Canadian Postal GuideCanada. Post Office Department
History
Canadian Postal Guide
Canada. Post Office Department
Postal service -- Canada
In the year 1817 Lower Canada had 13 post offices; Upper Canada, 12;
Nova Scotia, 6; New Brunswick, 3; Prince Edward's Island, 1. In this
year the mails were running between Quebec and Halifax once a fortnight,
all the year round; between Quebec and Kingston, once a week; between
Kingston and Toronto, once a week; and between Toronto and Amherstburg,
once a fortnight.
In the year 1820 there were in Lower Canada 20 post offices; in Upper
Canada, 19; in Nova Scotia, 6; in New Brunswick, 3; in Prince Edward's
Island, 1.
In 1824 there were in Upper and Lower Canada 69 post offices, and 1992
miles of established mail routes. The annual travel of the mail was
370,000 miles. The gross revenue was $68,000; and the revenue
transmitted to England, after deducting $1200, the supposed surplus for
New Brunswick, $21,000. At this time the population of Lower Canada was
about 440,000, and of Upper Canada 150,000.
In this year Mr. Sutherland was succeeded, as Deputy Postmaster General,
by Mr. Thos. A. Stayner, and shortly after was effected the separation
of nearly the whole of New Brunswick from the Canada charge.
Under the long and able administration of Mr. Stayner, extending from
the year 1824 to 1851, postal accommodation was greatly extended
throughout Upper and Lower Canada.
In 1827 there were 101 post offices and 2368 miles of established post
route. The annual transportation of the mail was 455,000 miles. The
estimated number of letters passing through the post in the year was
340,000; the estimated number of papers, 400,000.
In the year 1832 the Duke of Richmond, then Postmaster General, proposed
a re-modification of the post office throughout British North America.
An Act was prepared with this object, but the attempt to pass it through
the several Legislatures failed, and of all the plans that had been
contemplated only two were carried into effect, namely, the
establishment of an Accountant's Office and the appointment of Local
Inspectors.
The attention of the Legislature of Upper Canada was, about this time,
frequently turned to the post office, which still continued under the
Imperial control. Committees were appointed and reports made, in which
the transfer of the management of the department to the Colonial
Government was strongly urged.
In the year 1837 a joint address from the Legislative Council and
Assembly was adopted, praying that the revenue produced by the post
office in the Colonies should no longer be remitted to England. This
address was referred to the Lords of the Treasury, and by them referred
to Lord Durham, on the ground that some general measure was required to
carry its prayer into effect. Nothing, however, was done until some
years afterwards towards the accomplishment of this end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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