, 1857-02-20
Post once Department.

To Persons mailing Lstters for California and
The TeT1itoriss cf Warrington and Oregon Thou
sands of letters sent 10 the Pacific coast become
dead letters. To remedy this evil, the Post Office
Department under the authority Of Congress, has
adopted, 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 10
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 seut to any
post ofice in the Pacific region for person whose
location is unknown save the mere fact that he is
SOmSiohsTs in California or the Territories Of Oregon
and Washington II the letter be published In the
Pacific Mall 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
TO their Pacific correspondents the advantages thus
offered, the following illustration is given:
Suppose 1t is wished to send to the Sacramento post
Office a letter for George Wilson, who emgrated to
California from Pike county, Missouri, but it Is feared
that he may have changed hs location and hence may
not receive the letter In this case direct The letter
to George Wilson, (late Of Pike county, MssOuri),
Sacramento, California. Then, In order TO publish
the letter in the Pacific Mail List copy the address
Of the letter upon piece Of paper card, and en-
close the card, together with three-eent postage
stamp, In an envelope to the Pacific Mail List N
Y deposit the letter. a. usual in the mail for Cali
fornia and at the same time drop the envelope con-
tanning the card to Fbsh de LITTER in the mail for
New York. From the address on the card thus re-
ceiyed at the New York post Office, the name George
Wilson, will be entered in il appropriate place IN the
" Pacific Mail List h." which Is printed aud 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 once learn from
II that letter for him has been sent to the Sacramento
post office. No person Of similar name will receive
the letter for the address 1t points ont that it is
intended for George Wilson, late of Pike comfy Mis-
sOuri. Thus MANY letters will be received that would
otherwise be transmitted 10 the deadletter Office.
The envelopes containing the advertising cards sent
10 the Pacific Mail List,n New York, pay postage
like ordinary mail matter, and must be prepaid The
addresses Of letters copied the pieces Of paper
cards should be written in plain and distinct
ner. The threecent 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 to require explanations but
should this prove not to be the case pOstmasers will
take notice that all nterrogatores must he addressed
to the Pacific Mail List )" New York. and not to the
department H..
The first Of this series Of lists will accompany the
mail Of May 5th, and will be forwarded by each
ceeding mail. .
.. .. OLIVER E. WOODS.