The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-12-23

elabs.Democrnt. - q

The acknowledgement to-day took
a step which it is believed in some
quarters. viii materially affect the fu-
ttnre operations aud reforms of the
department. This was The conclusion
Of q contract with Leo Ehrlich, Of ST.
Louis, for the nse of his recent ingen-
lious invention Of combination letter
sheet and envelope. The contract was
signed to-tlay. BY the middle of Jan
nary the Ehrlieh invention will be on
sale at tie principal postofiioss in the
country nj the shape of leiteF-sllset,
and envelope and stamp, all for three
cents, and a circnlar letter and envelope
and stamp for one cent added to the
eos. of the paper. The unstamped
article will ind its way into the public
market through the stationery world.
/ This Is q return to the simplicity of
correspondence as ii was before envel-
opes were invented without returning
to the disadvantages of sealing-wax,
tspers and waters. The single letter
sheet Is manufactured with gummed
flaps, which,. when the sheet is folded
lap over the two open edges and secure
the Rlissiye. The government stamp
is to be embossed on one of these
flaps, which comes over like the flap
an envelope, and the whole thing is
licked, stamped, and sealed with the
same motion. This brings the stamp
where the old seal and wafer used to
be, instead of being on the upper right
hand corner, as at present. The post
master will net be compelled to apply
the cancellation stamp, as the letter
can not be opened nor the embossed
stamp removed without destroying the
stamp, while the whole arrangement
IS like a neat trick. The principal adj
fantage is its cheapuess, both to the a.
government and TO the business public.
10 the man who writes his communi-
alton on one side of the sheet, as ~
business men do, it will he saving of y
fly per cent. in time and expense.
% the government it will he equally
advantageous. 1t will cost but trifle
Iore than an ordinary envelope, and
general use it will save, ii is alleged,
alf the weight of the present letter
ails. The contract with the inventor
royides that the stamped article shall
: manufactured nnderthe supervision
the government stamped envelope
rents at Hartford or New York; that
e government is TO take no risk Of
e public demand and receive no
oft from such demand, beyond the
Rvenience and advantage in hand
u. Those that are not put on sale
the stamp windows will be of the
of 3, 2 and cent, the
ter or circular form being minus the
d flap, or open. This patent letter
eet will be sold at price ranging
ON 81 to 81 per 1000, according TO
e quality of paper used. The con-
actor retains his rights as patentee,
e government mcrely acting as his
ent, and making returns Of sales 10
m every ninety days for the us of
C scheme. Every facility for their
lie is to be offered, as is now offered
the sale of stamps aud stamped en-
Hopes. The importance of this in
ntion on the future of the postal de-
lrtmeut will depend wholly on the
yor and prcjudices of the general
lblic. If the department should
try out its design to sell stamped
lvelopes at the price of the stamp, as
recommended by the postmaster
neral, the law will carry this iRyen-
on with it, and the public can have
letter and stamped envelope for three
.nts in one. 1t would seem to be
we're blow 10 the stamped envelope
lsiness, and to be an important fac
II in hurrying up cheap postage.
he government, ii should be added,
'ses nothing IN case of spoiled sheets,
aving reserved the right of cancella- &
on. Mr.. Ehrlich will leave for St. -
ouis tonight, to enter upon arrange M
ents for beginning operations.