The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-01-20

L. Leech, giving history OF this Department
We find in il many interesting facts.
A monthly post was organized between New
York and Boston in 1872 Officers for the re-
ceipt and dispatch OF letters were set Up at
Philadelphia in 1858, at Boston in 1857, and at
New York in 1862. The first Postmaster Gen
eral on record is Thomas Neal. to whom, about
the year 1900 patent was issued by the Brit
ish Government, "empowering hlm and his
heirs to erect Post Offices in the colonies for
twenty one years." AT this time there was no
mail route south OF Philadelphia. Ia 1853
Benjamin Franklin was then npponted.
He held the office until iva, when he
was removed for his independent replies 10 the
questions Of the Com.niite Of the Commons,
concerning the State Of the country.
In l775 the American Congress created the
Office Of Postmaster General, with salary of
$1,000 year and power TO appoint deputies
Benjamin Franklin was unanimously elected TO
ill the place. AT the same time line Of posts
was established between Falmouth, in New
Eogland, and Savannah. in Georgia. with cross
routes. In I777 an inspector of dead letters
was succeeded nl776 by Richard Bache--
The ledger kept by him until 1879 is now a,
the General Post Office. 1t consists Of about
three quos of foolscsp, bound in boards. and
states the account in sterling currency. Eb-
ouezer Hazard succeeded 10 the office in 1882.
In that year an act was passed, increasing the
number of post routes. and the number of dep
uies. aud raising the Postmaster Generals sal
AIRY to $500. This act prescribed raif OF
postages, fixing the charge 90 single letters, GO
ing moi over GO miles a, one pennyweighi (equsl
10 80 Of a dollar) and eight grains, or about
z 3 "a cents, two pennyweights for distances not
exceeding 100 miles. and so on. In 1886 a re-
solve was passed requiring the collection OF
postage in specie. In 1889, wheE the Federal
Government organized, the power Of appointing
the Postmaster General was vested 10 the Pres
deni and Senate. Washington selected Sam
ubl Osgood. Al this time Sebastian Beauman
was Postmaster of New York. Robert Patton,
Of Philadelphia, and Miss Mary b. Goddard,
of Baltimore.
There were then but rs post Offices 10 The
Uniun, and not 5000 miles OF post routes. The
receipts at New York post Office were S5,537
per annum. The Postmaster General kept his
Office in The city Of New York until 1890, when
il was transferred 10 Philadelphia, where it slaid
until the removal Of The seat OF Government to
Washington in 1902. Col Timothy Pickering
succeeded to the office 10 1891. Congress pass
ed revised postal law in 1892, arranging the
postage tariff in Federal money. Hitherto no
postage rates had boeu designated for newspa-
pets. They TO distance. which rate continued
publishers were provided for. Joseph Haber-
sham, OF Georgia, p. NJ. General in 1876. ln
1897, his salary was raised TO $4,000 ln 1899
the death penalty for robbing the mail was re-
peaed. IL is now five TO 10 len years imprison-
ment for The first offence, death for the second.
In 1900 il required fo'iy days TO obtain an
answer. AT Portland. TO letter mailed al Savan-
nah, and fony four at philaIelphia, FOR reply
to one address 10 Nashville. Gideon Granger
took the Postmaster Generalship in 1902. ln
1912 the Post Office Department was placed in
a building located on rs present site, original
~ bull foI hotel
Return Johnarban Meigs was commissioned
p. NJ. General in 1914. In 1916, fiscal act
was passed fixing the rates as they stood from
that time till 1915 WITT cents for single let
ters less han 80 miles. 10 cents under 80 miles,
12I under $50, lSa uuder 400 and 25 for the
greater distances. John McLean took the rens
Of the establishment in 1923 In 1927 The Post
bureau was raised TO The rank Of a Department
and the p. VI. Generals salary TO $4,000. VIM
4. Barry became 7 NJ. General in 1880. Ma
jor s. B. Hohbic was by him appointed Assis-
tant. aud continued in that capacity until 1851.
On Mr.. Bany's resignation, Amos Kendall WIS
chosen. Through his instrumentaIity tho De-
partment was teorgdniZed, and an Auditor OF
The Treasury for the Post Office Department
was created. Near the close OF 1886. the bull
ding OF the Department was burned down. 1t
was then transferred to what is now known as
Wiliatd's Hotel. In 1sIl tho present magnif-
cent structure was erected. john VI. Niles was
appointed ia 1910. In l5sl Francis Granger
On his resignation Charles A. Wicklif. to
1S45 the Postmaster General was authorized
TO make contracts for mail transportation 10
10 foreign countries, and the rates Of postage
reduced TO cents on half an ounce under 800
miles 10 cents over. Cave Johnson, Jacob Col
lamar and N. X. Hall are the last and well
known occupants ofthe Postmaster Genefaship
In 1850 there were about $4,000 Postmastefs
1850 mail contractors, and $500 operating post
routes on the lists Of the Department. The
The revenue from posiages amounted to S.
495, 600 per annum, of which S919,4S0 arose
from newspapers. Ofthe gross annual expen-
ditdre for mail conveyance. (2,724 1861 $685.
500 was for ioreigu routes. This estimate
does not take inlhe Liverpool Chagres and
Astoria lines, which are paid for by the Navy
Department.
There are employed ia the entire concern
(Which is under one roof) 255 clerks viz: IS
in the Aditors Office. aud 20 10 the Department
proper, whose average annual salary is about
81 $50, sum barely Sufficient 10 maintain a
small family in Washington, The Auditor EN-
ploys 80 OF bis iorce 10 examiniDg the accounts
of acting Posinasters, 10 in paying contract
ors, and the residue in settling accounts Of OK
Postmasters. prosecuting deiauting contract
ors. stating the accounts Of contractors, copying
letters, &c. -.t ss fsg.ss.a 'aUt pu
The Postmaster General assigns about 90 OF
his clerks 10 the Office of mail contractors, the
residue beiog divided between the Appoint
ment. Finance and Inspection bureaus.
10 Mr.. Halls first report to the President he
nrged a reduction OF the sinRl lie posta ge rate 10
three cents pre- paid. or 5 cents unpaid, and OF
a more accommodating tariff on new papers add
other printed matter. His Suggestions having
been apop,cd. this highly important improve
| rnent went into effect on the lsi Of July last.
| A SINeuLAR CAsE.-In a recent criminal
trial in Illinois, woman who had young babe
was convicted Of peniientiary offence, BIT as
Ia 6.i..s.-... 4