4. MILITIA FORCE OF THE UNITED STATES.

Abstract of the United States Militia, from the Army Register for 1846.

1. Post-Office Statistics for the year ending June 30, 1845,

The Magnetic Telegraph between Baltimore and Washington has cost, between the 1st of April and the 1st of October, 1845, $3,244 99, and the receipts have been $413 44.

Of 67 railroad contracts in New England and New York, only 35 have been adjudged in consequence of exorbitant demands. The railroad service performed is one tenth part of the whole; the pay they receive one fifth part.

In 1838, the weight of the mails for one week in the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and Richmond, was tested, and the whole weight amounted to

The newspapers weighed

The periodicals weighed,

The letters, free and taxable, weighed

55,641 pounds.

At present, it is believed, the printed matter is nine tenths of the weight conveyed, and it pays only one tenth of the expense.

2. Table of Mail Service for the year preceding the 1st of July, 1845.

Louisiana,

7,488

82,888 318,812

39,666

Total,

Cost,

2,228 228,436 143,940 11,225,631 17,924,046 6,484,592 35,634,269 $2,867,991*

$548,482 $1,476,079 $843,430

*Also, expenses of Mail Agencies, $37,513; making in all $2,905,504.

3. Number of Post-Offices, Extent of Post-Roads, and Revenue and Expenditures of the Post-Office Department; with the Amount paid to Postmasters and for Transportation of the Mail.

The preceding statistics all relate to the Post-Office operations under the

old law; the new law went into operation July 1st, 1845.

4. Decrease of Revenue under the New Law.

The following is an exact statement, as ascertained at the department, of the revenue derived from 926 of the larger offices in the United States for the quarter ending the 30th of September, 1845, compared with the quarter ending the 30th of September, 1844:

Revenue for the quarter ending the 30th of Sept. 1844,
The same for the quarter ending Sept. 30th, 1845,

Deficiency, about 41 per cent.,

$464,481

271,473

$193,008

Out of 925 post-offices, which, under the old law, paid $100 net and upwards per quarter, 10 only exhibit an increase. These show an aggregate increase of $119. These 10 are in comparatively small towns, which have of late rapidly increased in population.

The preceding statement relates to the first three months under the new law; what follows is an official statement respecting the operation of the new law during the second three months, viz: from October 1, 1845, to January 1, 1846.

The Revenue in fifty of the large Post-Offices for the fourth quarter of 1845, compared with that which accrued in the same Offices during the fourth quarter of 1844.

Fifty Post-Offices show a deficit of $58,484, being a fraction less than 40 per cent.

Returns made from each post-office, of the number of letters received in the month of October, 1845. 1,953 offices, paying about one seventh of the revenue of the Department, failed to comply with the order. The following is the result from the offices making returns:

Letters reduced to single rates, taxed and free, at 5 cents,
Letters reduced to single rates, taxed and free, at 10 cents,

Ship letters for delivery, at 2 cents,

Dropped letters at 2 cents,

2,139,203

771,669

15,348

50,842

There were 2,139,203 five cent rates, and 771,669 ten cent rates - not so many separate letters.

The gross revenue, including the postages paid by the Executive Departments, for the half year ending 31st December, 1845, was, The expenditures and liabilities same period,

Deficiency for half year,

or at the rate of about $833,060 a year.

5. RATES OF POSTAGE.

$1,646,638

2,063,168

$416,530

For a letter, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, (avoirdupois,) sent not exceeding 300 miles,

Sent over 300 miles,

For every half ounce, and any excess over every half ounce, the same
rates of postage; and when advertised, two cents on each letter;
or four cents, if the advertising cost so much, additional.
For drop letters, (not to be mailed) each

For any printed circular, handbill, or advertisement, on quarto post, single cap, or paper not larger than single cap, unsealed, sent any distance,

For any pamphlet, magazine, periodical, or other matter of every kind, that is transmittable by mail, and has no written communication on it, of one ounce or less, or for a newspaper exceeding 1,900 square inches of surface,

For each additional ounce, or an excess greater than a half ounce, Newspapers of 1,900 square inches or less, sent by Editors or Publishers, from their offices of publication, any distance not exceeding 30 miles,

For any other newspaper, sent over 30, and not more than 100 miles, or any distance within the same State,

Sent over such distance,

Where the circular is on a sheet larger than single cap, it is to be rated as a pamphlet. As the postage on these articles is chargeable on each copy,