicrty to sign their nauies under some pretended authority to do so, or under uo authority at all. it is ini[>ossiblo for the 28,000 postmasters of the United States to judge of the genuineness of the signatures, and therefore they can do nothing to prevent abuses. In times of national as well as State elections, the post ultiee conveyances ure literally loaded down with partisan documents, for which it is evident somebody should jury, if it is expected that the department should even approximate its own support. Now, if it bo desired by Congress tliut all these documents bo transmitted ut public expense, let the stumps be furnished und charged to mouthers who frank tlium, so that Congress may keep wutch over the privilege# grunted to their own member# end prevent abuse# which this department ha# no power to detect. summit or cost omens. The wliole number of poHt offices in the United States on the 30th June laid wo# 27,1177, of which 400 are of the class denominated presidential. The number established during the last fiscal year was 2,121, and the number discontinued 730?being an increase of 1,391. The number of |s>#tmaslcrs appointed during the year was 8,284. Of those 4,993 were to till vacancies occasioned by resignation, 998 by removal#, 278 by deaths, 292 by change of name# and sites, and 2, 121 on establishment of new offices. The whole number of offices on the 1st cf December, 1858, was 28,573. THANH (MUTATION STATISTICS. Oil the 30th of June last there were in operation 8,296 mail loutes. The number of contractors wus 7,044. The lengtli of these routes i# estimated at 200,(>0.'i i iniles, divided as follows, vis : Railroad- 24,431 miles. Steamboat 17,043 " Conch 53,700 " Inferior grades 185,429 " The total annual transportation of mails was 78,7(15,- ] 491 miles, casting $7,795,418, and divided as follows : Railroad, 25,763,452 miles, at $2,828,301 ; about j eleven cents a mile. Steamboat, 1,569,610 miles, at $1,233,916 ; about twenty -seven cents and two mills a mile. Coach, 19,655,734 miles, at $1,909,844 ; ubout nine cent# and eight mill# a mile. Inferior grade#, 28,876,695 iniles, at $1,823,357 ; about six cents aud three mills a mile. Compared with the seivico reported on 30th June, 1857, there is an addition of 18,002 mile* to the length of mail routes ; 3,859,424 iniles to the total unnual transportation,'being ubout 5.11 jmt cent., and of $1,173,372 to the cost, or 17.16 per cent. The aggregate length of railroad routes lias been increased 1,901 miles, and the annual transportation thereon 1,495,508 miles ; 6.05 per cent. ; at ft cost of $268,454, or 10.44 per cent. The length of steamboat routes Is greater by 1,798 miles, and the annual transportation 51,491 miles, costing $241,918 additional, or 1.10 per cent, on transportation, and 24.38 peroeut. on the cost. The addition to coach routes is 4,371 miles In length, 464.804 miles in annual transportation, or 2.43 percent., and $499,018 in cost, or 35.37 per cent. The additional lengtli of inferior routes is 9,932 miles ; the additional annual transportation 1,847,621 miles, and the additional cost $163,982 ; being 6.83 per cent, in transportation, and 9.87 per cent, in cost. Appended to this report is u table (marked A) showing in detail the mail service of every grade, ns existing iti each separate Statu and Territory, on the 30th June lust. Also a table (marked II) showing the iiicreate or (fceoua in the several grades of service, and their cost in each State and Territory, during the last fiscal year, together with a detailed statement of routes on which imrirove meats have been made and additional expense incurred. The letting* of new contracts for the trim commencing Ut July last embraced twenty-one States and Territories of the northwest, west, and southwest, including California, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, and Washington. The following table shows the new service, as in operation on tho 30th September, Including the overland mail route from St. Louis and Memphis to San Francisco, also the route from New Orleans, via Tehuantepoc, to San Fran clsco : Conveyance. Miles Wl Miles of annual Coal. lous'h. transportation. Kailroad 8,603 8,972,850 $1,022,437 Steamboat 16,14ii 3,321,402 1,361,758 Coach 40,055 13,833,727 2,580,460 Interior modes... 115,547 18,997,016 1,520,555 Total 180,351 45,225,055 6,485,210 Compared with the service on 30th Juno last, the length of routes is increased 27,973 miles ; the annual transportation thereon 9,026,666 miles, and tho cost $2,343,156. Divided lis follows, to wit: Ij-ngili Annual trans- Cost, imrtnttoii. Railroad 676 807,(147 $271,168 Steamboat 6,291 456,590 237,558 Conch 11,861 5,485,946 1,288,814 Inferior modes 9,145 2,277,083 345,616 Total increase---27,973 3,026,866 2,243,156 Appended hereunto L n statement marked , showing the routes on which additional expense was incurred. On the 30th of June last there were in the service? 44(1 route agents, at a compensation ^ $334,750 00 28 express route agents. , . .do. .' 28,000 00 23 load agents do 29,989 00 1,464 mail messengers .do.* 184,631 41 Making a total of 577.373 11 TUI.s amount, will) the IncrnMed cost 1 if service under new contracts comincDrinp i an the. first of July 2,243,156 00 Adtlnl to the oost of tier vice hk in operation on 30th June laat 7,795,418 00 Makes the total amount for the current rem ... 10,615,947 41 m;i km r. and kxccmiiti rci. The expenditures of the department In :he fiscal year cutting June 30, 1858, unouuteil to - *12.722.170 01 For transportation of inland mails, in- i hiding payments to route ngnnte, jocnl tgents, and mail messengers $7,821,551; 83 I <<i tlaiiijiol t ill. II i> fjtnyn mailt, to wit New York to IJverpool. -833,758 48 Now York to llremen-100,585 83 Now Ycik t>? Harm-89,838 1'J <'h.illusion to Havana - ? 80,000 00 Saw Oil. mm to Vera t'ru*--- 38,063 89 Ax|'liiw.tll to I in n ..i- 100,1.00 00 m( Panama-........ 1,370 85 434,487 34 Total 8,346,054 17 For C.inipt-naattnn to |H?tUMotrn- 3,355,016 38 For clerk* In pott - 918,373 *8 For ship, ?team boat, ami war lctlerr 16,613 38 For ollicu furniture tor poet office* 3,937 70 For mlvt-i lining -- - - 138,034 93 For mil In$i - 38,454 19 For blank* 108,377 76 For mull lock*, key*, anil office tUmp*-- 13,485 09 For tuali dcpi citation*, ami apecial ajieut* 73,637 01 For [Mintage Ht<uu|w aiut stamped envelope* 83.019 10 For dead letter* dllnd 98 For wrap|>iug pe|M>r 50,339 67 For |?ymeuts to letter carrier* - 174,098 10 For luincellaiieou* payment* 193,644 01 For payment* lor balance* due on UiiUah null* 282,406 17 i Fur |xiyiu< nta lut Iwlauora dtte uu HrtVM mail* 2,859 14 For |?i> until* for balmier* iIim> oil Kant ! burg mail* 1,366 13 I For payments fur lialsu,v* dun ori French mail* - 36,343 47 Total of ex[<nndltufc It,723,470 01 If there In* kdili'il to fin* abort* 601 90 tuat by bad debts, initl the mini of $933 83 gtlmil ou tin* mispcti-e account bo subtracted, then tbu net amount of cxpundi11ires will lie $13,731,636 56, u< adjusted In tho Auditor'* OfHee. The gross re voir Ue for tho year I *58, including receipts lroui letter carrier* and hum foreign postage*, aiuouuted to $7,436,703 36, lis .tilled below Letter postage, received in money $004,299 13 Received for |K>.tage stamps ami eiivel opes sold 6,700,314 03 Received for postage on newspapers nnd pamphlets ---- 591,976 90 Rei-civcd for postage for registered letter* 23,143 16 Received for lines 35 00 Receive*1 on account of emolument*- - - 80,644 96 Received from letter carriers 174,033 10 , Received from dead letter* unclaimed? 3,410 66 Miscellaneous receipts - 3,378 92 Total revenue - 7,486,792 8(1 To the gross revenue above stated are to be added tho permanent annual appropriations, amounting to $700,000 granted to the department by the acts of March 3, 1847, and March 3, 1851, for the transportation nnd delivery of free mail matter for Congress and the executive det partmcnte, thus making the whole revenue of the year i amount to $8,186,792 86, which fulls short of the expenditures. lis ailiustcd on the Auditor's books. $4 534 - S43 70. 1 beg leave to invite attention to the full and highly satisfactory report of the Auditor, hereto appended, and marked . From this interesting document, i derive the following brief synopsis of the tinanciaroperatloiig of . the department in the past fiscal year : The balance standing to the credit of the j department, on the books of the Auditor, on the .'iOtli June, 1857, was $1, 103,886 05 The receipts of the department from all sources during the year 1858, including a gain of $925 35 on the suspense ac count, amounted to 7.4H7,7lrf 21 The amount of the various appropriations drawn from the treasury during the year was - 4,079,270 71 Making the total of receipts 13,339,874 97 The whole amount of expenditures in the year, including $91 90 for accounts closed by bad debts, was 12,722,501 91 Leaving to the credit of the de|Mirthient on the 1st July, 1858 608,313 00 KsriiiATK or annum and nxrkxnrrrBKs ix 1859. Expenditure!. The aggregate sum appropriated by the act of Congress, approved Juno 14, 1858, for the service of the Post Office Department in 1859, exclusive of the transportation of foreign mails, of payments for foreign postages, and to letter carriers, was. - $14,035,520 00 For the transportation of the mail between Charleston and Havana, act June 14, 1858 60,000 00 For the transportation of the mails over the Isthmus of Panama, act June 14, 1858 100,000 00 For the mail between Now York and Havre, the postages as allowed by the 6th section of the act of June 14, 1858, estimated at 91,000 00 For payments of balauces due to foreign countiios, estimated 325,000 00 For payments of letter carriers, uct March it, 1851, estimated ? 173,000 00 Estimated expenditures In 1859 - 14,776,520 00 M<vint for 1859. The balance standing to the credit ol tho department on tho Auditor's books, on the 1st July, 1858, was $608,313 00 The gross revenue for tho year 1859, Including foreign postages, tees paid in by letter carriers, and miscellaneous receipts, is estimated at 7,786,060 00 Of the appropriations made by the acts of March 3, 1817, March 3, 1851, and June 14, 1858, there is applies ble to the expenses of 1859 the sum of 2,700,000 00 Total means for 1859 11,094,393 00 Deficiency of means for the service of 1859 3,682,127 00 OCR.VN AND I OH K.TOM MAM. SKKVU'K. Tire aggregate amount of postage (sea, inland, und foruign) otr mails transported from July I, 1H57, to February 19, 1858, by the steamers of the New York and Liverpool (Oolhns) line was 9111,192 52, and hv temporary steamships employed on same litre during residue of tire fiscal year, ending June 30, 1858, $41,637 13, making a total of $152,829 65, postages for the year. The postages by this line during the year ending June 30, 1857, amounted to 9210,163 03. The iwastages upon mails conveyed during the last fiscal year by the linked Suites steamers of the New York, Southampton, and Bremen litre, were 9102,603 09, and by the New York, Southampton, and Havre line #105,923 26, being a decrease of $35,151 69 by the Bremen, ..... a.. miivuk "i ?i,.iu ti uy me iinvrc line, it cont pared with tlic previous fiscal yeai. The amount of letter postages upon mails exchanged with Great lkitaiu during the year ending June .10 18.78, was $802,771 (14 ; with i'ltissiu. $.'12.1,783 CO; llrewen, $27,905 92 ; France, $20.7,82(1 42; Hamburg, $16, 979 74; being a decrease on British mails ot $71,423 11 ; on ITus.-inn mails of $1,108 97; on Itroui'-n mails of $24,177 07 ; and an increase on Frond, mails of $1(14. Ii:i9 23, anil on Hamburg mails of $14,820 14, com I sued with the preceding year. Net Increased lettei postages on K.uropeiiu mail-, $82,749 22. The postal arrangements with France and Hamburg which have r< cently goue into operation have caused a diversion ot nnjeh >f the correspondcni e with the conlinent of Kitrope heretofore exchanged no Knglund and via Bremen to