Indiana Palladium, Volume 7, Number 3, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, 22 January 1831 — Page 1

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DEVOTED TO Jx'Ell'S, POLITICS, I.YDUSTIIY, MORALITY, LITERATURE, A. YD .IMUSEMEA'T. Volume VII. LAWRENCEBURGII, (INDIANA ;) SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1C31. Number

POST-MASTER GENERA IS REPORT. Tost Office Department,) November 30, 1830. To the President of the United Stales:

Sir I have the honor to submit the following report of the transaction?, condition and prospect of this department. The expenditures of the Department, for the year commencing with the 1st July, 1827, and extending to the 1st Jul 1853, were S1.C23.893 30 The receipts being' the amount of postage returned for the came period were 1,593,877 95 Showing' an excess of expenditure beyond the revenue, for that year, of 5,015 85 The expenditures, from the 1st of July, 1828, to the 1st of July, 1829. were 1,782,132 57 The amount of postages returned for the eanae period was 1,707,118 42 Showing an excess of expenditure for that year, of 74,71-1 15 The total expenditures from the 1st of July, 1829, to the 1st July 1830, were 1,932,707 95 To -wit: for compensation to Postmasters, 595,234 93 Transportation of the mail. 1,274,006 93 Incidental expenses, 63,463 Oi The amount of postages returned for the same period was 1,850,583 10 Exhibiting an excess of expend!ture beyond the revenue, for last year, of 82,124 35 This deficit of the current receipts of the last year to meet the expenditures of the Department, it will be observed, has not increased, above that of the preceding'year in so great a ratio as that of the preceding year increased beyond the deficit of the year anterior to the 1st of July, 1828. The inference deduced from this fact, ns well a9 the increasing prosperity of the Department will be shown more distinctly in an exhibit of the receipts and expenditures of the Department by half years, for the two preceding years. Thus the regular increase of the revenue of the Department will sufficiently demonstrate its ability, by its future receipts to fulfil its extensive engagements, hould.no considerable charges be created, for a few years more, in addition to those incident to the present establishment. The expenditures for the latter half of the year 1828, were 851,190 96 The receipts for the same pariod 826,255 36 Excess of expenditure 24,935 60 The expenditures of the first half year of 1829, were 930.911 61 The receipts 83 1 , 1 63 06 Excess of expenditure The expenditures of the second half year of 1829, were The receipts Excess of expenditures for that half year 49,778 55 913,366 74 892 827 60 55,539 14 The expenditures for the first half year of 1830, were 981,43121 The receipts - 957,755 50 Excess for the last half year 26,585 71 (It should be noted that the excess of this last half year would have appeared, ns it actually wa, but $17,019 10, had not a portion of the current expenditures that were made in the preceding year been entered in the accounts of the urst nan oi the present year.) The whole amount of postages from the 1st of July, 189, to the 1st of July, of the present year, as presented in tke foregoing statement, is 1,S50;5S3 10 "The amount of postages from the 1st of July, 1823, to the 1st of Ju'y 1K29, r.-as 1.707.418 42 Giving an increase in this 1 year of 143,161 68 The amount of available funds at the disposal of the Department on the 1st of JaJv, 1529, was reported to be 230,549 C7 Ded'ict the excess of expenditure lor the last , 2,124 85 Leaves this amount of surplus 14?-724 22 The system of financial operations, as mentioned in my report of the last year, has fulfilled all the anticipations of its efficiency. The promptitude evinced by the "depositing Postmasters" in general, and the entire certainty of the accounts, both with the banks and those Postmasters, exclusive of the security in all these transactions derived to the public from this system, have in no small degree, conliibuted to the ability of the Department to meet its extensive demands. In the several States, improvements in mail facilities have been loudly called for; and, in many instance?, the growing population and extending set

tlements of the country hwve absolutely required them. In making such improvements, care has been taken so to

extend them as to give the greatest possible accommodation at the least expense, and in such a manner as would be most likely to increase the revenue. It is in part owing to these improvements that the amount of revenue is so much augmented, though tbe have, at the same time, considerably increased the expenditures of the Department. Between th ; 1st of July, 1C29. and the 1st of July, 1830, the transportation of the mail was increased, in stages equal to 745,7G7 miles a year. x On horseback and in sulkies G7,104 miles a year; making an annual increase of transportation, equal to 012,871 miles a year, beyond the amount of any former period. The annual transportation of the mail on' the 1st of July last, was about 9,531,577 miles in stages; and the whole yearly transportation in coaches, steamboats, sulkies, and on hoseback; amounted, at that period, to about14,500,000 miles. The, existing contracts for transporting the mail in the Southern division, embracing the State3 of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Geor gia, and the Territory of Florida, will expire with the current year. In the renewal of these contracts, provision ha3 been made for extending stage accommodations over 1,502 miles of post roads, on which the mail has hitherto been carried on horses only, or in sulkies, and on which the annual transportation in stage3 will from the 1st of January next, amount to 278,G5G miles. The frequency of trips will also he increased on 89 1 miles of existing stage routes, to the annual increase of 133,350 miles, making together, an increase of stage transportation of the mail, from the 1st of January next, of 417,014 miles a vear. Provision is also made for the more frequent transportation of the mail on ditrerent routes, as follows: Increase of trips on horse routes 31,824 miles a year; Increase of trips on existing routes changed from horse to stage routes 118,456 do. Increase of trips on stage routes 133,353 do. Making, together, a total increase of 283,G33 miles of transportation of mails, in a year, beyond the amount of pres ent transportation in that division, be sides the improvement of substituting stages for horse transportation. Among these improvements are in cluded, a line of stages from Edenton to v ashington, IS. C. ; from Newborn to Wilmington, N. C; a steamboat line from Wilmington to Smithville, and a line of stages from Smithville, N. C. ; to Georgetown, S. C; all of which are to run twice a week each way. These arrangements will complete the regular communication, by steamboats and stages, between Baltimore, Md. and Charleston, S. C, along the seaboard, cf Norfolk , Va., Elizabeth city, Edenton, Washington, Newbern, Wilmington, and Smithville, N. C. and Georgetown, S. C. an accommodation desired alike by the public and the Department. Provision is also made for expediting the mail on many important routes; amor.g which is the whole route between this place and Fort Mitchell, via Richmond, Va., Raleigh, N. CColum. bia,S. C, and Milledgeville, Georgia; which line will be traversed in two days less thnn at present; so that the mail will run from this city to New Orleans in thirteen days, after the 1st of January next. Allowing the average expense of transportation, by horse or sulkey, to be five cents per mile, and by stages to be thirteen cents per mile, which is about the mean rate paid in the Southern division, the value of these improvements, exclusive of the value of increased expedition, will be as follows: Annual amount of transportation changed from borsos to stages, 278,655 miles; at eight cents per mile, (the mean difference) 22,292 43 To be added for increased number of trips on the same, amounting annually, to 1 18,455 miles, at five cents per mileIncreased ngmber of tr!p3 on former stags routes, amounting, annually, to 133.353 mile3 at IS cents per mile Increased number of trips on horse suikey routes, amounting, annually, to 31,824 miles, et 5 cents per mile, 5,922 SO 17,936 54 1,591 20 Making the total annual ralue of the improvement 47,793 02

The contracts have been made for the ensuing four years from the first of January next, including all these improvements, at a rum less than the amount now paid for transporting the mails in that divisor, by $25,047 C7 To this sim add the estimated ralue of improvements, as before slated, 47,793 02

And the actual saving to the Department in the renewing of the contracts, will amount, sunually, to 3,540 69 Besides the very considerable amount gained in the increased expedition of the mails on many routes of great interest to the community, the value of which cannotjbe well estimated. In this saving in the expense of the contracts, and the additional revenue which may be anticipated from the improvements they secure, together with the general increase of postage, which is still progressive will be seen u foundation for the belief which has been expressed, that the current revenue of the Department for the succeeding year will be sufficient for its disburse ments. The rules that have been adopted in relation to the conduct of postmasters. placing the investigation of all official delinquencies under the immediate superintendance of an Assistant, and subjecting them to the strict scrutiny of m able and vigilant officer, has been productive of the happiest results. There are, at the present time in the United States, 8,101 post offices; and among that iiumber,scattered over the whole Union, it is not possible to prevent disorders, to the great loss of individual?, and sometimes of the Department, without the unremitted and undivided attention of a competent officer. The duties of this branch cf the department, under the present organization, have however, been so discharged as to secure as great a degree of confidence in the fidelity of its officers, generally, p.s could have existed in any former period, when the number was comparatively small. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your very obedient servant. W, T. BARRY. WUtMHOMBit UOUSK OF II E P K K S X T A T I V E 3 Jan. 4. JWr. Wilis, n behalf of him self and other members, presented the following replication to the protest entered by Mr. Ferris and other members on the 1st instant; which was read and ordered to be spread on the journals: The undersigned, members of the House of Representatives cf the General Assembly of the slate of Indiana, having voted for the apportionment bill which passed this House on the 30th ultimo, against the passage of which, Ezra Ferris and eleven other, members of this House, protested in language calculated to mislead the public mind, and reflect seriously upon us. We therefore present the following explanation of the reasons that governed us, in supporting said bill: The protest states, "that the apportionment is contrary to the letter and spirit of the Constitution, which say? (see Article 3d, Sect. 2) which appor tionment shall be made among the several counties in the state, according to the number office white male inhabitants over twenty-one years of age, in each." We do not suppose that the letter or spirit of the Constitution, can be so construed, as to give to every county or district, a representation rvpon the same precise ratio, as the great disproportion in size of the different counties renders that impossible, hence we presume, that the apportionment is to he equalized as nearly a3 can be, which we conceive has been done, in the bill that passed this House. By way of showing that inequality exists, and injustice has been done, by ti e provisions of said bill, Clark coun ty is first singled out. It is stated that Clark county with 1923 voters, has three representatives, and Washington with 231 G only two; to reconcile this seeming inconsistency we will show the relative" strength of Clark and Floyd which compose one Senatorial district, and have between them four Representatives. Clark has 1928 and Floyd 1253 voters, which added together make 3181 voters; 981 over their Senatorial ratio, this .added to 353 the surplus Floyd has over a Representative, ratio mjikp3 1433 voters, for which Clark 'has ooa representative. The

next instance of inequality complained of, is Marion with 1449 voters and only one representative. If Marion stood unconnected with any other county, this statement would subject the friends of the bill to the severest censure, but when compared with other counties & districts, the imputation vanishes. Marion has 1449, nnd Hamilton 323 voters, Marion nnd Hamilton form a senatorial district with 1772 voters, and Hamilton and Boon a representative district with 4C9 voters. Compare this senatorial and the two representative districts together, and take the surplus from Marion and give it to Hamilton and Boon, and the whole is well arranged and justly equalized. The next cases referred to are Switzerland, Vermillion and Union. It is stated that these counties have two

representatives each, with a less number of voters than Marion, which has but one. This statement, unqualified and unexplained, would eurj.ct the friends of the bill to the charge of doing injustice, with some propriety, but wnen we recollect that the senatorial distiict of Paike and Vermillion contains 3293 voters, and Union and Fayette 2902, both having a surplus 'sufficient to entitle the above counties to the addition;:! representative, we must say that the inequality spoken of does not exist. Martin county with 377 voter?, is thrown into the scale against Flovd with 1253. Fbjd county is disposed of by her union with Clark, and .Martin is attached to Knox and Daviess for a senator uith 2700 voters; the surplus in this senatorial district, will entitle her to a representative. Perry and Spencer counties with 1148 voters, is introduced as another instance ot injustice. There is a surplus in this district, but throw that surplus to Crawford which has C50 voters and is in the same senatorial distiict, and it is justly provided for. The protest then complains that Clay county has a representative with 380 voters, while Randolph aud Delaware; with 1213 has no mere. Take the purpluj from Vigo and Sullivan, which are united with Clay for a senator, and she will be entitled to a representative , and it cannot be contended that Randolph and Delaware ought each to have a representative. The inequality in the senatorial districts of Parke and Vermillion, Gibson, Pike and Duboi?, Clark and Floyd, are all easily reconciled when compared, and taking the surplus from the senatorial ratio, and add the same to the representative, and taking the surplus from the representative and add to the senatorial ratio. The apportionment assigned to Franklin is said to he too high, while that of Washington is too low. As regards those two counties we can say, they have precisely the nmc representation assigned them, in this bill, that they have in all the bills made out, excepting one, which gave Franklin a senator and a representative, and owing to their situation with the adjoining counties, no other arrangement could be made. Upon the whole we feel warranted in saying, that a bill combining equality and justice more than this cannot be presented to this House. Tho undersigned would say something about the increased expense spoken of in the protest, and the hurried manner which it is said, the bill was forced through the house, did they believe it necessary; but suppose those remarks were made for a tw o fold effect to cast censure upon the friends of the measure and to laud the protestant3 for an eagle-eyed watchfulne33 over the constitution and great interests of the people. We only intended by this explanation to show the connexion and haimony that exists throughout the w hole bill, and now submit it, under a consciousness that its provisionare just and its principles strictly with in the pa ot the constitution. David Hi! I is, John Beard, J. II. Wallace, W. S. Bussed, John Fin'ey, Thomas Bell, E! isha Lo n g, Geo rg Bo o ?i , David Wallace , James T. Bollock, William Elliott, William Herod, John Smiley, . L. Scpcr, Thomas Bionn, Alexander Lovcrv, Henry Hoover, Samuel Hall, John JlWary, Alexander Worth, Wm. Skeen, Joseph Lane, John Gardner, Amory Kmnn, John Beid, Eli Wright, Abel Cioypoof, W. Armstrong, Thomas C. Slexzart, Daniel Hcnkins.

The follow ing report was omitted in our former notices of the legislative proceedings. It will be seen that the committee, appointed to examine into the practice of the Michigan road commissioner, in lettirg.out contracts, doei r)t agree in opinion with the governor, as expressed in his late message. The committee on roads, to which was referred so much of the governor' message as refers to tho bad management of the contract commissioner on the Michigan road, have called on Gen, Noah Noble, the commissioner, u ho hai laid before the committee all the papers, and a complete record ofthebidi registered in a book kept for that purpose. A majority oi the committee seem to be perfectly satisfied with tho course pursued by the commissioner,aj the most advantageous one to secura the fund. To show cleaily the views taken bv the commissioner with regard to what is generally termed "ncerping bids' the committee state that at tho court house in the town of Madison, on Thursday the first of July last, the road from section one to fifteen inclusive wa let to Capt. Andrews, at the sum of 7,47-1 00; which is an average o( S 498 00 per mile. There were but 3 bids for a less sum, to-w it : one for 298, one for 400, the next lowest was for ,sG00, and varying from that tol 147 per mile. Those individual bids when added together make an average of 553 per mile for the same distance. The sum saved to the state by the taethod pursued by the commissioner is o ; 1 The commissioner further justifies his receiving sweeping bid?, on the ground that persons thus bidding, were not compelled to take any part, unless they got ihe whole for which they bid; hence those who bid lower than the average bid were excluded on tho ground that the commissioner was not compelled to receive those bid3 together, to exclude) extravagant bids. There appears to bo one or two cases in the same situation, A majority cf the committee, after due deliberation and reflection, have agreed that the chairman should report the fol

lowing resolution, tc-wit: Besohed, That Noah Noble, the contract commissioner on the Michigan road, has done what a ma ority of the committee conceive to be his duty; and the course adopted and pursued by him is a saving cf the Michigan road fund to the state. The committee esked to bo discharged from the consideration thereof; which was read, and the cemmitteo were discharged. The annual report of the directors of the Louisville and Portland canal company, has been published; from which it appears that this work has cost 730, 000, of which 130,000 has been" borrowed. The following is the engineer's report of the various kinds of work which have been done in the construction of the canal viz. Eiith excavation, C55.249 cubic yards, Rock do- 102.551 44 Embankment, 133,203 Mason woik, 4 1,989 perches. Pavement, 1 1 3, G35 yds. sloping wall, Boats are now passing the canal daily, and the engineer in his report eays, that klthe anticipations relative to the durability and utility ofthe woik will he fully realized, and that the fears of those who from the great and unusual height and width of the locks have regarded it as a doubtfuljexperiment, will be completely removed." IV. Tiller. The mirch of Scicna bids fair to put to flight, the whole race of conjurers, fire-eaters, and Hight-of-hand gentlemen. The mode of eating burning charcoal and swallowing melted brimstone with impunity, has lately been published to the weild. The manner of performing many ether wonderous feats has not escaped the eve cf philosophic et quiry. We propose to amuse our vourjr readers by teaching them a hick or two, for the knowltdge of which we are indebted to a foreign paper. Bv strepirg en egg for seme time in sharp vinegar, the shell will be o far softfiud, that it may be extended lengthways and put into a vial without breaking." B) poum g cold water into the vi.!,ihe tj:g will ugain its original shape. To make an egg darce, boil it hard, take elf a small ptece of shell at one end and then thrust into it a quill filled with quicksilver, sealed at each etd.