Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-04-15
EARLY AMERICAN POSTAGE.

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 commencement of our
postal system the rates were On single
letters, 80 miles or under, 6 cents 80 to
60 miles, s cents 60 to 100 miles, 10
cents 100 to 80 miles, 10 cents $50
to 300 miles, Is cents 200 to go miles,
II cents !; $50 to 800 miles, 90 cents ;
$50 to 40 miles, % cents $50 miles and
over, 25 cents. For newspapers, l cent
each, anywhere in the State l cent for
not over 100 miles from one State to
another one cent and half for dis
tances not over 100 miles, and "brother
printers might send to each other
one copy in exchange without charge.
1t should be remembered that news
papers in those days were very small af-
fairs.
There were only about hundred
postoffices in all the fourteen States, and
the heaviest mails Chose made up in
New York and Philadelphia) were a
light burden for one man to take on his
shoulders.
During the war with Great Britain the
rates of postage were considerably adj
vanced, the schedule In 1S14-15 being as
follows : Single letters, not over 40 miles,
II cents I; 40 to 80 miles, ID cents ; 80 to
$50 miles, 1S2 cents (; $50 to 800 miles, %
cents 800 to 500 miles, 80 cents; over 500
miles, 80 cents. Double, triple, etc.,
were charged corresponding rates, and
the number of sheets, not the weight, de-
termined the postage. Many people will
remember disputes about such questions
as, if you write letter on one sheet and
tear the leaves apart, is it single or a
double letter? At the same time news
paper postage was advanced to II cents
for less tlan 100 miles and within the
State, and q cents over 100 miles and
out of the State.
Not long after the war closed, news
paper postage was reduced to 1 and L!
cents. Subsequent changes brought let
ter postage down, and about twenty
years ago we got on so far in the direc-
ton OF common sense as so charge letters
by wcig.t t, and reduce postage to 3 cents
if pre- paid, or 3 cents if not prepaid, for
all the country except California and
Oregon, - and from which States it was
10 cents. At the same time newspaper
postage for regular subscribers was fixed
at cents a quarter three months) on
yyeeklies for so miles or under so to
300 miles, 10 cents 800 to 1000 miles,
Is cents 1000 to 1900 miles, 90 cents,
and for greater distances, % cents.
Transient papers We're charged l cent
for 500 miles and upward, according to
distance. About this time, we think,
newspapers were sent free through the
mails to subscribers In the counties
where such papers were printed or pub
lished. The next change of Importance
was the absolute requirement of payment
in advance ON letters. The uniform rate
was cents, except for the Pacific States.
Newspaper postage was once more
tinkered, and the schedule fixed at 81
cents per quarter for weeklies, Ii cents
for semi-weeklies, 194 cents for tri-week-
lies, and 80 cents for dailies, payable in
advance. Transient papers l cent, if
paid in advance, or 2 cents on delivery.
Soon after this the extra price to the Pa
cific States was dropped, and some fur
ther notifications were made in the
charges on printed matter.