The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-09-09
For the Southern Press.
MECHANISM No. XXI.--By Josiah HOlbrOOk.

Illustrations of nature and art, produced by
the machinery of muscle, mind, and soul in
young Americans, and distributed and exchanged
among each other by the machinery of the Am
ercan Post Office, might'furnish our whole coun-
try with continued and increasing floods of the
light of science and Of the generous impulses
of noble spirits. Perhaps grander, more re-
publican, or more popular measure could not be
adopted by our government than to make each
of the eighteen thousand post-ofices in our
country concentrating and radatng point of
scientific light; and each postmaster radiating
agent of such light. The simple thou hit pre-
sents the magnifcence of power for the highest
possible obect-"GIvING LIGHT" OF all the
machinery of our national government, no part,
nor indeed all parts, could render service to all
the interests of every citizen, in any measure
equal TO such service by the post-ofice. As it
would promote directly and intimately the intel
lectual, social, moral, and business interests of
j every American citizen, it would of course be
more truly and universally popular than any
| measure which has been or which can be pro-
posed. Let the citizens of any town, village, or
| neighborhood, accommodated at n given post
office, have the question put to them, "Would
you like to have your postmaster authorized by
law to receive and distribute among you, from
young hands and generous hearts, in New York,
Washington, or any other place, specimens
showing their intelligence, skill, and improve
ment, illustrating at the same time principles Of
science applied to human pursuits, especially the
two great pursuits Of human beings, AGRIcUI..
TURE and MECHANISM :" Yes, would be the n
swer from every voice. Not one "no" could be
raised through the whole length and breadth of
our land.
| Its power 4" TO INCREASE AND DIFFUsE KNowL-
EDGE AMONG MEN" would be greater than a
thousand Smithsonian Institutions. Indeed, by
making the Smithsonian institution now in 10.
dicious and successful operation, the national
centre Of concentration and radiation of light
thus universally dffused, the power of its OPP
erations might be increased thousand fold.
A "cEST AN OUNCE" system of postage,
making the mail COMMON CARRIER" would
meet the whole case. IL would also relieve the
post-ofice of the heavy mass of confusion, of
nnumerabe hair splittings, of distinctions with
out difiers nee, now beyond the comprehension
or the skill of any human being; imposing upon
postmasters duties burdensome and impossible.
and annoying TO all whom they seek to accom-
modate.
In addition to the promotion of the greatly
varied interests of all classes OF citizens beyond
the whole power of our government besides,
a CENT AN OUNCE SYSTEM" of postage uniform
the government an immense revenue Let any
intelligent business man look at the Anne rcan
post office as Business establishment, conducted
upon business principles, carrying matter at that
rate and see if he can come TO any other con-
clusion than immense profits. Look at facts
A cent an ounce is sixteen dollars hundred
pounds three hundred and twenty dollars ton.
On railroads, freight is taken from New York to
Cincinnati at one dollar and one fifty hundred.
The government, at the rate proposed, would get
sixteen dollars a hundred not from New York
to Cincinnati merely, but from New York to
Brooklyn, simply crossing a river; and from
each of the eighteen thousand post offices to its
nearest neighbor, be it ten miles or half a mile
This rate itself would be a safety valve against
heavy manageable boxes and packages While
il il so low as TO take from all other convey
ances small packages, needing no law but that
of selfinterest TO secure them, il Is so high as
to shut out all large ones. Sixteen dollars for
package OF hundred pounds would not be
paid the government. when an express and other
conveyances would take 1t for one dollar, and
In many cases Mt a tenth part Of that sum. SO
great would be the blessings Of such postal pro.
visions. and so easily procured, ss 10 render
meetings and memorials 10 ask them from The
next Congress both desirable and probable.
Experimental scienn c paper Ia New
York, called /" The Student" has furnished 10.
merous prints EXERCISES Coz drH~ine "a schoal.
and families, inviting yosng asii.i- 10 SD ~
mail (post paid specimens ~ fasT wsft fh.
invitation has been accepird snf nfs..ifasns g.
warded from most II net al ~
Union, under Eve and ~
half ounce. ThrosFh osisf
Vulnerable, drawings ~ rnsr &c.
ings, implements, tools, o. ~ 1919.
landscapes. and pamsls~a ofi,ls ufsleis. hasr
been exchanged. through en- pasi eG.rs. by
skillful young hands. Anlmaiea ~ geneFous
minds, greatly for u cdr mufusi innprossneut
and reciprocal kind E eIings unssr csns an
ounce system of postage, tens would soon be- /
come thousands, and undrcds millions o. these /
tokens and fruits Of slill. Improvement, and pa
tiotism in noble yoprg Americans.