National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-29
A POSTAL REVOLUTION.
Transportation of the Mails in Our
Grandfathers' Days.
Wonderful Changes that Have Taken Place
In Eighty-five Years-Tho Postal system
Of ELECTROMAGNETIC Me-; st.
Mary's, Ca, and Gallipolis,
Ohio, the Extreme Points
of Communication.
Tho Postal Service of We oiden Time.

Tho Postal Service of We Olden Time.
There is in the possession of Mr.. W. s.
Davis, Chief of the Blank Division of the
Postoflice Department, copy of Regulations
TO be observed by the Deputy Postmasters in
the United States" issued juno 80 $780, by
Thomas Pickering Postmaster-General; and
although bearing no date, evidently printed
in the year 1894. The regulations are pre-
ceded by the act of "May the Sth, 1894"
ITO establish the Postofiice and Post Roads
within the United States" This act provides
for a main stem extending from the eastern
to the southern extremity of the United
States" The route is from Passamaquoddy,
in the District of Maine, to Saint Marys in
Georgia, via Portland, Boston, Hartford, New
Haven, New York, Trenton, Philadelphia,
Wilmington, Del; Baltimore, City of WASH
ington Richmond, Raleigh, Columbia, s. c.;
Savannah and intermediate offices. On this
main stem there were ninety-nine postoilices,
including twenty-nine which the book ex-
plains ARE not now postOtiices, but 1t is ox-
pected that postotlices will be established there
by the LIST Of next October" and three that arc
set down as marking the route of the mail
because from their situation and circum-
stances they may hereafter become post-towns,
though not intended for such at present" Thees
towns are Bristol and Marlborough, in the
District of Maine, and Lynn, in Massachusetts,.
A note explains that NO postoflice is yet estab-
hshed at the city of Washington, and it is un-
certain when one will be established there"
The number of actual officers on the trunk
line were consequently but sixty-siX then in
operation, the twenty-nine to be added in
October comprising eighteen to be added by
the extension of the service from Wiscasset
eastward to Passamaquoddy, and three by
southern extension from Savannah TO St.
Marys, and eight new intermediate Offices in
Virginia, North aud South Carolina. The
whole length of the service is given as follows:
MILES.
Cross postroads. l0390
1923
Deduct part of some roads comprehended in =
others''''...... l39
1884
In addition to the sixty-six offices in oper-
alton there were PIG in actual operation and
eighty-four Expected to be established by the
LIST of October" There were also forty places
set down because of their situation and cir.
cumstances. They may hereafter become post
towns, though not intended for such at pres
ent." Making total of actual prospective
and possible postotlices of 400, including the
present National Capital, then among the pros.
pective offices. Among the offices to be es-
tablished by October were PenObscot, Frank
fort, Belfast, Thomaston and marlborough
Me-; Keen and Haverhill, n. H.; Andover,
Pittsfeld and Dedham, Mass. Canandagua,
N. Y; Norristown, Pa; Wheeling Va; Mar
ietta and Gallipolis, in the Northwestern Ter
Titory; Lexington, Harrodsburg Bardstown
and Louisville; Washington, Dinville and
frankie had already been established); Cum
berland, Nd, and Lynchburg, Va.
One of the cross-road routes is from Freder-
icktown, Nd, to Peters Tavern, Montgomery
Court House to Georgetown on the PotOw-
mack"-iorty-tw miles. Peters Tavern is
designated as one that may become post
Office, but not intended as such, and Mont.
gomery Court House to be opened in the fol.
lowing October.
In the whole section north of the Ohio river
then known us the Northwestern Territory
there were no pOstotices, but Fort Washington
Marietta, Bel Pre- and GallipOlis were put
down among the offices expected to be estab
lished by the LIST Of the following October.
Among the fOot-nOtes is the following:
NoTE.-A mail is now passing weekly from Pitts
burg to Wheeling by land, then by the Ohio e
Limestone. in Kentucky, and thence by land L
Fort Washington, in the Northwestern Territory
crossing the river Ohio over against Fort Washing
ton. The mail from Abingdon through the wilder
ness 10 DOnville in Kentucky is, therefore now to
be dropped. But as the Ohio may be impossible
In winter, and 1t may then be necessary 70 resume
the route through the wilderness it is here sub
joined
This route is from Abingdon via Hawkins
Courthouse, FreestoBe Gap, Cumberland
Mountain, Cumberland River and Gross Or
chard to DanviIe, $50 miles.
Norfolk, Hampton and Yorktown are in
cluded in brace ~, with q note that the
mail is to go to one or the other, just as the
boat carrying it happens to be destined.
The regulations make but AN insignificant
appearance compared with the present impos-
ing code of the Department-twenty-n sec.
tions covering the whole ground. Some OF
them read very curiously at this date-for in
stance:
q. Complaints of the failure of newspapers have
been SO frequent II seems necessary to take somt
precautions for their security. The papers are com
monty so wet when packed and the covers so Sigh
that the bundles get broken, the papers worn and
defaced, and the names of the persons and Offices
addressed are rendered illegible. To remedy thes'
mischieis the printers are desired to dry the
papers ut least TO certain degree. With
out this degree OF care in drying and packing o
newspapers the printers are not to DEPEND on theil
reaching their subscribers and others for whom
In a bundle must be marked on the wrapper anC
those for printers aud subscribers distinguished by
2S No provision is made in any Of the forms fo
magazines and pamphlets. II Is probable very few
Will be sent IN the mail. When any appear the!
may be especially entered with their postage at tn
nite fixed in the twentyseCOnd section Of the law
Section 90 of the law provided that wher
the mode of conveyance and the size of tn
mail will admit of IL, magazines and pamph
lets may be transported in the mail ut one cen
por sheet for conveyance any distance not ex
cecding fifty miles, one and II half cents TO
over fifty and less than 100 miles, and tw,
cents for any greater distance, u separate ac
count ofthe same to be kept, and the postmaster
W receive one-half tho receipts.
The rates Of postage fixed by the ninth sec
ton of the act was for distances less than
30 miles, 6 cents; 90 miles, 8 cents; 100 miles
10 cents; $50 miles, l24 cents; 200 miles, II
cents; $50 miles, II cents; $50 miles, 20 cents
40 miles, % cents; over 450 miles, 2
cents; double and triple letters, double AM
triple rates, aud for every packet weighing
one ounce, four single rates, and in that pro
portion for any greater weight.
The Postmaster Generals salary was hxet
at s., 400 per annum; he was allowed one as
sistant at $1,000 per annum, and four clerks
whose compensation should be regulated il
such manner ne not to exceed 500 per annun
TO each, to be paid quarterly out Of tho rev
enues Of the pOstoiiice.
The modest regulations of 1894 which ais
embraced the postal laws, have now extende
To a volume Of over i50 pages. The 400 post
Offices, actual aud prospective, have increase