Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-04-09
The Rates Of Postage. ,

H
postage in this country is comprohen-
sively given in report made to the
Hopso Of Representatives by Mr.
Farnsworth. In 1902 the frst post
age act was passed. 1t introduced a
highly complicated system. Tho low
cat postage was six cents to places
within thirty miles eight cents to
places within sixty miles, ten cents
10 places within one hundred miles
twelve and halt cents to places
within ono hundred and fifty miles
ffteen cents to places within two hun
dred miles; seventeen cents to places
within two hundred and fifty miles
twenty cents TO places within three
hundred and fifty miles; twenty-five
cents 70 places within four hundred
ans AS3 y s-;iss, eua,ts~ertyr6 r6ve osr<s
70 places more than four hundred and
fifty miles distant. In 1896 the rates
were changed. The lowest rate was
raised to eight cents and the lowest
distance TO forty miles. Instead OF
nine rates there was six; twenty cents
carried letters five hundred miles and
twenty-five cents was still charged for
greater distances. In 1916 tho mini
mum rates were again reduced to six
cents and the distance to thirty miles
only five rates were established; eigh.
teen and half cents carried letters
four hundred miles and for longer dis
tances twenty five cents was charged
still.
These rates, with single exception
where the postage was increased, con.
tinued until ls45, when the first ma.
terial reduction took place. Five cents
became the postage for letters carried
a distance OF less than three hundred
miles; ten cents for all greater dis.
tances. At the same time the drop.
letter system was introduced, such
letters being charged two cents. Pre-
vious 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 and without ref
erence to weight. In lS45 tho hal
ounce weight was made the standard
instead of the plumber Of sheets. Ia
1851 the single rate was made three
cents for all distances under 5000
miles and six cents for greater distan
ces, if prepaid, this being the first in
ducement held out 10 prepay letters
Unpaid letters we're charged five and
ten cents, according TO the distance
In 1855 prepayment was required
three cents being still the rates fol
distances under 5000 miles and ter
cents charged for greater distances
In 1868 the present rate of tbrco cents
prepaid by stamp, for all distances
was established. The history of these
reductions shows, also, that no mate.
rial loss Of revenue has been thoil
immediate result and that no loss al
all has been permanent. Since 1851
wbcp substantially A.. Y, vrsnt Ist,
was fixed, the revenue Of the post-of
fee has increased from s5, 500, 900 fol
that year to s22, 100000 in 1872; but
We need not 60 further into details.
The proposed reduction of tho sin
gle letter rate 20 two cents is an ex
ceedingly important step. Wo car
estimate very nearly what the cffecI
Of the present reduction win be. Dur
ing the last year there were sold foul
hundred and four ida half millions
three cent stamps and 100000
three cent envelopes. AS double rates
arc almost always paid by additional
stamps Of this denomination, and as
foreign postage is very frequently paid
with two or moro three cent stamps
we may take $4,000, 900, the value
Of five hundred millions three cent
stamps, as the sum to be affected pri
marily oy the now reduction. Were
the number sold to be stationary, the
consequence would bo loss 10 the
revenue Of one-third OF this sum-ir
other words, loss of S5,000,000. AS
matter of fact, however, the natural
increase in tho number Of letters |.
about ten per cont. annually, and thil
would mako the number Of two cen,
Stamps, substituted for threes, for the
year ending June 30, six hundred
millions, with value Of twelve mil
lion dollars and reducing the loss tc
three million dollars. Experience has
uniformly shown that reductions
Of postage cause an immediate In
crease OF correspondence, and il
would not be at all surprising if The
revenue from stamps aud stamped en-
velopes in 1874 were as large as II
1872, Accompanying the letter post
age reform is a reduction of onc-hal
on the postage Of newspapers regular
ly mailod by publishers. The tota
revenue in this department last yeal
was not quite million dollars. 1t i
part of the postal system that doe
not exhibit as rapid growth as Others
and loss from quarter to half {
million dollars 10 this department i
Inevitable.