The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-07-31
The New Post Office Law.

this time, anC IN this manner. to the new
post-Office law which took effect on the frst
instant, in order that the Important change;
1t makes, may be fully understood and there
by mistakes and trouble avoided. We give
the following facts which are all that i.
necessary, perhaps, for the general reader.
CLASSIFICATION OF MAIlArLE MATTER.
Mailable matter is divided into three clas-
SeS.
l. Letfers.-This class embraces all cores
pondence wholly or partly writing, except
that mentioned in the third class
,. Regular P.inied Noi'er.-Under thi,
head IS included all mailable matter exclusive
ly in print. and regularly issued at stated pc
riods, without addition in writing, mark. oI
sign.
). Miscellaneous Mdttcr.-Th;s class en-
braces all other matter which is by law de-
elared maiable; namely, all pamphlets. occa-
siona publications, books, book manuscripts,
prootsheets, whether corrected or not, maps
prints. engravings. blanks, flexible patterns.
samples and sample cards, phonograhic paper,
pers. cards. paper. plain or ornamented. pho
tographic representations Of different types.
seeds, cuttings, bulbs. roots and scioDS.
CLASS LETTER PosIAGE.
/ The one cent rate on drop letters IS abo-
/ lished.
I Tie ten cent rate on letters TO the Pacific
States and Territories is btli>hed.
The ore cent extra required to be paid OF
letters deposited i'll branch offices is abolish
ed
Letters for the -UaiLS.-The maximum
weight for the single ra;e Of letter postage is
one-half ounce Ayoirdupois, and the rate OF
postage on all letters sent in the mail. 10 any
part OF the United States is three cents for
each half ounce or under, and three cents for
each additional halt ounce or fractional part
Of half ounce. If a letter. on which the
postage has not been prepaid, by any cause
should reach It's destination, double this rate
will be collected on delivery. That is to say.
SIX cents for every half ounce and fractional
part of half ounce. II letter Is not pre-
paid in full, the unpaid residue will be charg-
ed at double rate. This is to say. If letter
weighs over a half ounce and not over one
ounce, and three cents has been prepaid, the
charge for the orher half ounce or fractional
part Of half ounce. will be SIX cents. But
in all cases where the whole or any part of
the postage on a letter IS not prepaid, the
same will not be Forwarded, unless the post
master is satisfied that the omission 10 prepay
vas uriatentiolal.
Dyop Ldtos.-Letters deposited in an Of
ice, or branch office, for delivery at the
same office, or through branch, offices or car
riers, are to be charged with two cents the
half ounce or fractional part OF halt ounce,
no charge to be made for delivery.
Soldiers LdirS.-LettcrS written by non
comm! STONED officers and private> in the
military service or in the naval seTvice-em-
bracing the marine corps-wiil be forwarded
without the prepayment of postage, at the
single rate. if plainly marked over the ad-
dress, Soldiers letter. orr Naval letter. as
the case may be, and signed with lis official
designation bv field or staff officer Of the
writer's reg iment, or by the officer in COM
mand Of his detachm ent or of the post. or by
surgeon or chaplain at hospital. In the
navy or marine corps, by the commander OF
the vessel, or by surgeon or chaplain on
board, on 10y the commander ola detachment
OF marines on shore. Military o. naval let
terS not thus certified, will he forwarded. but
rated up with double postage, to be collected
on delivery
Returned aad Forwmdsd Leiter<.-If the
writer Of a letter indorses on it in writing or
IN printing a request that the same be return
ed 10 the writer, within specified time, not
exceeding thirty days, postmasterS are in
structed to comply with such request. BIT
this only applies to letters prepaid in full
The return postage is to be charged at the
request, or otherwise, of ;he party addressed
the same rate of three cents the half ounce,
or fractional part of a half ounce, is TO be col
lected
Registered LaicTS.-Some improvements
are male in the registration system. The
registration fee under the ncw law is twenty
heretofore it was five cents. Pos
masters are required TO take duplicate rl-
ctIptS from the person to whom registered
letter is addressed on delivery OF the same,
one OF which he IS to transmit To the sender,
the receipt to be recognized in the courts rs
prim0 fdcic evidence of such delivery. is
heretofore; postage. at the established rates,
must be prepaid in full, to secure registra-
ton.
CLASS o-r0STAGE on REGULAR PRINTED (
MATTER.
The maximum weight for the single rate of
postage on matter under the second and
third classes, is four ounces Av0irdupois. ex-
ceptlng in the case of circulars; and no pack
age can be sent by mail that exceeds folr
pounds IN weight, excepting public docu-
ments printed by act OF Congress.
Newspapers to Regular SaJ$criJerS.-The
postage Oh newspapers issued from a known
office of publication, and sent in the nails TO
regular J0RG tide subscribers, once week or
more frequently, each not exceeding the
standard weight of four ounces, and payable
qnarterl Y Or yearly in advance at either the
office OF mailing or delivery, is as follows
For papers issued weekly, five cents per
quarter; seml-weekly, ten cents tri-weekly, (,
fifteen cents; SIX times week, thirty cents
seven times week, thirty five cents. For
any excess over four ounces and not exceed
ing eight ounces, double the rates named,
and so on for any additional excess over the
standard weight Of four ounces.
Publishers Of weekly newspapers are per-
lnitted to send one copy to each subscriber
living IN the county where published, free OF
postage, as under the old law. ia
The distinction heretofore made in the
postage on newspapers circulated in the State
where published and those circulated in other
States, is abolished. The rate is uniform.
wherever circulated.
-u9Jaznes and Perjodicals-O regular
newspapers, magazines, and periodicals, pub
hshed less frequently than once week, not
exceeding four ounces in weight, issued from