The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-11-08
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
BY THE E. ". LINE.
Exclusively for the Journal.
Ap.touar,an Researches.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Postage stamp
ed envelopes were first introduced into
this country in the year 1858, and al
though offered at price much below
that of the ordinary envelopes for the
trade, they do not as yet seem justly APP
preciated by the public. There has been
but slight variation in the number of
stamped envelopes issued annually.
In 1854 it amounted to $261, 1856; in
1856, 1921, 531 81; in 1858 less than Is
per cent. Of the issue of separate postage
stamp. which increased from 100000
in 1854 to 2ll,000,000 in 1861. The
greater cheapness of Government envel-
opes as compared with those of the trade,
is generally overlooked as the purchaser
of the former is required to pay the ad-
ditional charge Ofpostage.
One hundred stamped envelopes are
sold for SO, Is, when the same number of
plain envelopes of similar quality may
be procured for about 40 cents, but to
this sum must be added So, the value of
the postage stamps, which must be affix-
ed to such envelopes before they can be
placed in the mail, this making them
cost % cents more than Government en-
vclopes, and hence it appears that per-
sons who make use Of unstamped envel-
opes pay for them about 100 per cent.
more than if they employed stamped en-
velopes. --.
The number of separate stamps issued
during the year ending June 30, 1861,
was as above stated, upwards of 100000
600 Assuming that . like number of
unstamped envelopes are used for letters
at. Sc cents per 100, which is a very low
estimate, the cost thereof would have
been $4,000, whereas Government en-
velopes would have cost the consumer
only $50, 900, hence a sum equal to the
difference of these amounts, viz: 1885,,
600 may be considered as actually lost
to the public, which is owing in great
degree to want of proper appreciation
/ of the advantage of the stamped envel-
/ opes.
Objection is not unfrequently made to
the Government envelops either on &C
count of It's form, size or quality, or be-
/ cause the danger of losing both envelops
and postage stamps thereon, should it
be instructed or otherwise accidentally
defaced
Such objections the Post Master Gen
eral has determined as far as possible to
remove, and to this end proposes to ar
range for enclosing, under proper, re-
stric.ions. the postage stamps on any
envelope that may be offered for that
purpose by stationers, merchants, bank
ers and other business men. 1881.
Such parties will thus be enabled to
procure stamped envelopes of stamp and
quality adapted to their own tastes, and
which are now so varied that they can.
not be anticipated by the Post Office De
partment.
1t is also believed that stationers will
be induced to provide themselves with
varied kinds of stamped envelopes suited
to the wants of the customers, making
such envelopes equal with the ordinary
unstamped article, regular portion O.
of their stock in trade.
1t is deemed expedient, however, as /;
precaution against fraud that no one b'
permitted to enter into such trade with
out having first obtained from the Pos
Master General regular license fo1
, that purpose, and that all private parties
r desiring to have their own envelopes
stamped must be satisfactorily shown t.
be of good character, and have thei
> names printed on the envelopes.
They will then on payment ofthe post
Z age obtain permit to have the worl
4 done by the Government contractor 70
4 stamped envelopes at New York. y
The Post Master General consider
the use Of stamped envelopes more ad
vantageous to the Department than tina
I of separate stamps, as the address o.
the fomer prevents them from being use
a second time, while the latter may b
used if Post-masters neglect the duty G
cancelhng them. - -e .r
To the public also, they afford advat
tages in addition to those arising fror
cheapness because they are more cor
G venient saving the trouble and delay {
= attaching separate stamps, which are |
able to be removed, causing letters
be detained for postage.
The objection to stamped envelope
Z that the postage is lost in case of misd
rection may be remedied, by allowin
Post-masters under certain rules prescr
bed by the Post Master General, to r,
deem stamped envelopes.