, 1856-08-22

To Persons mailing Letters Jor California and
the 1cI7lforIes Of Washington and Oregon Thou
sands of letters sent to the Pacific coast LecomC
dead letters. To remedy this evil, the Post Ohce
Department, under the authority of Congress, has
adopted, an auxiliary To ia operations, the follow
ing plan for simultaneously publishing at each aud
every post Office in the Pacific REGION In list called
the - Pacific Mail List" the names of persons IA
whom letters have been sent 10y mail To post offices in
California and the Territories of Washington and
Oregon. by this system, a letter may be sent 10 any
post Office In the Pacific region for person whose
location is unknown, save the mere fact that he b
sOmelphere in California or the Territories Of Oregon
and Washington; il the letter be published in the
" Pacific Mail List" its ultimate reception by the
person for whom il Is intended will be rendered highly
probable. To enable those who may desire IN extend
to their Pacific correspondents the advantages thus
offered, the following illustration is given;
Suppose 1t Is wished 10 send to the Sacramento posi-
Office a letter for George Wilson, who emigrated tC
California from Pike county Missouri but II is feared
that he may have changed his location, and hence may
not receive the letter In this casc, direct the letter
To George Wilson, Cate Of Pike county, MssourD
Sacramento, California. Then in order to publish
the letter in the Pacific Mail List copy the address
Of the letter upon piece OF paper or card, and en-
close the card, together with three-ccnt postage
stamp, in an envelope 10 the Pacific Mail List n
Y. Deposit the letter, usual In the mail for Cali
Ornia, and at the same time drop the envelope, eOu
ianing he card 10 publish lhe letter, in the mail oI
New York. From the address on the card thus re
ceved at the New York post Office, the name, George
Wilson, will be entered in ts appropriate place in tic
" Pacific Mail List.n which is printed and sent by
mail to each and every postmaster in California and
the Territories Of Oregon and Washington, and by
them posted In conspicuous place in their respective
Offices. The list thus being distributed over the entire
Pacific region, George Wilson may at learn nom
it that letter for him has been sent o the Sacramento
post Office. No person of similar name will receive
the letter. for the address It points out that IL is
intended for George Wilson, late Of Pike county, Mis-
souri,. Thus MANY letters will be received that would
otherwise be transmitted to the dead,leter office.
The envelopes containing the advertising cards sent
to the Pacific Mail List" New York, pay postage
like ordinary mail matter and must be prepaid. The
addresses Of letters copied on the pieces Of paper OF
cards should be written in plain and distinct man
ner. The thrce-cent postage stamp enclosed In the
envelopes dcfray the expenses Of publication, and
must NOT be pasted to the cars but simply enclosed
with them. In the absence Of postage stamps three
cent coins may be substituted.
II is believed that this circular has been drawn up
30 EXPLICITLY as to require no explanations but
should this prove not to be the case pOstmasters will
take notice that all nterogatOries must he addressed
to the Pacific Mail List, New York, and not to the
department.
The first Of this series of lists will accompany the
mail of May 9th, and will be forwarded by each sue
ceeding mall
OLIVER E. WOODS.