Pittston Gazette and Susquehanna Anthracite Journal

              *. t M . . t .:. .. ; • ______ ■■ i -i ■ ■ i ■ ■ ' ii ■ f irrrr- n ~i ) i THE PITTST0N GAZETTE aid silmhajm Airman m ii u i. SI IKrtkltj Urtuspnprr—(JDtnnttii tn JOruis, Ittfrntatt, tlif JHtrranfilt, Jllinittg, JHrtlmnitn!, tilth Sgriraltorol Sntrrfste of lift £nnnfri[, Snstrurtion, Jlmimrrarnt, 'i's. )--33tj Ilirlwrt ft, |5jjillijs Volume i.-number 21. PITTSTON, PENNA., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1850. $2.00 PER ANNUM. THE REPORT OF THE Postmaster General, Re- pay men t of money found iu dead let- ders during residue of tho With the locol agent in organizing the srfVvice at the outset and placing it on n proper basis for the future charge and management of sucl) an agent. If the local agent is io be continued in charge of the service, his salary should be increased to an amount better corresponding with the high prices prevailing in California. revenues of the Department for the first three oi four years. At the cud of that period, tho revenues of the Department, under the reduced tariff of postages, will probably again equal itsexpeuditures. To meet the dt ficiency which must follow this reduction, the surplus revenues already accumulated may be first applied, and ufDer these shall have been exhausted, on appropriation from the Treasury will be required, unless Congress shall deem it expedient to abolish the existing privileges of sending and receiving free mutter through the mails, or to increase the annual appropriation now made to the. Department, for the conveyance of a part of such free matter, to a sum equal to the revenues that would be derived therefrom, if all free matter were charged with postage. lations, for which an appropriation was made at the last session has not been completed. The list of offices has xbecn propared, and its printing direcled, but thdt. printing of the new edition of tl.e laws and regulations has not yet 4»een ordered. The delay lids been caused by the desire to await the potion of Congress upon the* bills affecting this Department, which were., reported at the Inst session, and by tho, pressure of business which hns hitherto pre vented such a revision of the regulations as it was deemed expedient to make before the new edition was ordered. OTTSOTM mm\firs, year, Expenses of the steamer Franklin on the New York and Havre line, 50,000 00 ters, 210 52 printed anu pcbushed weeki.y by O. HI. Kir ha i t 8 II. S. Phillips. Poa r Office Department, ) November 30CA, 1P50. $ West si V of A f un SI reel, second Storf of the " Lot a more " of H'isner if- Wood. Sir Tho number of mail routes within the United States, at llie close of the fiscal year ending on the 30th of June last was 5,690 ; the 'aggregate length of such routes was 178,672 miles; and the number of contractors employed thereon, 4,700. •5,212,953 43 Service in California and 62,500 00 Leaving as the excess of the gross revenue over the expenditures of the year, the sum of Oregon already reported, Cost of new routes, and 80,470 00 The *d"i ZKTte'' is published every Friday, at Two t Do!.LA«sper annum. Two bot,t.An» and Fifty Centsi will be charged if not paid within the steamer Humbolt, Expense of publishinga rcvised list of post offices and post masters, and a ne'v edition of the laws and regulations,, with a map to the latter, Expenses of Inst year under the lieadsof compensation to postmasu rs; wrapping paper; office furniture; advertising; mail bags; blanks; mail-locks, keys and stamps; mail depre-^ dations and special agents ; clerks for offices, (offices of postmasters,) and miscellaneous items; with eleven percent, added, (such expenses'necessarily increasing with the increase of the revenue and general service,) 2,447,199 90 20,000 00 In view of the time required to communicate with Oregon and our newly acquired territories, the following modification of tin post otiice laws is urgently recommended : •340,018 05 year. . No paper will be discontinued until all arrearages are paid. Advertisements are inserted conspicuously at Ome Doi.i.\h per square of fourteen lines for three insertions; and Twbnty fivk Cents ad' ditiona! for every subsequent insertion. A JilD- ' erul deduction to those who advertise for sn The undrawn appropria. lions lor this Department under the 12th sec. lion of the act of lt)47, before referred to, amounted, on the 30th June lust, (including the $200,000 embraced iu the revenues of the Inst year, and included in the foregoing bal. The nnuuul transportation of the mails on these routes was 46,541,423 miles, at an annual cost of $2,724,426, making the average cost about live cents and eight and a half mills per mile. 1. That the contract fiscal year for the Post Office Department, in respect to the service in California, Oregon, New Mexico, and Utah, be changed, and that it commence and end three months earlier than for the rest of the Union, so that the returns nnd all other statements for the last quarter of the fiscal year in that portion of the Union, win he made to the General Post Office in Washington, in time after being duly audited, to be embraced in the annual reports submitted at the opening of Congress.The accommodations for the post ofiico of this city ore entirely unsuited to an office of its importance, and aro decideefly * discreditable to the Department find tha country. Some improvements, lately authorized nnd now in progress, will afford partial and temporary relief, hut other ar. nrrij-enient* of a ptr.wn it cla-rctcr s lould soon I) mi a 'e. '1 Iks roon s of this Department, also, are a'ready unreasonably crowded, nnd additional rooms for tho officers and clerks ofthe Department, and of the Auditor's office, will soon bo absolutely required. To oftiDrd suitable ac« cominodations lor these and for tho City Post office, it is respectfully submitted that the contemplated extension of the westwing of the General Post office building should be authorized, and that the upper floors in such wing be assigned to the Au- • ditor and his clerks, and that the first floor be devoted to the use of the City Po.it office. The lows regulating the ~action of this Department and its officers are nutritious, were passed at different times, and conttiir many obsolete and conflicting provisions. An entire revision cf these laws and the pussiifje of ,1 singlj act containing all the provisions of law relating to this Depart, inent, would aid all its officers in tho discharge of their duties, and give greater ease, accuracy and despatch to its opera.' tions. Sjch a revision is respectfully 14,500 00 months or the whole year. Job Work.—We hove connected with our establishment a well selected aasojtinent of Jw Tvpr, which will enable us to execute, in the neatest •trio, every variety of printing. H«"ir practical printers ouraeWea, we can ufToril to ilo work 011 us reas Dnable terms as any oilier office in the county. AH lett»ra mill communications aclUrewf J to the (iazclh must be ro»r pitD, and endorsed by a responsible name, to receive attention. The increase in the number of inland mail routes during the year was 640 ; the increase in the length of mail routes was 10,009, miles ; and the annual transportation of the year exceeded that of the previ. ous year by 3,907,354 miles, at an increased cost of 8342,440. The coutinuanuo of the franking privilege which may be properly considered as the privilege of the constituent rather than of the representative—muv be dictated by nil enlightened public policy and required by the public interests; unci the same may be said of the piiviU ge possessed by new paper proprietors of sending and receiving exchange newspapers free of postage. But if these privileges are continued, it is respectfully submitted that this Department should be paid for the conveyance of the matter sent free under them, by an appro, priation from the public Treasury, rather than by a tax on tho private correspondence of the country. If a sum equal to the postage which would be charged on all free matter, were it chargeable with postage should be annually appropriated and paid to this Department, it is believed that such appropriation and the accumulated surplus revenue would enable the Di partmcnt to sustain itself, notwithstanding the proposed reduction, or that tho appropriation required would bo so inconsiderable as to interpose no serious obstacle to the adoption of tho measures now recommended.a nee,) to The Auditor of the Department estimates the balance to the credit of the revenuo of the Dc. partinent on the day last mentioned, which will ultimately be found to be available, (anil which does not include the $ i05,S55 55 above mentioned) at $605,555 55 The mail service in California and Oregon, having been irregular in its performance, and imperfectly reported to ' the l)e-purtwient, has not been embraced in the foregoing sta'.cinents. 2. That authority be given to the special agent in that country, to open, at Sttn Francisco, the dead letters returned from the offices in California and Oregon, and there dispose of them, as is now done at the General Post Office, under such regulations and restrictions as the Postmaster General may prescribe. For this purpose a clerk, or clerks,, with suitable salaries, should be allowed to the special agent. BONO or THE BLBOTRIOTBLE- There were, on the 30th of June last, five foreign mail routes, of the aggregate length of 15,079 miles, and the annual price of the transportation thereon, payable by this Department, Was $104,000; being an increase of $s,814 on the cost of the precieiing vrnr. There should be added to the cost of transportation, as above stated, the expense of mail messengers, and local and route agents, (which expense In chargeable to the tran*|D0]'tation fund,) ar.d which for the las: fiscal year amounted to $107,042; being an increase of 915,539 on the expenses of the mail messengers, and local and route agents, for the preceding year. GRAPH. IT E. L. BLANCIIABD Away where the .-onlight is bright'ning, Away whfre its lust b«»ms expire, I speed with the flush of the lightning, I fly on the wings of the wire I By me are earth's barriers riven, Py me are its boundaries spread ; A word—and the impulse is given, \ touch—and the mission is sped! Hurrah ! 'lis the best conjuration That Science, the wizard, has done ! Through me nation speaks unto nation, Till all are united in one I ___ •649,105 31 $8,019,809 90 Making an available balance, from all sources, of To meet these expenditures the Department must rely on the receipts of postages, the annual appropriation of 8*200,000 under the 12th section of the act of 1847, which has been before referred to, and the trifling appropriation made at the last ses. siorD of Congre8s as a compensation for the transportation of the matter sent free through the mails under the act for taking the seventh census. A considerable reduction of letter postage, and the adoption of uniform inland rate is desired by a large portion of the people of the United States. Interesting and ablo reports, recommending different degrees of reduction, were made, but not acted upon at tho last session of Congress. The subject will doubtless again engage the attention of Congress at its approaching scsnioii; and, with an tamest desire that our rates of postage may be reduced to the lowest point timt is practicable without calling lor a contribution fioni the Treasury beyond what should be paid for (lie transmission und delivery of the efficial and public correspondence, 1 recommend that the inland letter postage be reduced to three cents, the single letu r, when prepaid,, and be fixed at the uniform rate of live cents when not pre-paid ; and also, that the Postmaster General bo required to reduce this pre-paid rate to two cents the single letter, whenever it shall be ascertained that the revenues of the Department, after the reduotions now recommended, shall have exceeded its expenditures by more than five per cent for two couseculive fiscal years. Out of which there is payable to the liritish Government for postages collected under the pos. to! treaty, duiing tlio fiscal year ending Juno 30, 1849, $30,001 00 And during the. year 81,314,72£ 80 In silence I st«althily travel, Unseen, and unread, and unheard ; for not till my agents unravel My secret, ja whispered a word. Through darkness and daylight unheeding, Alike on my errand 1 go, To doep-lhrobbing lieaits ever speeding My tidings of gladness or wo. The increase ot'our mail service for the last fiscal y?8r, over the year preceding, was about" 04 10 per cent., and the increase in the tolal cost was about 12 7 10 Beforo giving an estimate of the revenuo of the current year, it is proper to remark that no reliable estimate of the receipts from postage can be made. The increase for thCi year ending Juno 30, 1347, was 11 27.IIU0 per cent.; for the year ending June 3,0, 1848, only 7 48-000 per cc-nt., and for the year ending June 30, 1849, 14 20-100 per cent.; being an average, for the three years, of 10 90-100 prr cent.; and i!io increase for the year ending Juue 30, 18.)0, excluding the balances in favor of Gn at Bii ain. was 14 5 8 per cent. It li believed that the |Do4t.igea of the current year will show an in- endingJun In case a reduction of postage shall he made it is suggested that it should only take effect from and after the 3Uth of June next, that it may go into operation at the commencement of the next fiscal year. This is desirable fur tho purpose of enabling the Department to present the fiscal results of the reduction with clearness and accuracy in future reports, and also for tho purpose of giving time to prepare the forms, instructions, and Hanks, will be necessary in consequence of the change in the rates of postage. 30, ldjO, $147,013 38 In conclusion, I desire to ccknow'e-'g? my obligations to my assistants and tho clcrks in the Department for the. cheerfulness, zeal, and assiduity with which they have labored in the discharge of their respective duties, and to renew the reocmmenda'iou of my predecessors, that the Assistaut Pcstnr.nster Gir.eial Le plnceiJ-ujon the fPme fitting, in respect to their ecmpent a ion,as t' e 1 e ids of tl e Luea s in the other Departments. N. K. Hall, Pcstrrnster General. To the President. suggested per cent. The extent and cost of such senlco fo the last yrur, its division anions the-States and Territories, and its comparison with that of thr preceding your, will more fully appear by the accompanying Report of the Postmaster General. 182,075 04 Leaving a net balance, (as estimated by the Audi, tor,) of 81,132,045 88 Ere the voiccof the ccho hail spoken— Ere thought could rccoil from its birth— If the links of my path were unbroken, My flight would encompass the curth : From the bright star that gleams far above ui, Flashed onward through measureless space, A welcome from voices that love us," My own in a siconi would trade. For n more detailed statement ol' the fis. cal condition and afTairnof the Department; you are respectfully referred to tiic report of the Auditor hereto ennexed. Tlie imniber of Postmasters appointed during the yC ar ending Juno 8 », 19o0, was 6,618. Of that nutriber, 20(t were appointed to fill vacancies occasioned by the decease of the previous incumbents ; 262 on a change of iho site* of tiie offices for which they were appointed; 1.1 Hon the removal of their predecessors; nnd 1.979 were appointed oil the establishment of ifew offices. The new contractu fur imil transportalion in iho northern section, composed ol iliu Stales of Maine, New 11 Ciiriptiliir« Vermont, Massachusetts, III,ode Island, Connecticut and New \ ork, made in the spring ol l-C49, showed an increase ot annual compensation of $sf3,931 ; being an increase of more than eighteen per cent upon the previous cost of thut section. ol* nt leant 11 per Cent., and aiiHiunt to _ $6,0D9,G1G 28 crcaae over those of the last vear Any reduction of postoge is likely to increase the tabor, anil reduce, fur n time at least the compensation of the several postmasters. It is therefore recommended that power bo given to the Postmaster General to increase the rates of commission at the smaller offices, so as to insure the services of competent and (ailliful officers. Deduct British Postages, estimated at 115,000 00 Report of the Secretary of the Navy. Oh ! would that some kinJiv.il communion To man we could hope to impart, That a bond of such magical union Might link every heart unto heart! Not a tear thut we now seek to smother Would then fall alone or uncared, Not a joy, hut the heart of another, Would thrill with the bliss that it shared The report of the Navy Department is of some length, and is characterized by clearness and ability. It gives an account of the operations of the six different squadrons into w hich the ships in commission are divided. , AJ'l the appropriation! Cor the Trunkal mutter of the Department nmJ the appropriation lor ihc postage ofceu»us matter 5,951,616 28 I ulso reouommend that the postage to California atjil Oregon be greatly reduced, and that the postage charged on other seagoing letters be made more simple und uniform. With the numerous rates now charged—some with, and some without the addition of the inland rates—confusion and mistake, are frtquent and unavoidable, 1 therefore recommend that twenty cents the single letter, be chnrged on all correspoudeD'c to and from the Pacific coasl, South America, the Eastern Continent and its islands, u*d points beyond either ; and ten oents the single letter on all other seagoing letters, without the superuddition of inland postage, in any case; excepting however, all casts where such sea postages have been or shall be adjusted ut ditlcrtnl rales, by postal treaty already concluded, or hereafter to be made ; and powershould biD given to the Postmaster General, by and with the ndvico and consent of the President of the United Stales, to reduce or enlarge the sea rates, with tho view of making better postal arrangements with other governments, or counteracting any adverse measures nlft .cling our postal intercourse with other countries. The whole number of post offices in the United States at the end of that year, was 18,417. There were 1,97 J post offices established, and ikD9 discontinued during the yeur. The new contracts made under the letlings oj last spring lor the western section of the Union, embracing the Statosof Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansus, Louisiana, and Texas and the Territories, exhibit a still greater increase in the annual cost of transportation iu that section. 212,000 00 Making estimated revenues Krimi which deduct estimated expenditure!*D,166,616 28 The term newspaper is not so fully defined by the existing laws upon that subject, as to enable the Department to decide, without embarrassment and difficulty, whether a particular periodical, is or is not to be deemed a newspaper : and though various decisions in particular cases, have at different times, been made in the Department, they have not relieved the question from perplexity and embarrassment. It is remarked that occasional instances of British interference with vessels' bearing our flagon the African coast have occurred, but that in each ease explanations and apologies have been made to our officers on that station and the reports thereof transmitted to the government.  The Se cretary says that our flag lias been respected on every sea, and that the interests of commcrce have been secure under its protection. The navy consists of seven ships of the line, 1 ru/.ee, 12 frigates, 21 hluops of war, 4 brigs, 2 school)* ers, ft sieum frigates, 3 tt turners of the first class, and five store ships. The ships in commission arc 1 razee, C frigates, 10 sloops of w ar, 4 brigs, 2 schooners, (const survey) 2 stcain frigates, 1 fteumer of the first class, 3 less than first class, 9 ships of the line as receiving ships, 1 steamer do. and 1 sloop do. Four ships of the line and two frigates are on the stocks in process of const ruciion, but the work suspend, ed. Besides these, there are the mail steamships on.tlie Now York and C'hagres line, liable to naval duty In cuso of utcessiiy.We nerd not, should Fate give denial, This fanciful dream wholly spurn; Let sympathy touch but the diul, A cord shall be struck in rettlrn. No wUh need lDc kept unimparted, J Or lost m on selfishness thrown, But each from th« heart as it darfcd Would find a response in our own. Oh ! let love tale the world and prepare it, As swill to respond as receive; Let us hear but of sorrow to share it, And know but the want to relieve ! 6,019,8o9 90 The postmasters and other agents of the Department have, with few exceptions, performed their duties with fidelity and promptness, and maintained the credit of the Department for efficiency and usefulness.8140,80J 38 The conveyance of correspondenc3 between this and foreign countries, and between the Atlantic and Pacific portions of the United States, has become a large and important branch of our mail service. The means provided lor this conveyance consist of sixteen steamships now in active service, with (our more to be added under the existing contracts. Connected with this service is the Innd service acrosti Ihe 1st limns of Panama, which is performed by the Government of New Granada, under a treaty providing a stipulated compensation, according lo the weight of the mails. This increase is estimated in the contract office at S23(i,tiOG per hiiuuiti, being 25 per cent advance upon the anuual cost oi tliat section under the contructs in force up to the end of the last fiscal year. Of this ubout 10 and four-fifths per cent is attributable to the increase of service iu that section, and about 14 and one-liftli per cent to the increased rule of compensation provided for the late contracts. The failures of connection which have from time to time occurred on some of the routes, have caused much inconvenience and annoyance. It is hoped, however, that the renewed requirement of the returns of weekly and monthly rigisters of the arrivals and departure*, by the postmasters, at the ends of each route, which are now regularly made to the Department, and the efficient action of the increased number of special agents, will render these irregularities less frequent. There was a manifest incongruity in the laws establishing the California steamship lines, in providing for a conveyance of the mails twice a month from New York, Orleans, 8c, to Chagres and a conveyance of the same only once a mouth from Panama north along the Pacific coast. The increased cost in the other sections of the Union under the orders ,'cir the improvement and extension of the service on existing mail routes, made by the Postmaster General during the first quarte- of the current fiscal year, will amount (after deducting the curtailments ordered,) Soon after the close of the last session of Congress, my attention was called to this subject bv a memorial from the representatives in Congress from the Slate of California and Territory of Oregon, insist, ing that u semi-monthly mail service should be regularly organized and performed on the Pacific portion of that important route. The contractors on the route had already so far yielded to the complaints and wants of the public us to take occasionally a second monthly mail, but for want of'legal authority to uiiike compensation lor such service, its performance had never been properly organized. It was voluntury merely, and only occasional. Economy Due Bmployors. The whole duty of the Government in regard to our correspondence with foreign countries is not discharged by simply providing and supervising the means of conveyance. Arrangements should be made with the countries to which our steamship lines extend, to specify and secure mutual and satisfactory terms for the interchange of mails, and for the uninterrupted transit of our in the mails of those countries, to the countries * beyond. With Germany such arrangements have been already made. They yet remain to be adjusted with France ; but the subject is now in charge of our diplomatic representatives, and an early ami favorable termination of the recognitions is anticipated. " Waste not, want not," is a good old prnvnrb.—" He that is faithful in little is faithful also in much." A person who takes no care of the material committed to his hands by his employer, will never duly husband his property. Economy and wastefullness are habits that will influence us in all things, both when we are engaged about our own substance nnd that of another. To waste another's goods is the same as to rob him. The loss in both cases is equal, and the principles whencc they spring very much the same. The man who takes care of his employer's goods is sure to look nfter hisown, and thus is on the road to prosperity. It would be difficult to calculate the immense loss of prop, erty that every year occurs from careless, ness and want of rcono ny.—Some persons are worth nearly half their wages more than others, because they never injure or waste anything. The employer being wealthy or stock abundant, is no excuse for carelessness. A loss is a loss, and n robbery, whether taken from the heap of the miser, or the smaller store of the indigent. "Gatherup the fragments, that nothing may be lost," is a divine command. —Heavon allows nothing to be destroyed. There has not been a single drop of water Wasted from the creation until now. The decomposed elements of the last autumn, the aliments of our present spring. Economy, is one of the laws of nature ; nnd we phall not realize, "the good time coming," until we have a careful and economical world. L,el this spirit prevail, and not only will the master be saved from lass, but in many instances the servant will rescue him from ruin. The gross revenue of the Department for the year ending June 30, 185tf was 85,352,971 43, derived from the following sources 1 also recommend that tho provision which imposes an additional half-cent postage upon newspapers sent more than one hundred miles and out of the Slate where they are mailed, be repealed, so as to leave the uniform inlund postage on newspapers, sent to subscribers, from the oflice of publication, at one cent each. From letter postage, including foreign postage, and stamps sold, From newspapers pamphlet postage, From lines $12,470 00 $4,575,003 30 And similar orders to be made during the residue of the year, may increase the ex- and The existing personnel of the nuvy embraces 63 captains, 97 commanders, 327 lieuteuents, 6y surgeons, 37 passed assistant surgeons, 43 assistant surgeons, 64 pursers, 24 chaplains, 12 professors of mathematics, 11 masters in the line of promotion, 494 passed and other midshipmen! and 7,500 petty officers, seamen, landsmen, boys, etc. The Secretary says that this system of officers is unsightly and disproportioned, there being a great disparity bei,ween the head and the subordinate parts, and he recommends a reduction in the three higher grades. 9,9,185 fil 33 (10 3,048 00 parses The placing of the Steam Mail I'ackct Franklin on the New York and Havre line, will add the cost of a half monthly line for about 10 months. The service: in California and Oregon, so far as reported, will cost for the current vear 50,000 00 From miscellaneous items, From receipts on account of dead letters, The postage upon pamphlets, periodicals, und other printed matter, (cxcept newspapers,) may be simplified and somewhat (educed, with advantage to the Departmcn I. Two cents for the pamphlet or periodical, of the weight of two ounces or less, and one cent for every additional ounce or fraction of an ounce is recommended as the inland rate upon all pamphclts, periodicals and other printed matter ; instead of the present rate of two and a half cents for the first ounce, and one cent for every additional ounce, or fraction of an ounce. For the sea-going charge on such matter, and on newspapers, twice the inland rate to and from the points lo which it is proposed that the latter postage shall be ten cents, and four times the inland rate when the letter rate is twenty cents, is deemed a just and proper rale. This would, in some cases, increase the postage on printed matter sent lo the Pacific coast, and by our other sea lines where postage is not already fixed by postal arrangement ; but the postage to California, as above proposed, would hardly equal the price now charged by private expresses for the conveyance of the same weight, in puckuges of less than one hundred pounds, to San F rancisco. 1,748 40 The ar.-tiot) ol the Department wns urged in view of the provisions of the recent uet of Congress, making un appropriation for actual mail service performed, or to be pei formed by mail steamers, but 1 did not feel at liberty to make an order which might divert a portion of that appropriation to the payment 6f services not within the contemplation of Congress when the appropriation was made. Anxious, how. ever, to afford to the new State the requisite mail facilities, an arrongement was made with the contractor for the monthly mail, by which the additional service was secured, with the express understanding and agreement that the order therefoj should creute no liability of any kind against this Department or the Govern, rnent: that the service authorised by sucli order should not be considered in fixiugthe amount of any compensation for mail service by ocean steamers, for which any ap. propriation hud been therefore made by Congress ; and the order for such sefviet was subject to bo revoked, if Congress, tc which alone the contractor was to look foi an allowance of pay, should disapprove o the Mime. The assent of the contractor! to these terms was inquired and obiainec as a condition precedeut to the completioi of such arrangement. It remains lor Con gress to adopt such measures, in regard ti this subject, as may be deemed just andei pedic nt. For the appropriation made by the 12th section of the act of 3d March, 1847, for the franked matter of the Depart- *5,499,934 80 02,500 00 In respect to our correspondence with the West Indies and South America, some specific arrangement is desirable, and the eurly passage of a joint resolution of Congress authorizing this Department to take measures to secure such an arrangement, 80,470 00 200,000 00 The placing of the SteamPack, et Humboldt on the New York and Havre line, and the putting in operation of the new routes established nt the last session, ho far as it can be done witiiin tho remainder of the current year, in accordance with the requirements of tho laws regulaiing the Department, will probably add to the expenses of the year, ments, is recommended 85,699,984 80 The mail service in California and Oregon, and especially in the former, is still in an unsettled state, and but partially reported, so that no satisfactory statement in regard to it can be submitted. Sufficient time to comfnunicate with the agent last appointed to take charge of tho California service has not yet elapsed since his appointment; but his report Upon the present condition of the service in that State may be expected at an early day. In addition to the difficulties incident to the new and very peculiar state of afTuirs in that distant region, there are many lhat result from the want of proper experience and skill on the part of those to whom themanagementSof postal affairs in that section of the country has necessarily been confided. Report of the Secretory of W. r From this sum should be deducted the amount received during the year fcr British postages, which are payable to that (iovernuieut, under the postal convention of December, 1848, The aggregated strength of the army, as at present established by law, is IS,. 326 officers and men. It is psi mited thnl the number ot men actually in service and fit for duty, from deaths, discharges, desertions, sickness and o her casualties, fal's short of the lei»al organization oh an average of from 30 to 40 per ce t; so tlD*t the above number wou'd represent nn afitctive force of only front 7,4iC0 to 8,10 ) nun. Of the whole number, 7.7UG aru staiDned in or are under orders for 'IVxas, New Mexi. co, California, and Oregon ; leaving mly 4,53!) in all the ns, of the l8atcg and Territories.147,013 38 20.000 00 Leaving, for the gross rev enue of the year, The estimates upon tiiis item and that of the additional service yet to bo ordered, are made upon very uncertain data. In. deed, the extent and cost of the mail service, as well as the revenues of this Department, are subject to constant fluctuations, and the best considered and most careful estimates can furnish only a reasonable approximation to tho actual results. The expenditures lor the current year are estimated as follows : $5,552,071 48 Tho expenditures of the year were as follows : For tho transportation of the mails, 'l'lio Secretary urges the necessity of employing a cavalry force to curb the mounted Indians of Texas and New Mcxi. ci; and silicosis the adoption of some system, ditto cd equally by | oHcy uud liumanily, for reclaiming tha.uho'o unfoitnnnto nice, by inducing them 1q ghai iIr their woriJering and |Drc.jatoiy life, to live in villages, and resort to agricultural ursui s for sub. iaenoe, Tho natcmei t if the enormous cost of transporting pork and flour for thculise of the troops in New Mev. co, affords n btrong cvidC nee of the benefit which the republic woujii derive, in « m ra pecuniary light, from restoring peace and security to the herdsman mid husbandmen of a territory, " a Iwge pdflion of which la susceptible of producing crops of and nearly all of which is well adapted to Ship, steamboat, and way letters, Compensation to post- 92,905,790 30 Am Editor's Retort.—At n late festival, a pretty Misv waited upon the editor with a pin.jilate of antique manufacture, in the cenff* of which he espied the following couplet: 40,543 71 The appointment of a Deputy Postmaster General and nn Auditor to reside in California, as proposed by a bill reported ut the last «ession, might aid in removing some of the difficulties, but would give an organization which would sever that service from the service in other parts of the Union, and is liable to many objections. It is therefore, respectfully suggested that improvement, system, economy, and efficiency, would ce sooner introduced, if Congress should authorise the Postmaster General to send temporarily to the Pacific coast an officer of the greatest knowledge and experience in mail arrangements and in the principles and rules of the Department governing the making of contracts, for the purpose of being there associated It will be perceived that the reduction proposed in the postage upon printed matter is not large. The reason for the greater reduction of letter postage is found in tlio fax:t that the rates of postage upon printed matter are now exceedingly low, when compared with the letter rates. The average postage on letters is estimated at about three dollars and sixteen cents per pound, and on newspapers or pamphlets at about sijUaen cents per pound. After the reductions proposed, the average inland postage on letters will be about #2,SO per pound wljeu not prepaid, and #i,50 per pound when prepaid. The reduction in postage now recommended will, if carried out, reduce the masters, Wrapping  Office furniture, Advertising, Mail bags, Blanks, 1,519,370 19 27,435 18 0,859 70 72,033 50 31,100 82 The annual expenses of transportation, (foreign and inland,) us it stood at the close of the lust fiscal " One sweet Hn This excited his natural amorous disposition, and as soon as opportunity pretentpd, he motioned the young lady to his side, And pointing with his kflifo to the Hues, paid:— Is tUc price ofthii." The locks and keys in use upon the mails of the United States have now bem in service for many years, and the experienced officer of this Department 10 whose charge this brunch of ihe service hus been committed, recommends thftt the same be changed. I concur in thi* recommendation, and shall ask that a sufficient oppropriation for that purpose be mode by Con. gregs at the approaching session. The publication of the list of post offices and of • new edition of the lewi attd regu. Mail locks, keys, and stamps, 30,839 20 year, 83,096,974 00 Additional cost in Western scciion under contracts, which went iuto effect July 1, 1850, Costofimprovements in othcr sections ordered in the first quarter of the current year, Cost of Improverncnts to be made under similar or 9,392 30 Mail depredations and special agents, Clerks foi office s, (of. fioes of postmasters,)Miscellaneous items, Post office laws and regulations, C " Young lady, yoi*r pay is ready, when pver you present your bill. 29,725 79 236,606 00 857,935 5} 89,536 00 A dandy is a chap who would be a lady if he could ; but as he can't, does all he $an to show -the worlij that he is not a man. 13,470 00 1722 24