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Domestic News December 23, 1850

Democratic Banner

Louisiana, Bowling Green, Pike County, Missouri

What is this article about?

The Postmaster General's 1850 report details postal department revenue of $5,552,971.48 and expenditures of $5,212,953.43, yielding a $340,018.05 surplus. It recommends reducing inland letter postage to 3 cents prepaid (2 cents if surplus exceeds 5%), simplifying sea rates to 20 cents for Pacific/South America/Europe and 10 cents otherwise, and lowering rates for newspapers and periodicals.

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Report of the Postmaster General. This document occupies three columns of the National Intelligencer, and our space, therefore, precludes us from giving it in full:

The gross revenue of the Department for the year ending June 30, 1850, was $5,552,971 48.

Expenditures of the year, $5,212,953 43, leaving as the excess of the gross revenue over the expenditures of the year, the sum of $340,018 05.

The Report makes the following recommendations respecting the postage upon letters, newspapers, and periodicals;

That the inland letter postage be reduced to three cents, the single letter, when pre-paid, and be fixed at the uniform rate of five cents when not pre-paid; and also, that the Postmaster General be required to reduce this pre-paid rate to two cents the single letter, whenever it shall be ascertained that the revenue of the Department, after the reductions now recommended, shall have exceeded its expenditures by more than five per cent. for two consecutive fiscal years,

That the postage to California and Oregon be greatly reduced, and that the postage charged on other sea-going letters be more simple and uniform.

That twenty cents the single letter, be charged on all correspondence to and from the Pacific Coast, South America, the Eastern Continent and its islands, and points beyond either; and ten cents the single letter in all other sea-going letters, without the superaddition of inland postage, in any case, excepting however, all cases where such sea postages have been, or shall be at different rates, by postal treaty already concluded, or hereafter to be made; and power should be given to the Postmaster General, by and with the consent of the President of the United States, to reduce or enlarge the sea rates, with the view of making better postal arrangements with other governments, or counteracting any adverse measures affecting our postal intercourse with other countries.

That the provisions which imposes an additional half cent postage upon newspapers sent more than one hundred miles and out of the State where they are mailed, be repealed, so as to leave the uniform inland postage on newspapers, sent to subscribers, from the office of publication, at one cent each.

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 pamphlets, 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.

What sub-type of article is it?

Economic Transportation

What keywords are associated?

Postmaster General Report Postage Rates Postal Revenue 1850 Letter Postage Reduction Sea Postage Uniform

Domestic News Details

Event Date

Year Ending June 30, 1850

Outcome

excess of gross revenue over expenditures: $340,018.05

Event Details

The Postmaster General's report details gross revenue and expenditures for the postal department and recommends reductions and simplifications in postage rates for inland letters, sea-going letters to various regions including California, Oregon, Pacific Coast, South America, and Europe, as well as for newspapers, pamphlets, and periodicals.

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