Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-12-03
GRAND RAPIDS WIS, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1874
Postal Affairs.

The following rulings of the Post
master General are of interest to the
public -
| No mail matter shall be delivered
until the postage due thereon is
paid.
The address only can be printed or
written on the face Of the postal
cards
Postal cards may be forwarded at
the request of the party addressed,
the same as letters.
A written signature or date, or any
writing on circular other than the
address. subjects it to letter postage
Printed matter should be so wrap
ped that its contents may be convent
emily examined without destroying the
wrapper and if not SO wrapped. let
ter postage should be charged there
on.
Mailable matter of the second and
third classes (paper, books, &c. con
tanning any writing whatever, except
the address, must be charged with let
ter postage.
If Postmasters cannot make the
necessary examination to see that prin-
ted matter is charged with the proper
rate of postage without destroying the
wrapper, they must rate the same with
letter postage.
Matter of the second and third elias
ses inclosed in sealed envelopes, notch
ed at the ends or sides, or with the
corners cut off, cannot be mailed, ex-
cept at letter rates Of postage.
1t is the duty Of a Postmaster to
forward prepaid letters, at the request
of the party addressed, to any other
Office without additional postage but
printed matter cannot be SO forwarded
unless the Postmaster shall be furnish
ed with postage to pay the trancient
rate of forwarding.
The provision for the free transmits
ion by mail of newspapers, "vne copy
to each actual subscriber residing with
in the county where the same is prin-
ted" is now in force but the same
will not be delN e ed at letter carriers
Office or distributed bp carriers
unless postage is paid thereon as by
law provided.
The following is concise statement
of the new rates OF domestic pos
| tage.-
Mail Letters, three cents on each half
ounce
Drop letters at letter-carrier Offices,
two cents each half ounce.
Drop letters at non-letter-carier Off
ces, one each half ounce.
Registered letters, eight cents in ad.
dition to the proper postage.
Newspapers, circulars and other
printed matter, seeds, cuttings, bulbs,
roots and scions, in packages not ex-
ceeding four pounds in weight, one
cent for each two ounces.
Books, in packages not exceeding
four pounds in weight, one cent for
each two ounces.
Merchandise ano samples, in packa-
ges not exceeding four pounds in wei
ght, one cent for each two ounces.
Newspapers, periodicals and circu-
lars not exceeding two ounces in
weight, deposited in letter carrier Off |
ces for local delivery, one cent for each
two ounces.
Periodicals exceeding two ounces in
weight, deposited in letter-carrier Off
ces for local delivery, two cents each.
All matter not prepaid by letter
rates must be so wrapped that it can be
examined without destroying the
wrapper, and must not contain any
writing whatever, inside or outside,
except tho address, but samples may
lie numbered to correspond with the
numbers in a descriptive letter, and
business cards may be printed, impress
sed or pasted (if printed) on wrap
pers.
Liquids, poisons, explosives and 9TH
er dangerous matters are excluded
The following are some Of the claus
es in the new postal law, and which is
now in effect -
Postmasters are not obliged to accept
in payment of postage stamps or STAN
ped envelopes, wrappers, etc., any cur
rency which may be SO mutulated as to
be uncurrent, or the genuineness Of {
which cannot be clearly ascertained. ,
They are not obliged to receive more
than twenty-five cents in copper or
nickle coins. They are not obliged to
a f1y Stamns to letters nor ara thav 9
obliged to make change except as $
matter of corrtesy.-Neither should a
they give credit for stamps.
To use or attempt to use in payment e
of postage, postage stamp or stamped
envelope. or any stamp cut from such t
envelope which has been used
in payment for postage is punishable n
with fine of fifty dollars, {
In using postal cards. be careful not q