, 1857-01-30

TO Persons mailing Letters for California and
ne TSrritoriss Of Washington and Oregon Thou
sands Of letters sent to the Pacific coast become
dead letters. To remedy this evil, the Post 0hice
Department, under the authority Of Congress, has
adopted auxiliary to its operations, the follow
ing plan for simultaneously publishing at each aud
every post office in the Pacific region, in list called
the " Pacific Nail 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
sOmetokeTe in California the Territories Of Oregon
and Washington If the letter be published in the
Pacific Mail Listn 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 it Is wished to send 10 the Sacramento post
o"ce a letter for George Wilson, who emigrated to
California from Pike county Missouri but il 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, MissOurD,
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-
close tie card, together with three-cent postage
stamp, In an envelope to the Pacific Mail List
Y. Deposit the letter. usual in the mail for Cali
fornia, and at the time drop the envelope con
taiHiag the card TO rubbish the letter in the mail for
New York. From the address on the card thus re-
eeived at the New York post Office, the name George
wilson, VIII be entered IN Us 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 over the entire
Pacific region, George Wilson may at once learn from
Il that letter for himhas been the Sacramento
post Office. No person Of similar name will receive
the letter. for the address il 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-letter Office.
The envelopes containing the advertising cards sent
10 the Pacific Mail List" New York, pay postage
like ordinary mail matter, and must be prepaid The
addresses Of letters pied the pieces of paper or
cards should be written in plain and distinct man
ner. The threeeent postage stamp enclosed in the
envelopes defray the expenses of publication aud
must be pasted to the cards. but simply enclosed
with them. In the absence Of postage stamps three
cent coins may he substituted.
II is believed that this circular has been drawn up
so EXPLICITLY as to require explanations bat
should this prove not TO be the case postmasters viii
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 0f lists will accompany the
mail Of May 5th, and will lie forwarded by each sue
oeedng mail.
OLIVER Z. WOODS.