Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-25
How Postal Mafeers Should be Pre-.
pared for the Mails.
SOME USEFUL SUGGESTION

HOW fOSt2i M0teer1 should be Pre-.
pared for the Mails.
SOME USEFUL SUGGESTIONS.
The mistakes that people make in sending
articles by mail occasions large proportion Of
the matter that finds its way to the Dead Letter
Office These mistakes arise mainly from ignor-
ance of postal regulations. In order to furnish
the public with the proper information, Major
E. J. Dallas, the chief of the Dead Letter Office,
has prepared a compact digest of the postal
regulations, which has just been published In
convenient form for free distribution. 1t Is en-
titled suggestions to the Public" and is ad-
mirably adapted for the purposes intended. 1t
IS the only publication of the kind. and the in
formation is given in clear and concise language
Inc Following are some of the suggestions
DIRECTING NAIL NATTER
III you are not certain that the place to which
you wish to send is post office. inquire Of the
postmaster. Matter not addressed to post
office cannot be forwarded. Write or print your
name and address, and the contents, II pack
age, upon the upper ieft-haud corner of all
mail matter. This will insure its immediate re-
turn to you for correction, If improperly ad-
dressed or fnsufficfently paid.
RATES OF POSTAGE.
First class.-Letters and all other written
matter, whether sealed or unsealed. and all
fastened in any manner so that
1t cannot be easily examined, 3
cents per half ounce or fraction thereof.
(Under the act of March 3. 1888, the postage
will be reduced to cents from and after Octo-
Der I, 1888 Postal cards are unavailable with
any writing or printing on the address side. ex-
cept the direction. or with anything pasted upon
or attached to them. Exception: A printed
label may be used in lieu of manuscript ad-
dress.
Second Class.-Only for publishers and news
agents
Third Cass.-Printed matter, in unsealed
wrappers only. Gall matter enclosed in nOtched
envelopes must pay letter rates one cent for
each two ounces or fraction thereof. which must
be fully prepaid. Limit of weight lbs. except
for a single book. which may weigh more. Pro-
auctions by copying press or the typewriter are
first-class matter.
Fourth class.-All mailable matter not included
In the three preceding classes which is so pre-
pared for mailing as to be easily withdrawn from
the wrapper and examined. Rate cent per
ounce or fraction thereof Limit of weight,
lbs Full prepayment compulsory.
UNAVAILABLE.
Obscene books, letters, papers, pictures. and
postal cards; lottery circulars and letters liquids
gunpowder and other explosives; live animals,
poIsons, and any article liable to iniure the
mails or the persons of those handling them.
No writing Is permitted on third or fourth
class matter except as follows: The name and
address of sender on the outside or inside of
package. preceded by the word "from." On the
wrapper may also be written the names and
number of articles nclosed The sender Is fur
ther allowed to mark word or passage in q
book or paper to which he desires to call special
attention He may also write simple inscrip-
tion or dedication upon the cover or blank
leaves OF book or pamphlet. There may be
attached to articles of merchandise. by tag or
label, mark. number, name. or letter for pur-
pose of identification. Printed circulars NAV
contain the written name OF the sender, or of
fhe addreSSee. and the date. Any other writing
on third or fourth class matter will subject the
package to letter rates of postage. and render
the sender liable to fine of $40 for each offeuso
RATES OF POSTAGE To CANADA.
Letters and Postal Cards-Same rates and
conditions of prepayment of postage as for do
mestic letters and postal cards.
Other Matter.-Same rates and conditions of
transmission as for matter for delivery within
the United States except that merchandise is
rigidly excluded. Samples of merchandise are
mailable, but they must not exceed eight ounces
III weight. and are subject to postage of ten
cents each. They must also be strictly spec-
mems of goods for sale.
(The Dominion of Canada embraces all the
britisn North American provinces except New
fOundland)
TO OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
The limit of dimensions and weight for parcels
addressed to foreign countries Is not uniform
For example. to Belgium, France Great Britain
and Switzerland the maximum weight for SAM
pies of merchandise is IL ounces and the limit
OF size Is l2xSx4 inches; while to Austria, Ger
many, Prussia, Norway. Sweden, Denmark. and
other countries of the Postal Union, the maxi
mum size is SX4X2 inches, and the weight is linn
tied to 80 ounces.
Every postmaster is furnished with an official
Postal Guide. containing information respecting
rates or postage, conditions of prepayment.
manner OF wrapping. limitations of size weight.
&c, DC. and should be consulted before mailing
any package about which there may be doubt
as to its admission into the mails
The sending of coin or articles of iewclry to
foreign countries is prohibited.
REFORwARDING.
Letters and postal cards will be forwarded
from one post Office to another upon the written
request of the person addressed or of the
writer, If his name appears upon the envelope,
without additional postage charge, but pack
ages cannot be forwarded to a new address or
returned to the sender until stamps are furn-
!shed to pay the postage anew. The postage
must be prepaid in full. otherwise the packages
will not be forwarded
The Only Remedy for Our Gas Woes.
To the Editor of the EVENING STAR:
The only remedy for our gas woes" il for the
gas company to use the proper gas materials in
the manufacture Of our gas and change all the
Snpf,,u 30;