The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-04-04

found itself loser on that account, in
consequence of the numerous establish-
ments of steam boats.
To prevent these losses, and to subject |!
all letters and packets OF letters conveyed |
by steam boats, to the regular postage, |
congress, by an act passed on the Sd inst. |
have established all routes on which
those boats pass, as post roads.
You will therefore charge all letters
which you receive or send by steam boats,
with postage according to the distance
they are conveyed, at the same rates as
iiscnt through the mail by land.
The account of steam boat letters
should be Kept by itself. and may be kept
on the common blanks for ship letters
received, merely substituting the words
"steam boat" for ship.
1t is importaht3 particularly on account
OF the state of the receipts and expendi-
tutes of the department., tina, the act of
Feb. ct, 1915, be duly enforced and car
ried into effect, (see pages 20 and 81 of
the post Office laws) and hope you will
not fail to prosecute, should the law be
violated. Yours, respectfully,
RETURN J MEIGS.
Post Master General.
The act OF February 27, 1915, referred
to above, is in the following words -
Sec. 8. That the post master general
be authorized to have the nail carried in
any steam boat, or other vessel, which
shall be used as packet in any Of the
waters Of the United States, on such
| terms and conditions, as shall be consid.
cred expedient Provided, That he
does not pay more than three cents for
each letter, and each packet, and more
| thar, one half cent for each newspaper,
conveyed in such mail
Sec. d That it shall be the duty OF
every master or manager of any steam
boat. packet or other vessel, which shall
pass from one port or place TO another
port or place, in the United States where
a post office is established, to deliver
within three hours after his arrival, if in
the day time, and within two hours after
the next sun rise, if the arrival be in the
night. all letters and packets addressed
to, or destined for such port or place, to
the post master there, for which he shall
he entitled to receive of such post master
two cents for every letter or packet So
delivered, unless the same shall be car
ried or conveyed under contract with
the post master general-and if any mas
! ter or manager of steam boat, or other
vessel. shall fail so to deliver any letter
i'orpacket, which shall have been brought
iby lhim. or shall have been in his care.
or within his power, he shall incur
iapsnalty of thirty dollars for every such
failure.
Sec. D. That every person employed
on board any steam boat. or other vessel
employed as packet, shall deliver eve
nv letter, and packet OF letters entrusted
to such person, TO the master or manager
of such steam boat or other vessel, and
| before the said vessel shall touch at any
other port or place; and for every fai- !
lure, or neglect so TO deliver, penalty |
OF ten dollars shall be incurred for each |
letter and packet.
Passed February 27, 1915.
The clause in the act of congress which |
establishes all routes on which steam |
boats pass as post roads, is dated Sd |
March, 1928, and is in the following |
words -
Sec. 8. That all waters on which !
steam boats regularly pass from port to
| port, shall be considered and established |
as post roads, subject to the provisions |
| contained in the several acts regulating
| the post Office establishments
While on this subject it may be useful |!
to give the following table showing the |
rates of postage, on letters, newspapers,
magazines and pamphlets.
Rating and Marking ofLetsers.
/. Letters which are received 10 be |
sent by post, should be marked with the !
name of the post Office at which they
are received, day of the month, and the
rate Of postage chargeable thereon or,
if the letter is free, with the word free. +,
The name, date, and free, may be either
written or stamped upon each; if there |
are but few letters, il will be less trouble |
TO write thar to- stamp.
9. At Offices where there is much |
business, the work oil rating and marking
should be performed as fast as the letters |
are received, and not left to the time Of
closing the mail, when in the hurry of
business many errors might be commit
ted.
8. It may sometimes be difficult to
discover whether letter is single, dou-
bic or treble--but after little experience
you will generally be able to decide by
the feeling, or by holding the letter to
the light.
A 4 IA l.