Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-11-08
ATE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE !
English Press on American Affairs,
Reported Death Of Garibaldi.
POSTAGE STAMPS.

Postage stamped envelopes were first in
troduced in this country in the year 1853,
and although offered at price far below
that of the ordinary envelopes of the
trade, they do not, as yet seem to be justly
appreciated by the public. There has been
but slight variation in the number of
stamped envelopes issued annually. In
1854, it amounted to S261, 1856; in 1856.
S23, 757, $50; in 1858, $50, 734, ,275, and in
1861, S260,273. The latter being less
than fifteen per cent. Of the issue Of sep
arate package stamps, which increased
from 90, 100000 in 1854 to 2ll, 100000 in
1861.
The greater eheapness of Government
envelopes, as compared with those of the
trade, is generally overlooked because the
purchaser of the former is required to D ay
the additional charge Of postage. One
hundred stamped envelopes are sold at
So, l8, while the same number, plain, of
similar quality may be purchased for about
40c. and to this sum must be added So,
the value of the postage which must be af-
fixed to such envelopes before they can be
used in the mail. Thus making 100 letters
cost So, 0or p cents more when covered
by stamps.
Hence it appears that persons who make
use of unstamped envelopes pay for them
about 100 per cent more than if they en-
ployed stamped envelopes. The number
of separate stamps issued during the year
ending June Both, 1861, was, as above
stated, upwards of two hundred millions.
Assuming that like number of un-
stamped envelopes were used for letters,
at 36 cents per hundred, which is o very
low estimate, the cost thereof would have
been $4,000, whereas Government envel-
opes would have cost the consumer only
S36, 900.
Hence a sum equal to the difference to
these amounts, namely; $4,000, may be
considered as actually lost to the public,
which is owing, in great degree, to the
want of proper appreciation Of the advan-
tage of the stamped. Objection is not un-
frequently made to the Government en-
YelOpes, either on account of its form, size
or quality, or because the danger oflosing
both the envelope and the postage stamp
thereon, should it be misdirected or other
wise accidentally defaced.
Such objection the Postmaster General
has determined if possible to remove, and
to this end proposes to arrange, under
proper restrictions, the postage stamp on
any envelope that may be offered for that
purpose by stationers, bankers, merchants
and other business men. Such parties will
thus be enabled to procure stamped envel-
opes of form and quality adapted TO their
own tastes, which are now so varied that
they cannot be anticipated by the Postof-
fee Department.
II IL o1co hal;auaI boE 81 Ill
be induced to provide themselves with va
rieties of stamped envelopes suited to the
wants Of their customers, making such en-
Velopes, equally with the ordinary un-
stamped article, regular portion of their
stock in trade. 1t is deemed expedient,
however, as a precaution against fraud,
that no one be permitted to enter into such
trade without having first obtained from
the Postmaster General a regular license
for that purpose, and that all private par
ties desiring to have their own envelopes
stamped must be satisfactorily shown to be
of good standing, and be required TO have
their names printed on the envelopes.
They will then, on payment Of the post
age, obtain permit to have the work done
by the Government contractor for stamped
envelopes at New York.
The Postmaster-General considers the
use of the stamped envelopes more ad-
VantageOus to the Department, than that
Of separate stamps, as the addresses of the
former prevents them from being used a
second time, while the latter may be so
used if the postmasters neglect the duty
of canoelling them. To the public also,
they afford advantages in addition to those
arising from cheapness, because they are
more convenient, saving the trouble and
delay Of attaching separate stamps, which
are liable to be removed, causing letters
to be detained for postage.
The objection to stamped envelopes, that
the postage is lost in case of misdirection,
may be relieved by allowing postmnsters
under certain rules prescribed by the Post
master General, to redeem damaged envel-
opes.