Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-03-20
From the Boston Advertiser
RATES OF POSTAGE.
What they We're, Are, and Are to be.


What they We're, Are, and Are to be.
The history of the reduction of
postage in this country is compre-
hensively given in report made a
week or two ago to the House of
Representatives by Mr.. Farnsworth
of Illinois. In 1872 the first pos
tase act was passed. 1t introduce
a highly complicated system. The
lowest postage was six cents to pla-
ces within sixty miles; ten cents to
places within one hundred miles;
twelve and one-half cents to places
within one hundred and fifty miles;
fifteen cents to places within two
hundred miles; seventeen cents to
places within two hundred and fifty
miles; twenty cents to places with
in three hundred and fifty miles;
and twenty-five cents to places more
than four hundred and fifty miles
distant. In 1899 the rates were
changed. The lowest rate was
raised to eight cents, and the low
est distance to forty miles. Instead
of nine rates there were but six;
twenty cents carried letters five hun
dred miles, and twenty five cents
were still charged for greater distan-
ces. In 1916 the minimum rates
were again reduced to six cents, and
the distance to thirty miles; only
five rates were established; eighteen
and a half cents carried letters four
hundred mics; and for longer dis
tances twenty-five cents was charg-
ed still.
These rates, with a single excep-
tion, where the postage was increas-
ed, continued until 1S45, when the
first material reduction took place.
Five cents became postage for let
tiers carried a distance of less than
three hundred miles; ten cents for
all the greater distances. At the
the same time the drop letter
system was introduced, such letters
being charged two cents. Previous
to this time the rule had been that
the above rates were for single letters
that is, letters on one sheet of pa
per, large or small, and without ref
erence to weight. In 1S45 the half
ounce weight was made the stand
ard, instead of the number of sheets.
In 1851 the single rate was made
three cents for all distances under
three thousand miles and six cents
for greater distances, if prepaid,
this being the first inducement held
out to prepay letters. Unpaid let
ters were charged five and ten cents,
according to distance. In 1856 pre-
payment was required, three cents be-
ing still the rate for distances under
5000 miles, and ten cents charged
for greater distances. In 1863 the
present rate of three cents, prepsid
by stamp, for all distances was es-
tablished. The history of these re
ductions show also that no material
loss of revenue has been their i'm
mediate result, and that no loss at
all has been permanent. Since 1851
when substantially the present rate
was fixed, the revenue of the post
office has increased from $1,000, 900
for that year to $22, 100000 in 1872;
but we need not go further into de-
tails.
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 reduction will
be. During the last year there were
sold four hundred and four and a
half million three cent stamps, and
ninety three million three cent en-.
velopes. As double rates are al
most always paid by additional
stamps of this denomination, and
as foreign postage is very frequent
ly paid with two or more three cent
stamps, we may take SIS, 200, 900,
the value of five hundred million
three cent stamps, as the sum to be
effected primarily by the new reduc
tion. Were the number to stationary
the consequence would be loss to
the revenue of one-thlrd of this sum
in other words, loss of 81. ZOO, 900.
AS matter of fact, however, the
natural increase in the number of
letters is about ten per cent annually
and this would make the number of
two cent stamps, substituted for
threes, for the year ending June 80,
six hundred millions, with a value
of twelve million dollars, and reduc
ing the loss to three million dollars.
Experience has uniformly shown
that reductions of postage cause an
immediate increase of correspond
ence, and it would not be at ali sur
prising if the revenue from stamps
and stamped envelopes in 1874 were
nearly as large as in 1872. Accom-
the letter postage reform is
a reduction Of one half on the pos
tage OF newspapers regularly mail
ed by publishers. The total revenue
in this department last year was not
quite a million dollars. 1t Is part
of the postal system that does not
exhibit as rapid growth as others,
and a loss of from a quarter to half
a million dollars IN this depart