Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-11-03
Postage Stamps.


Hartford Times.
Thirty eight years ago the first
postage stamps were used in the |
United States. For l75 years post
ave had been collected entirely in
and in all cases prepayment
was optional. Good old John Hay
wood, who in 1850 became the "wor-
thy master of the posts" at Boston,
and the first postmaster in America,
employed chance conveyance instead
of postage, with "by the kindness OF
some traveller as his postal service ;and
nothing was thought about stamping
until 1871, though such men as Frank
lin, Dachc, Pickering and Kendall had
been at the head of the postoffice de-
part,nent, and though the number OF
offices had come to be nearly l4,OOO.
On the 18th of March, 1910, John III.
Niles, of Hartford, became postmas-
ter general, and signalized his adj
ministration by many reforms. lie
turned the wrong side out OF lis
predecessors work, and convinced
his party and the president that
Amos Kendall was not such great
man as had been imagined.
1t was necessary to cap all by u
genuine innovation, and he perform
ell this by suggesting the postage
stamp. The suggestion was received
with ridicule, aud Mr.. Niles soon af-
ter retired. Ills successor, Charles
A Wickliife, put the department In
to the ancient rut again, and when
Cave johnson assumed the portfolio
OH the 9th of March, 1915, he found it
hcrculean task TO reinstatc the re-
form measures of Mr.. Niles. During
Wickliffe's administration the num-
Der of postoffices had increased by
only sos, but johnson saw in his
term of office 4,237 offices added to
the rolls, and witnessed other tokens
of prosperity. Among the measures
of Mr.. Miles that he adopted was the
postage stamp idea. The president
had converted his postmaster gener-
al from opposing the reduction oil
postage to a championship of the
lowest paying rates, ana J0hnsoi'
garnlshed his conversion with faith
erlhg the suggestion originated SlA
years Deiorc' Inc mater TOOK lorl,
as bill before Congress. and though
it was quite the fashion to oppose
any cabinet suggestions, the act au.
iaorlzihg the issue OF stamps OIL . am,
loTe"V uo''oiii', , P"1 ~"
ana approved Marcn D. ioti. Ut ,'
qaie OF tlie ISSUE was aPpoi":;c" ~
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