, 1856-09-26

TO Persons mailing Letters 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, as an 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, save the mere fact that he Is
soMscere in California the Territories Of Oregon
and Washington IL the letter be published in the
" Pacific Mail List" its ultimate reception by the
per for whom il is intended will be rendered highly
probable To enable those who may desire TO extend
to their Pacific correspondents the advantages thus
offered, the following illustration is given:
Suppose it is wished to send TO the Sacramento post
Office letter for George Wilson, who emigrated to
California from Pike county, Missouri but it is feared
thai he may have changed his location, and hence may
ntfeceive the letter. In this case, direct the letter
to George Wilson, (ate Of Pike county, Missouri)
Sacramento. California. Then. In ord to publish
the letter in the Pacific Mail List copy the address
Of the letter upon piece of paper or card and
close the card, together with three-cent postage
stamp, in envelope to the Pacific Mail List N.
Y Deposit the letter, usual, in the mail for Cali
forna, and at the same time drop the envelope,
tainng The card to publish ts letter, in the mail for
New York. From the address on the card thus re-
eeiyed 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 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 the entire
Pacific region, George Wilson may at once learn from
It that letter for hmha been sent to the Sacramento
post Office No person Of a similar name will receive
the letter, for the address it points out that it 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 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 the pieces Of paper
cards should he written in plain and distinct man
ner The three-cent postage stamp enclosed in the
envelopes defay the expenses Of publication, and
must be pasted 10 the cards 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
so EXPLICITLY as to require no explanations but
should this prove not to be the case, postmasers will
take notice that all nterrogatores must be 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 be forwarded by each
eeedlng mail.
OLIVER E. WOODS.