In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, a statement of the annual pay of the several railroad companies in the United States for the transportation of the mails.

APRIL 12, 1854.-Referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, and ordered to be printed.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, April 11, 1854.

SIR: In obedience to the resolution of the Senate of the 7th ultimo, I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the annual pay to the several railroad companies in the United States for the transportation of the mails for three years, with the rates of charges on the different roads.

Instead, however, of taking the three years up to the 1st of January last, as specified in the resolution, it has been found necessary to take the fiscal years ending the 30th of June, 1853, because mail contracts are by law made to terminate with the fiscal year.

The contracts in New York and New England expired the 30th of June last; I therefore submit a separate report of the railroad service as now in operation in that section, under new contracts, commencing the 1st of July last, or under offers of the department, showing where contracts are not executed, the offers of the department, and the demands of the railroad companies.

The total miles and annual pay on the several railroad routes, as now exhibited, vary somewhat from the totals in the tables of mail service for the years ending the 30th of June, 1851, 1852, and 1853, annexed to the several annual reports of the Postmaster General, dated the 29th of November, 1851, 4th of December, 1852, and 1st of December, 1853. This difference may be accounted for by the fact that the tables in question were necessarily prepared upon defective information, so far as regards railroad service, the same being performed in many cases without contracts, and the pay remaining subject to after adjustment by special orders.

I have the honor to be, yours, respectfully,

Hon. D. R. ATCHISON,

President Senate United States.

JAMES CAMPBELL.

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