Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1851-03-15
THE NEW POSTAGE LAW As IT PASSED
CONGRESS

postage in the United States, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House OF
Representatives Of the United States Of Amer
ica, in Congress assembled, That, from the
thirteenth day of June, eighteen hundred and
ffty-one, in lieu of the rates of postage now
established by law, there shall be charged
the follwing rates, 10 wit: For every single
letter in manuscript, or paper of any kind
upon which information shall be asked for,
or communicated in writing, or by marks or
signs, conveyed in the mall for any distance
between places within the United States not
exceeding three thousand miles, when the
postage upon such letter shall have been
prepaid, three cents, and five cents when the
postage thereon shall not have been prepaid.
and for any distance exceeding three thon-
sand miles, doube these rates for every such
single letter or paper when conveyed wholly
or in part by sea, and 10 or from foreign
country, for any distance over twenty five
hundred miles, twenty cents, and for any
distance under twenty-five hundred miles,
ten cents excepting, however; all cases
where such postages have been or shall be
adjusted at different rates by postal treaty or
convention, already concluded or hereafter 10
he made y and for double letter, there shall
be charged double the rates above specified:
and for treble letter, treble those rates: and
for quadruple letter, qnadruple those rates
and every letter or parcel not exceeding half
an ounce in weight shall be deemed single
letter and every additional weight of half
an ounce. or additional weight of less than
half an ounce, shall be charged with an adj
ditional single postage. And all drop letters,
or letters placed in any post-odce, not for
transmission, but for delivery only, shall be
charged with postage at the rate Of one cent
each and all letters shall hereafter be ad-
vertised as remaining over or uncalled for in
any post office. shall be charged with one
cent in addition to the regular postage, both
10 be accounted for as other postages now
are.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted. That
all newspapers not exceeding three ounces
in weight sent from the Office of publication
to actual and bona fide subscribers, shall be
charged with postages as follows, TO wit -
All newspapers published weekly only, shall
circulate in the mail free of postage within
the county where published, and that the
postage on the regular number of a newspa-
per published weekly, for any distance not
exceeding fifty miles out of the county where
published, shall be five cents per quarter for
any distance exceeding fifty miles, and not
exceeding three hundred miles, ten cents
per quarter, for any distance exceeding three
hundred miles, and not exceeding one thou
sand, fifteen cents per quarter for any dis
tance exceeding one thousand miles, and not
exceeding two thousand, twenty cents per
quarter; for any distance exceeding two
thousand miles and not exceeding four thou
sand miles, twenty five cents per quarter !;
and for any distance exceeding four thousand
miles, thirty cents per quarter and all
newspapers published monthly and sent 10
actual bona iide subscribers, shall be char
ged with one fourth the foregoing rates and
on all such newspapers published semi
monthly shall be charged with one half the
foregoing rates and papers published semi
weekly shall be charged double those rates ;
tr-weekly treble those rates; and oflncr
than tr-weekly, five times those rates. And
there shall be charged upon every other
newspaper, and each circular not sealed
handbiIl, engraving, pamphlet, periodical,
magazine book, and every other description
of printed matter, which shall be unconnect.
cd with any manuscript, or written matter
and which it may be lawful TO transmit
through the mail of no greater weight than
one ounce, for any distance rot exceeding
five hundred miles, one cent and for each
additional ounce, or fraction of an ounce one
cent for any distance exceeding five hun.
dred miles and not exceeding one thousand
five hundred miles double those rates fo
any distance exceeding one thousand five
hundred miles and not exceeding two thou
sand five hundred miles, treble those rates
for any distance exceeding two thousand five
hundred miles and not exceeding three thou
sand five hundred miles, four times thos,
rates for any distance exceeding thre,
thousand five hundred miles, five times thos
rates.
Subscribers 10 all periodicals shall be re
qured to pay one quarters postage in ad
vance in all such cases the postage shall b
one half the foregoing rates. Bound books
and parcels of printed matter not weighn
over thirty two ounces, shall be deemed
nalable matter under the provisions of hi
section. And the postage on all prinle
matter other than newspapers, and period
Gals published at intervals, not exceedin
three mouths, and sent from the office G
publication 10 actual and bona fde subscr
bers, TO be prepaid and in ascertaining tn
weight OF newspapers for the purpose of de
termining the amount Of postage chargeabl
thereon, they shall be weighed when in
dry state, And whenever any printed mai
ter on which the postage is required by hi