The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-06

classes and influential firms OF the city win be handed
you 70 present and advocate before Congress need
name any reasons Why this ana other pe.ons from other
commercial cities we're not during the session Of
1885, or the short session OF last winter was deemed to
tally useless TO bring discussion the subject either Of
those periods. You will thus see prominent and weighy
reasons Why you arc expected to ke this subect into
serious consideration early in the session.
do not propose IN this letter TO go INTO discussion OF
the postal SUBJECT That has been dons in many public
journals, BY numerous and intelligent writer's Il suf
6cent to call your attention 20 two thrceesdiDg pro
nen lacs anu point out the sources o. further nlcr
nation New York city, with scarcely forctk OF the
population, writes one tenth of the correspondence and
pays onetenth OF the postal income of the entire naon
New Yok State has one fifth, while New York and Massa
chusetts write Tin all 40 900 annually more let
ters than all of the States and Territories south OF the o
mac ana ne ONO ana west OF the Mississippi With a
larger postal income the postal expenses less than
third what they in those widely extended regions The
causes Of tbs lie principally in their emnenty comTnercia
and social character and position and their dense popua
tIon Have not, then these Sates and this city peculiar
and just 70 claim liberal Just postal legislaee
one more statement; which you may consider literally
thy source lin the country districts throughout tho
United States the average number Of letters written and
sent by mail annually by each person. Is less than three
but tKs State it is seven In New York city the
average number In thirty more throughout the Unisn
less than e In the cities generally the annual letters
average twenty 1--WE per capita and places forty
Now look at the average annual correspondence by mail
Of each person in Great the country districts
generally 46; in london, as; in Manchester 81, and
throughout the kingdom, IT, Official records show that
written 900 letters, and all the people Of the
United States during the period only Sss 900 600
You know thai liberal postaiinws and low and uniform
postage, have all been IN operation in that county for the
last seventeen years You know too or may know that
in that Kingdom no person-not the Queen herself
can frank or send letter free of postage All hostages
for are charged 10 the nasoua (and
paid by draft thererom) according TO computation,
readily made ~ obtaining the gross weight. They are
thus enabled just what business the Post office per
forms, and no. much 1t
Your attention has not been called to the comparative
OF correspondence postal expenditure and postal
income different parts Of the Union, to get up
tona argument or to ask for special priv for any
city or portion Of the community and your attention is
spocgly called to the VIGOROUSLY inefficient state aud
ton OF the postal arrangements in this city. |
do know that they mcasurably inferior
commercial city in Europe You will permit me 10 cali
your attention to the fact that the petition usy
signed in this city and which was unanimously agreed
upon by the Postal Reform Committee of fifteen gentle
men (Which included oar Posmaster) after full discus
sion, contains some prominent details, among which
the ollOwngA uniform two cent rate of letter postage
for all single letters, without regard to distance; free
letter delivery ito be supported by the profit derived from
the two cent postage onshe very numerous local letters
which the arrangements will create) several times
day IN this and other cities Other details are low post
to foreign countries, safc way OF sending money by
mail between large Offices through the medium of money
orders tie writer of all letters that mis-
carry or become "dead" These details named here
for the purpose of calling your attention to the fact
that the petitioners asked for certain specific
changes and reforms, and it is presumed that
full examination OF tie subject you will come to the
these measures and give them your hearty support AS
TO judcOus rate OF postage, must be presumed that
you VIII gee the economy convenience ana Justice OF one
uniform charge for letters. With that supposon it
not for moment be imagined that you can advocate
three cent rate, or, as some have ridicnlonsy recon-
mended two and half cents The two cent rate Is asked
for the ground that is not high for the smallest
article the shortest distance; that II Is fair compromise
between several rates that have and the
three cent rate and that for these and from its
simplicity economy and cheapuess, 1t will undoubtedly
bring larger revenue than we now have. Afurther
claim-that the uniform two cent rate for local
letters and letters all distances and for each small
transient package Of printed matter hewspapers,
for very nearly, II not quite, all distances and
locties throughout the United States And If il should
prove that the Post Office did not quite sustain itself at
hrS with these rates, il is evident that II will be
Qusnce Of small receipts and large expenses wilderness
thnly settled districts and direct assistance
from the nation for mail service, well for proec
ton has always been wisely and freely granted In these
much needed cases have, thrust partially succeeded
showing that the petitioners from New York and other
cites have not asked for single special privilege which
they do not wish for the nation at large They ask for the
and regulations they do the double ground that
the cities and densey populated localities far
Concerned in the postal regulations than the rural Districts
and contribute nearly all of it, business and support aud
further that these measures will conduce to increase OF
revenue well as great augmentation of the usefulness
Of the national Post Office
Ihave gentlemen addressed You greater length than
Intended to- Int not than believe the interests
OF the subject demand. am well OF the other
portant subjects that will before Congress during the
coming season, but believe none more so than this.
Whether the times hard easy, the Post Office Is In
daily by hundreds OF thousands, and interests the
most weaty constantly committed 10 its and all
depending its reliability promptness despatch and
safety.
trust that yourselves and other members from cities
aud densdy populated localities will succeed in efectng
such Confessional action will make Post Office
equal tie demands OF intelligent active and
mercal population, and In every respect worthy OF the
American republic Ia the nineteenth century In
that need not predict how heartily the people OF
this city will least for your action in that greet
your return IRON your iabors with the cordial welcome
'swen dorc, good and faithful servants"
A CITIZEN OF NEW YORK.