Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1860-11-28
THE POST oFFICEIN T INFANCY

Doctor Franklin was appointed general
deputy postmaster OF the colonies, 10 the year
1893, with a salary between bin and his con-
fsderate, OF Et08-"n they could get it. .
This eXprTimel. brought him 10 debt f900, and
his success 10 eEpcditiHg the mails, which be
lweiis upon with much satisfaction in his
writings, viii create a smile in these days Of
electricity, steam, and Young American speed.
In the year 1874 be gave notice that the Daii
70 New England, which used 70 start but once
a fortnight 10 winter, shog'd star. onee a week
an the year, whereby answers might be Oh
tanned 20 letters between Philadelphia ard
Boston IN three weeks, which used 10 require
six weeks.
Franklin was removed from bis Office By the
British ministry; but, 10 the year l735, the
Congress- Of the Confederation, having as
sumed the practical sovereignty Of the cello
MES, appointed a committee to devise a system
Of posi- Chce communication, who made a re-
port recommending a plan the 26ih Of july,
which, on the some day was adopted and
DoctoT franklin unanimously appointed post
master general, at a salary Of Sl,CO0 per an
nun. Tie salary Of the postmaster general
was doubled on the 10th Of April, iT7g, and
on the 9th If December Of he same year
Congress IL creased the salary to $500 per
auIum.
An inspector Of dead let ers was also ap-
~ EHaH -A aN"a" 10 eAAAAHI HaN
was under oath faithfully and imparlially 20
discharge the duties Of hrs Office. and euioiBed
70 e TO copies Ct ltt ers, and nott e dIvulge
Tie contents 10 any but 10 Congress. or 10
those who were appointed b. Congress forthst
purpose. Doctor Franklin, en- the 9TH Of No
veuber, l776, was succeeded as Postmaster
General, By his relative, Richard Bsche, who
remained in Office 70 the 2Slh Of January, 1872,
when be was succeeded by EbeueZer Hazard,
uhr vaa fha last head NJ the General p.at
Office under the C0nfederaey.
Tn 1870, there were but seveBty-hve post
Offices throughout the United States, and 1873
miles OF post routes.
The general post cifce in the wear 1890. was
located ia New York, and SAMUEL OsgoOd was
tse first P1stmasteT-GCleTai under the Federal
Government. His conception Of the duties OF
his Office, was doubtless very humble, as he
recommended that the "PUstmaster-Gcnera
should not keep an Office separate from tie
one in which the mail was opened and dis
tnhuled, that he might, By his presence, pre-
vent irregularities, and rectify any mistakes
that might OccuTn-in fact, to put the Post
master-General, bis assistant, and their ore
clerk, into the city post Office, 20 see that lis
mails were assorted and made up correctly
The salary Of Mr.. OsgoOd was $500 per
annum. Timothy Pickering was appointed
By Washington, August 18th, 1871, at an in
creased salary Of 5000. Joseph Habsrsham
was the last Postmaster General appointed by
Washington. He was commissioned April
22d, 1855, a. a salary Of 5 200 per year.
The Office was located az Philadelphia in
The year 1895, and was established at Wash
ington when the Federal Government was re-
moved there and in 1892 the United States
ran their otrn stages between Philadelphia and
New York, daaiHg coaches drivers, horses, etc p,
and cleared in three years, over $1,000 BY
carrying p~asscngersi