REPORT OF THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Z


December 4, 1887.
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December a, 1881. }


SIR On the 1st Of July last the post routes of
the United States in operation were, as nearly as
can be ascertained I41 ,242 miles in extent, and
the annual TRANSFORMATION of the mails upon them
80 597, ,o06 miles, viz:


On horses and In sulkeys ll,999,2o2


In stages and coaches Io,oO4'1Oo


In steamboats, and railroad cars 1,793,O24


The increase of routes in operation during the
proceeding year was 22,978 miles, and OF the
annual transportation 5,Ol8,62O.


From the 1st of January next the post routes
covered bv contracts will be at least l42,877
miles in length, and the rate Of annual lranspor-
tation upon them 36.228962 miles.


The number Of post Offices in the United States
on the Ist of July last was 11,767, showing an
increase of GIG within the pre- ceding year.
The number of post Offices established within
the year was $50, the number discontinued 28O,
and the changes of Postmasters 2,235.


The number OF post offices on the 1st instant
was IL 099.


The posmasters generally perform their du-
! ties with admirable fidelity and precision.
The number of contractors in the mail service
during the last year was 1852 OF these, 43O
have been fined more or less for various delin
quencies, and the aggregate of fines imposed, and
deductions made during the year, is S4l,7O5 95.
l Most of the contractors have always been en-
ergetic and faithful, and, among the rest there
has been, within the last year, very sensible
! improvement.
The revenue of the Department for the last
year. including an estimate for


deficient returns, "a, 1856 50
The expenditures, including


an estimate of demands not
adjusted, was 3,3S0,847 IS
Excess of revenue over expenditure S7562Os "a


The increase of the whole year was 201 per
cent over the revenue of the preceding year,
producing 22s.834 SO more than was estima-
ted


Detailed statements with estimates for the
coming year will be laid before Congress in obe-
dience to the act of 1886. -.--


On the first instant the Department had bank
funds 430,655 81
Specie in post Offices reported sub


ject to draft 4Io,662 81


Total funds on hand, S84l,3I9 SO


In consequence Of the failure of Congress to
reduce the postages at the last annual session,
arrangements have been made to improve the
mail service beyond the extent of the accruing
revenue so as to absorb the surplus The ca
reer of improvements has been arrested by ap
prehensions of reduction of revenue, growing
out of the general commercial embarrassment
but no reduction of the service contracted for is
at present contemplated.


The following Improvements have been made
in the time of transmitting intelligence within
the last two years. viz