The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-12-07
Postal Reform.

Postal Reform.
THE GOVERNMENT ADOPTS LETTER
SHEET, ENVELOPE AND STAMP.
A Washington special under date
of November %, gives in detail new
arrangement entered into by the
Postmaster General, whereby a great
change will he brought about in the
matter of business correspondence.
This was in the conclusion of con-
tract with Mr.. Leo Ehrlich, of st.
Louis, for the use of his recent ingcni-
ous invention of a combination letter
sheet envelope. The contract was
signed to-day. BY the middle of
January the Ehrlich invention will
be on sale at the principal postoffices
in the country, in the shape of letter
sheet and envelope and stamp, all for
three cents, and circulat letter, and
sta mp, for one cent, added to the cost
of the paper. The unstamped article
will find its way into the public
market through the stationery world.
tiiic 10 " iSNuih ~ tbC vi
correspondence, as it was before ell
velope5 were invented, without re-
turning to the disadvantages of seal
ing wax, tapers and waters. The
single letter sheet is manufactured
with gummed flaps, which, when the
sheet is folded, lap over two open edges
and secures the missive. The Govern.
nient stamp is to be embossed on one
of these flaps which comes over like
the flap OF an envelope, and the whole
thing is licked, stamped and sealed
with the same motion. This brings
the stamp where the old wafer and
seal used to he, instead of being on
the upper right hand corner as at
present.
A GREAT SAVING.
The postmaster will not be COM
PEELED to apply the cancellation stamp,
rs the letter cannot be opened nor the
embossed stamp removed without des-
trOying the stamp. While the whole
arrangement looks like neat trick,
the principal advantage is its cheap.
ness, both to the Government and to
the business public. TO the man who
writes his communication on one side
of the sheet, as most business men do,
it will be saving Of so per cent, in
time and expense. TO the Govern
ment it will be equally advantageous.
1t will cost, hut trifle more than an
ordinary envelope, and in general use
will save. Il is alleged half the
present weight ofthe letter mails.
The contract with the inventor pro-
vides that the stamped article shall be
manufactured under tie supervision
of the Government stamped envelope
agents at Hartford and New York
that the Government is to take no
risk of the public demand and re
eeive no profit from such demandonly
handling. Those that are te1he put on
sale at the stamp windows will bc OF
the denominations Of3, = and / cent.
The letter or circular form, being
minus the end flap, or open.
ADVANTAGES OF THEINvENTIoN.
The patent letter sheet will be sold
at price ranging from 50 to 81 per
1000, according to the quality of paper
used. The contractor retains his right
~ patentee, the Government merely
setting as his agent and making re-
turns of sales to him every 80 days for
the use of his scheme. Every facility
for their sale is to be offered as is now
offered in sale of stamps and stamped
envelopes.
The Importance of this innovation
on the future of the postal department,
will depend wholly on the favor and
prejudices of the general public. If
the department should carry out its
design to sell stamped envelopes at the
price of the stamp as recommended by
the Postmaster General, the law will
carry this invention with it and the
public can have letter and
stamped envelope for three cents in
enc. It would seem to be ~ severe
blow to the stamped envelope busi-
ness and to be an important factor in
hurryiug up cheap postage. The
Government, ii should be added, loses
nothing in case Of spoiled sheets, hav-
ing reserved, the right of cancellation.