, 1856-10-03

J. PATTON ANDEllSON,
Del from Washington Territory, II. r., U. s.
To Persons mailing Lsttsrs for California and
The Territories Of Washington and Oregon Thou
sands Of letters sent to the Pacific coast become
dead letters. To remedy this evil, the Post Office
Department, under the authority of Congress, has
adopted, auxiliary to its operations, the follow
ing plan for simultaneously publishing at each and
every post Office in the Pacific region, in list called
the :" Pacific Mail List" the names of persons to
whom letters have been sent by mail TO post offices in
California and the Territories Of Washington and
Oregon. By this system, letter may be sent to any
post Office in the Pacific region for person whose
location is unknown, the mere fact that he is
Somftphep in California the Territories of Oregon
and Washington; If the letter be published in the
d Pacific Mail List" its ultimate reception by the
person for whom it is intended will be rendered highly
probable. To enable those who may desire to extend
10 their Pacific correspondents the advantages thus
offered, the following illustration is given
suppose 1t Is wished 10 send to the Sacramento post
office a letter for George Wilson, who emigrated to
California from Pike county Missouri, but It is feared
that he may have changed his location and hence may
not receive the letter In this case direct the letter
10 George Wilson, Qate Of Pike county, Missour)
Sacramento, California. Then, In order 10 publish
the letter In the Pacific Mail List copy the address
Of the letter upon piece Of paper or card and en-
stamp in an envelope to the Pacific Mail LIST N.
Y. Deposit the letter. as usual in the mail for Cali
fOrna, and at the same time drop the envelope, con
tanning The card TO publish the letter in the mail for
ceived at the New York post office, the name, George
Wilson, will be entered in its appropriate place in the
Pacific Mail List" which Is printed and sent by
mail t0cach 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 from
II that letter for hmhas been sent to the Sacramento
post Office No person of similar name will receive
the letter. for the address 1t points out that II Is
intended for George Wilson, late Of Pike county, Ms
souri, Thus MANY letters will be received that would
otherwise be transmitted to the dead-leter Office.
The envcIopes 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 the pieces Of paper OF
cards should be written in plain and distinct man
ncr The threeeent postage stamp enclosed In the
envelopes defray the expenses OF publication, and
must NOT be pasted to the cards. but simply enclosed
with them. In the absence Of postage stamps three
cent coins may be substituted.
It is believed that this circular has been drawn up
so explicitly US TO require no explanations hut
should this prove not 10 be the case, postmasters will
take notice that oil interrogatores must be addressed
to the Pacific Mail List, New York, and not 70 the
department.
The first of this series Of lists will accompany the
mail Of May 5th, and will be forwarded by each sue
ceeding mail