Arizona citizen., 1877-07-21
AIerchaudise i'm Ihe Nails.

T Following Is letter of interest to all who make any use of the mails The subject matter has been hereto fore discussed in these columns. The main point in this letter. as we regard it, is the large discretion urged upon ! posImasters, of which all interested will take notice. Any suspicious appearing package may be stopped by any post master and certain kinds totally de Stroyed, and the law requires postmas- ters 10 be yigilant regarding the pas sage ot improper matter through the mails. Here is the letter of the First ! Assistant Postmaster General, and has direct reference to matter passing through the Arizona mails:
 ! POsTOFFICE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, June 29, 1877. l SIR:-The attention of the Depart ment has been called t. the condition of several packages of canned fish, and a package containing a preserved fowl, (nOt cauned) which came in the mails through your office, addressed to Tucson, Arizona, and were taken out of the mails at Marlcopa Wells Tn a damaged and offensive condition, and sent at the request of the contractors, (by express) to II. $. Stevens. who has shown them at this office.
 While the law allows packages of merchandise and other third class mat ter to pass through the mails at low rate of postage, it prohibits the trans mission of articles which, from their form or nature, are liable to destroy, deface or injure the contents of the mail bag or the person of any one en- gagged in the postal service Postmas- ters should therefore pay special atten- ton that nothing thus prohibited should be allowed to pass Liquids, poisons, glass, explosive chemicals, live animals and insects, sharp pointed instruments, salt. sugar, flour, and oth- CT articles, have been specially prohib- Ited Tn successive numbers of the " U. $ Official Postal Guide" 10 which you are respectfully referred. It is difficult to designate every article that should be prohibited, and reliance must, Tn a great degree, be placed upon the judg ment of pOstmasters, To see that no improper matter gets into the mails Your office beIng at the head of one of the longest stage routes in the cOun- try, great pains should be taken to pro tect the mails from being damaged oy the contents of packages of any per ishable nature, such as has been sub mitted for inspection. As a general rule, in addition to the articles special ly prohibited, no canned goods should be allowed to pass, as the cans are lia- ble to become opened, and their contents do more or less damage. 9th CT articles which from their shape or size are calculated to do injury, should be prohibited; also those which can not be conveniently carried in the pouches.
 When such prohibited matter is ta- ken from the mails, you should notify the parties addressed, that it is held in your office subject to their order; and articles becoming damaged or offensive may be destroyed
 When you find that any particular person or firm is in the habit of send ing improper matter in the mails, you will notify the Department, that prop CT instructions may be given to the mailing office Respectfully, &c.,
 JAMES II. MARR,
 Acting First Asst P NJ. General. POSTMASTER, Yuma, Arizona.