New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-08-05
CHANGES In THE POSTAL SYSTEM.
INTERESTING FACTS CLEANED FROM POSTMASTER
PEARsoN's FILES OF POSTAL LAWS.

INTERESTING FACTS CLEANED FROM POSTMASTER
PEARsoN's FILES OF POSTAL LAWS.
Postmaster Pearson has recently obtained
copies of the Postal Laws and Regulations" Issued In
1925 and $685. and has completed his set OF the
series prepared by the Post-Offce Department Inc
law OF 1925 brought together one enactment the pro-
visions that had adopted at various times by Con-
gress IL remained In force In substance Tor twenty
years. though changes OF greater or less Importance
were made at several sessions Of Congress- The diner
ences between the present law and that OF 1870 are
numerous and important At that time and unth 1880
all postmasters, or, they were sometimes caied'
deputy postmasters," were appointed by the Post
MASTER General The postmastcTs OF the important
offices are now appointed by the President with the con-
sent Of the The postage rates they were liked
IN 1916 and remained for nearly thirty we're on
sliding scale that must have required high degree OF
arthmetlcal skill the part Of postmastcrs The rates
for letter OF single sheet OF paper were for any dis
lance under 30 miles, cents; over 80 and unacr 80
miles. 10 cents over 80 and under $50 miles, l2ia
cents $50 and under 400 miles ga cents and over
400 miles, 25 Letters Of two sheets were charged
double postage those OF three sheets triple postage ana
Others the same SCALE
The instructions given TO the postmasiers In 1928 IN
dictate OF the difficulties that were found in apply
ing the law. One regulation says: 1t may sometimes
be difficult to discover whether letter is single or
double or treble but after little experience you viii
generally be able TO decide Dy eeng or oy hOing tho
letter to the light Posmasers directed to reckon
distance between two places by the shortest post
route. Circuits 1ere sometimes made for the delivery
of letters that the carrier did not return by the same
that he used in going, and the method used In
calculating the distance sometimes highly mpor-
tant Thus In NewJersey" say the regulations. there
crcuitous route from Trenton TO Aento Sn shrews-
bury etc. to Brunswick. and thence to somerville
c. h. and Pennington to Trenton. From Trenton by
A.. Ia lad
131 miles, and the POSTAGE by that distance would De
1919 cents but the actual distance from Pennington to
Trenton only - miles and the postage OF letter sent
The postage was lot usually prepaid Stamps were
introduced until 1S47. Newspapers were sent With
aud u cents for greater distances ship letters,
those brought by vessels, charged an extra rare
The mails carried in pormaneans ON horseback
by stages. Steamboats, were utilized aiter 1919 ana
railroads after 1888. am.
Bya laEof 1910 which remained In force for fifty
years. only Free white persons were allowed TO be cm.
poyed In carrying the mails lest colored persons SHOULD
use the mails TO make oomblnatons 70 INC uetIiIens
of the whites" The letters were fastened In packages
an post b inclosed so that the receiving post
master might know what charges we're To be collected
The postmasters paid by commissions except thh
additional made to the postnasters OF
Washington and New-Orlcans. No postmaster conld
receive compensation OF more 81. lnan s..ovV , hI
larger than at present the privilege OF iranking was
freely bestowed. All the important and many minor
officials Washington could scnd ana receive ieteis
without Of postage; others could receive
newspapersfree; postmasters might exchange etteis
without cost and printers OF newspsperS might I,eoy
poant changes IN the postal service since 1870 are;
Tie OF railroads, 1888; reduction OF postage 1913;
10 the weight letters 1si7 registered letters 1854;
delivery In cities 1858; railway mall service, lSot
and at about tho time the postal money order:
The reduction in letter postage 20 cents October
will be further step In advance.