The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1841-12-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
CIRCULAR LETTER So
To the Special Agents ofthe Post Office Depart
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
November, 4th, 1874

November, 4th, 1S41.
S1R-To the duties assigned you by any for
mer instructions, as Special and Confidential
Agent of this Department, desire to add, that
of strictly observing the manner in which the
Post Offices are kept in the section and along
the lines of route you may be called to inspect
and travel.
The Postmaster General expects that every
Post Office, whatever may be its importance,
shall be attended to or supervised by the Depu-
ty Postmaster. The practice which | regret to
learn has obtained in many portions of the Uni
ted States of one man holding the commission
of Postmaster. while, another discharges its du-
ties, must be stopped; and when such cases
fall within your knowledge, desire that they
shall be made the subject of special report.
Great carelessness in the opening and keep
ing the mail in insecure places, and permitting
persons other than the postmaster, or his sworn
assistants, to have access to the same when
opening, or after it is opened, has been charged,
in general terms, upon many of the Postmas-
ters in the small towns and villages. This evil
must be corrected, and when you have evi-
dence of the fac,, it is expected, that you will
make it known to the Department that the only
efficient remedy may be applied. Twill not con-
tinue in office those who will not themselves
give their time and attention to the discharge of
its duties or who violate or suffer violations of
the rules of the Department in opering and dis
trbuting the mail.
1t is also desirable that you observe the de-
pertinent ofFall carriers and drivers of mails,
and report any misconduct arising from wilful
negligence or carelessness and inattention to
their employers and to the Department.
Many complaints have been made against the
agents or travelling Postmasters on the rail road
routes, YOU are expected to observe the conduct
of such as may fall within the range Of your
supervision. .s
Information has been communicated to this
Department that drivers and carriers of the mail,
on the more distant and more unimportant
routes, are in the habit of carrying letters in
violation of law, thereby lessenng the income
of the Department. AS this may be done in
ignorance of the law, you will inform and in
struct the contractors to charge the carriers
anddrvers not TO violate the law in this particu-
lar. The act of 1925. section 20, directs that
all carriers shall deliver such letters, whether
sealed or unsealed, to the first Post Office, at
which they arrive after receiving them, and the
Postmaster is directed to rate and charge. the
postage.
If you become satisfied that any Pest Office
is not of public utility, and not required for the
public accommodation, you will report that fact
and the reasons for the opinion.
Upon the active exertion and vigilant super
vision of the special Agents of this Department,
mainly depend the regularity, security, andsef-
ficiency of mail transportation, and l cannot
too strongly impress upon you the importance
and high responsibility of your stations. 1t is
to YOU the Postmaster General must look for ac-
curate information upon all subjects pertaining
to the out door operations of the Department
Give me your efficient aid, and l do not despair
of making the Post Office Departments eminent
ly useful and popular.
Very respectfully :.
Your obedient servant,
C. A. WICKLIFFE.