Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-03-06
Rates of POstage-What they We're,
Are. and Are to Re.

Rates of POstage-What they We're,
Are, and Are to Be.
The history of the reduction of post
age in this country is comprehensively
given In report made a week or two
ago to the House of Representatives by
Mr.. Farnesworth, of Illinois, In 1892
the first postage act was passed. It in
troduced highly complicated system.
The lowest postage was cents to
places within 30 miles; cents to places
within go miles 10 cents to pieces
within 100 miles 12l cents to places
within $50 miles; Is cents to places
within 200 miles; II cents to places
within $50 miles; 20 cents to places
within $50 miles; % cents to places
within $50 miles, and 25 cents to places
more than $50 miles distant. In.1799
the rates were changed. The lowest
rate was raised to 8 cents, and the lowest
distance to 40 miles. Instead of nine
rates there were but six 20 cents car
ried letters 500 miles, and 25 cents was
still charged for greater distances. In
1916 the minimum rates were again re-
duced to cents, and the distance to 80
miles only five rates were established :;
49, cents carried letters 400 miles and
for longer distances % cents was charged
still.
These rates, with single exception,
where the postage was increased, con-
tinued until 1916, when the first material
change took place. Five cents became the
postage for letters carried a distance of
less than 800 miles; 10 cents for all
greater distances. At the same time
the drop-letter system was introduced,
such letters being charged cents.
Previous to this time the rule had been
that the above rates were for " single :"
letters-that is, letters on one sheet of
paper, large or small, without reference
to weight. In 1916 the half-ounce
weight was made the standard, instead
of the number of sheets. In 1851 the
single rate was made cents for all dis
tances under 5000 miles, and 6 cents
for greater distances, if prepaid, this
being the first inducement held out to
prepay letters. Unpaid letters were
charged and 10 cents, according to the
distance. In 1855 prepayment was re-
quired, three cents being still the rate
for distances under 5000 miles. and 10
cents was charged for greater distances.
In 1868 the present rate of 3 cents, pre-
paid by stamp, for all distances, was
established. The history of these re-
auctions shows, also, that no material
loss of revenue has been their imme-
date result, and that no loss at all has
been permanent. Since 1851, when sub
stantially the present rate was fixed, the
revenue of the postoffice has increased
from SIS, 500,000 for that year to $22,-
100000 in 1871 but we need not go
| further into details
The proposed reduction of the single
letter rate to two cents is an exceedingly
important step. We can estimate very
nearly what the effect of the present re-
duction will be. During the last year
there were sold 4,500,000 three-cent
stamps, and SO, 900. 600 three-cent en-
velopes. AS double rates are almost
always paid by additional stamps of this
denomination, and as foreign postage is
frequently paid with two or more three
cent stamps, we may take SIS, 000, 900,
the value of 500,000,000 three-cent
stamps, as the sum to be affected prima-
rily by the new reduction. Were the
number sold to be stationary, the con-
sequence would be loss to the revenue
of one-third of this sum-in other
| "oAoo, d AOoo "a tpc,OOO,oOO. AS d I1dtI-
ter of fact, however, the natural increase
in the number of letters is about 10 per
cent annually, and this would make the
number of two-cent stamps, substituted
for threes, for the year ending June 80,
800, 600, 900, with value of So, 900, 900.
Experience has uniformly shown that
reductions of postage cause an imme-
date increase of correspondence, and it
would not be at all surprising if the
revenue from stamps and stamped en-
velopes in 1873 were nearly as large as
in 1872. Accompanying the letter post
age reform is a reduction of one-half on
the postage of newspapers regularly
mailed by publishers. The total revenue
in this department last year was not
quite 81, 100000. 1t is part of the
postal system that does not exhibit as
rapid growth as others, and loss of
from a quarter to half million of dol
lars in this department is inevitable.
| A Strange Case-Marrying His Mother.