Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-11-10
From Washington.

WASHINGTON, Nov. Z.
Tho postage stamped envelopes were first in
troduced in this country in the year 1853, and
ough offered at the price far below tina Of tn Q
ordinary envelopes Of the trade, they do not as
yet seem justly appreciated by the pu' lie. There
has been but slight variation in the number of
stamped envelopes issued annually. In 1854 il
amounted to 26l $50; in 1885, 23,737 $50; in
1885, 3o134,275 in 1861. $50 273 the latter being
less than Is per cent. of the issue Of separate
postage stamps. Tho greater cheapness If good
envelopes as compared with those Of the trade
is generally overlooked. bccouse the purchaser of
the former is required to pay the additional
charge of postoge One hundred stamped envel-
opet are sold for 1918. while the same number Of
plain envelopes of similar qualify may be pr j.
cured for about 40 cents but to th. sun n ust be
added three dollars, the value Of the postage
stamps which must be aft xed to such envelopes
before they can be used in the mails TINS maxim I
100 letters cost SO 40, % cents more than VII
covered by Government envelopes 1t appeors
that persons who make use If uns.amped envel-
opes pay for them about 100 per cent. more tha n
if they employee stamped envelopes. The rum
Der Of separate postage stamps issued during tn e
year ending June 30th 1861, was, as above stated.
upwards Of tive hundred million Assuming that
q like number Of unstamped envelopes were used
for letters ct So cents per huh red, which is a
very low estimate, the ost thereof would have
been seventy-two thousand dollars whereas, Gov
eminent envelopes would have cost the consumer
p q
the difference to these amounts, namely, Sc 900
may be considered as actually lost to the public.
which is owing, in great degree to the want Of
proper appreciation Of the advantage of the
stamped envelopes. Objection is not unfreouentlv
In de to the Government envelopes, either on ac-
connt of its form, size or quality, or because the
danger Of losing both the envelope and the most
age stamp thereon should il be misdirected or
otherwise accidentally defaced. Such obiectious
the Post Master General has determined. If poss;
ble to move, and to this end proposes to arrange
for enclosing, under proper restrictions, the most
age stamp on any envelopes that may be offered
for that purpo " stationers, bankers merchan
and other business men, and such parties will
thus be enabled to procure slammed envelones 20
form and quality adopted TO their own tastes
which are now so varied that they cannot be an
ticipated by the Post Office Department. i, i
also believed that sta,'oners will be induced to
provide themselves with varied, and of stamped
envelopes, suited to the wants Of customers
making such envelopes EQUALLY with tbe
ordinary unstampcd article . regular portion -
their stock in trade. 1t is also deemed exnedient
however, as Frecaution against fraud, that no
ono be permitted to enter into such trade without
havin, first obtained from the p. NJ, Gen. a recu .
lar lcen o for that purpose, and that al private
parties desiring TO have their own enyelope
stamped must be setisfar tcrily she wn TO be #
good standing. and be requires 10 havo III cir
names printed on the envelopes. They will then,
on payment OF the postage, obtain a permit to
have the work done by the Governm emit contrac tor
for stamped envelol es at New York. The p. NJ.
Gen considers the use Il the stamped envelopes
mere advantageous to the apartment tba an that
| Of the scpara stamps. as the address Of the
former pr vents them from being used q second
time. while the latter may be used If the post
master neglects the duty If carceling tb EN-. To
the public, also.tbe y afford advantages il addition
to these, arising from the cheapness because they
are saving the trouble and delay Of attaching
| SCI nrate stamps, which liable 10 be removed
Oh iectoh to stamped envelopes, that tho postage
is los, in case OF mis- direction, may be remedied
by allowing postmesters, under certain prescribed
laws BY the P. NJ Gen, to redeem damaged eLvel-
opcs.