, 1856-11-14

To Persons mailing LctiCrs for CalifppiG ana
the Territories If U'GshEgtOH and Oregon Thou
sands Of letters sent to the Pacific coast become
dead letters. To remedy this evil, the Post Once
Department, under the authority Of Congress, has
adopted, as IN auxiliary 10 it, operations, tie 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 q
whom letters have been sent by mail to post Offices in
California aud the Territories Of Washington and
Oregon. By this system, letter may be sent to ans
post Office in the Pacific region for person whose
location is unknown, save The mere TACT that he Is
s0msrhsrs in California the Territories Of Oregon
and Washington IL the letter be published in the
" Pacific Mail List,' its ultimate reception by the
person for whom II Il intended will be rendered highly
probable. To enable those who may desire % extend
10 their Pacific correspondents the advantages thus
offered, the following illus s'mtion is given:
Suppose it is wished TO send 10 the Sacramento post
Office letter for George Wilson, who emigrated to
California from Pike county Missouri hut it IL feared
that be may have changed his location, and hence may
not receive the letter In this e, direct The letter
20 George Wilson, (late OF Pike county Missouri
Sacramento, California. Then, In order tn 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 thrte-cent postage
stamp, In an envelope To the "Pacifc Mail List N
Y. Deposit the letter, usual In the mail for c ali
furnil, and at the time drop the envelope, con
iaiRiag the card 70 publish The litter in the mail for
New York From the address on Tie card thus re-
CcVcd ut the New York post Office, the name, George
" Pacific Mail List" which Is Tliutcd aud sent by
mail TO each and every postmaster in California and
the Terrtoric. Of Oregon ard Washington, and by
them posted in conspicuous place in their respective
Office. The list thus being distributed over the entire
Pacific region George Wilson may at once learn fum
il that letter for him has been sent to the Sacramento
post Office. No person Of a similar name will receive
the letter. for the address 1t points out that It Is
intended for George Wilson, late of Pike county, Mis-
souri, Thus MANY letters will he received that would
otherwise he transmitted To- the dead-letter Office.
The envcIpcs containing the advertising cards sent
to the Pacific Mail List" New York, pay postage
like ordinary mail matter and must he prepaid. The
addresses Of letters copied on the pieces Of paper
cards should he written in plain and distinct man
nor. The thrce-cent postage stamp enclosed In the
envelopes defray the expenses Of publication, and
must SoT he pasted to the cards. hut simply enclosed
with them. In the absence Of postage stamps, three
cent coins may be substituted
Il is believed that this circular has hcen drawn up
so explicitly as 10 require no explanation; hut
should this prove not to be the case poststers will
take notice that all ntcrrogatorie7 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 5th, and will he forwarded by each SIC
ceeding mail.
OLIVER E. WOODS.