Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-06-12
EARLY AMERICAN POSTAGE.

The very general discussions over the
provisions of the last Postage law calls
up the whole subject Of postage.
Among young people but few know
how high the rates of postage in this
country used to be. In the commence
ment OF our po ostal system the rates
we're: On single letters. 80 miles or un-
der, 6 cents; 80 to 60 miles, g cents;
GO to 100 miles, 10 cents; 100 to.l5O
miles, 12A cents; 150 to 200 miles, is
cents, 200 to $50 miles, II cents; $50
to 300 miles, 20 cents; $50 to 45O miles,
% cents; 450 miles and over, 25 cents.
For newspapers, l cent each, anywhere
in the State; ! cent for not over 100
miles from one State to another; one
cent and half for distances not over
100 miles, and brother printers" might
send to each other one copy in exchange
without charge. It must be remem-
bered that newspapers in those days
were very small affairs.
There were only about hundred
postofices in all the fourteen States,
and the heaviest mails (those made up
in New York and PHILADELPHIA were
light burden for one man to take on his
shoulders.
During the war with Great Britain
the rates of postage were considerably
advanced, the schedule in 1814-I5 being
as follows: Single letters, not over 40
miles, IL cents; 40 to 80 miles, Is
cents; 80 to 150 miles, 184 cents; $50
to 300 miles, rs cents; 800 to 500 miles,
80 cents; over 500 miles, 60 cents.
Double, triple, etc., were charged
corresponding rates, and the number of
sheets, not the weight, determined the
postage. Many people will remember
disputes about such questions as. il you
write letter on one sheet and tear the
leaves apart, is it single or double
letter? At the same time newspaper
postage was advanced to IL cents for
less than 100 miles and within the State,
and d cents over 100 milesf and out Of
the State. .i ~ sA.
Not long after the war closed, news
paper postage was reduced TO 1 and III
cents. Subsequent changes brought
letter postage down, and about 20 years
ago we got out 80 far in the direction Of
common sense as to charge letters by
weight, and reduce postage to cents
if prepaid, or centsif not prepaid, for
all the country except California and
Oregon, to and from which States it
was 10 cents. AT the same time news
paper postage for regular subscribers
was fixed at 5 cents Q quarter (three
months) on weeklies for 80 miles OF mn
der; so to 800 miles, 10 cents: 800 10
1000 miles, Is cents; 1,OC9 TO 1000
miles, 40 cents, and for greater dis
tances, 25 cents. Transient papers
were charged / cent for 500 miles and
upward, according to distance. About
this time, we think, newspapers were
sent free through The mails to subscrib-
ers in the countries where such papers
were printed or published, The next
change of Importance was the absolute
requirement. Of payment in Advance on
letters. The uniform rate was 8 3cents,
except for the Pacific States. News
paper postage was once more tinkared.
and the schedule fixed at 6A cents per
quarter for weeklies, is cents Tor semi
weeklies, 19A cents for tri-weekli6s. and
80 cents for dailies, payablo ID advance,
or 2 cents on delivery. Soon after this
the extra price To tho Pacific States Mas
dropped, and some further notifications
were made ID the charges, on printed
matter. III e & siis
~ Don't locate your grandfather
!" in the front rank in the Concord ana
Iaxincfon fipht. That Traa fhA Orf3