The national Republican., 1862-11-08
pns;eGs ,amps-Propossd Improve
ments and Reforms.

r".'agr stamped envelopes were trsi intro.
duoed in this country in the year ls53 and nj.
though offered ut II price far below that ui the
ordinary envelopes Ofthe trade, they do not. ~
yet, seem justly appreciated by tho public.
There has been hut slight variation in the
number Of stsmped envelopes issued annually.
In 1864, it amounted to26, ,l3s 900; in 1856, 49,,
I55 1885, in 1858, 3O7S4,276; in 1861, 26,O27 800;
the latter being less than fifteen per cent. %:
the issue of separate postage stamps, which
noreased from IS millions. In 1854, to III mil.
lions, In 1861.
The greater cheapness OF Government cn-
velopes, az compared with those uf the trade,
is generally overlooked, because the puroha-
ser of the former Is required TO pay the add
tional charge Of the postage.
One hundred stamped envelopes are sold for
three dolIars and eighteen cents, while the
same number Of plain ones, of similar quality,
may be procured for about forty cents; but 10
this sum must be added three dollars, the value
Of the postage stamps, which must be affixed
to such envelopes before they can be used in
the mails; thus making 100 letters cost 90 40, or
twenty-five cents more than II covered by
Government envelopes.
Hence it appears that persons who make III
Of unstamped envelopes pay for them about
one hundred per cent. more than II they en-.
ployed stamped envelopes.
The number of separate postage stamps la.
sued during the year ending June 80. 1851, was,
as above stated, upwards Of two hundred mil.
lions.
Assuming that like number OF unstamped
envelopes were used for letters, at thirty six
cents per hundred. which is 4 very low e.ti
mate, the cost thereof would have been s72 900,
whereas Government envelopes would have
cost the consumer but $4,000.
Hence a sum equal TO the difference of these
amounts, viz: $50 900, may be considered a.
actually lost 10 the public, which Is owing, in q
great degree, to the want Of proper appreca.
tion of the advantage of the stamped envelope.
Objection ia not unfrequently made TO the
Government envelope, on account of either its
form, size or quality, or because Of the danger
OF losing both the envelope and the postage
thereon, should It be misdireoted, or otherwise
accidentally deiaced. Suoh objection the Post.
master General has determined, II possible, to
remove and to this end he proposes 10 arrange
for Ell bossng, under proper restrictions, the
postage stamp on any envelopes that may o
offered for that purpose by statoners, bank kers,
mere hauts, or other business men. Such par.
ties will thus Le enabled 10 procure stamped
envelopes OF form and quality adapted TO their
own tastes, which are now 80 varied that they
cannot be anticipated by the Post Otioe De.
partment,
II ia also believed that statiOners will be ir.
duced to provide themselves with varieties Of
stamped envelopes suited TO the wants of their
customers, making such envelopes, equally
with the Ordinary unstamped article, regular
portion of stock In trade.
II Ia deemed expedient, however, as u pre-.
caution against fraud, that no one he permitted
to enter into such trade without having first
obtained from the Postmaster General regu-
lar license for that purpose, and that all pri.
vate parties desiring to have their own envel.
opes stamped must be satisfactorily shown TO
be- of good standing, and be required TO have
their names printed oh the envelopes. They
will then, on payment Of the postage, obtain a
permit to have the work done by the Govern.
ment contractor for stamped envelopes at New
York.
The Postmaster Ge neral considers the use Of
the stamped envelope more advantageous 10
the Department than that of separate stamps,
| Az the address Of the former prevents then
from being used II second time, while the latter
may be go used II poalmasters neglect the duty
of cancelling them. To the public, also, they
afford advantages In addition 10 those arising
from cheapness, in that they arc more conve.
nient, saving the trouble and delay of attaching
separate stamps, which are liable to be re-
moved, causing etterg to he detnl ed for post.
age.
The objection ~ stamped envelopes, that the
pOstaRe IL lost In case OF msdi reclOu, may be
removed by allowing postmssters, under GER
tain rules prescribed by the Postmaster Gen.
eral, to redeem damaged envelopes.