The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-05-22
THE NAIL SERVICE
s,,eresting History of the United STATES
Postal Systein---Benj amln Frankuhs
Startling Invention While Deputy

,,onnlation it was not organlzeu uu't
f7tO- Bv act of parliament OF ,hae
,.ejar the nost-chief letter office IN New
York and other chief offices at some
convenient place or places IN otner oi
bor maiestvis provinces or colonies IN
An,erica. - The revenue was for some
-,aa,.s very small. In 1853 Benjamin
E,.anklin was appointed deputy post
,nsster General for the colonies, and
was Guaranteed the sum Of t6OO per
annum for the salary of himself and
his assistant. He remodeled and ex-
tended the operations OF the ONCE
and in few wears materially increas-
cd tl,e revenues. He startled the peo-
nile of the colonies in 1850 by propos-
inc to run stage wagon to carry the
mail from Philadelphia to Boston, once
a week, starting from each city
on Monday morning and reaching
its destination by Saturday night.
In 1774, while in England, he was
removed from Office.
In 1889 the constitution of the United
States conferred upon congress the eX-
elusive control of postal matters 1or
all the states; and congress proceeded
Immediately ON the adoption OF the
constitution, to organize the postofilce
department, and to pass the necessary
laws for the protection of the mails.
The rates of postage from the
organization of the postollice depart
ment until 1916 were; For single let
ter (that is, one composed OF single
piece of paper), under 40 miles,
cents; under 90 miles, 10 cents; under
$50 miles, 129 cents; under 500 miles,
~ cents; under 500 miles, 20 cents;
over 500 miles, % cents. In 1916 these
rates were modified as follows: A
single letter carried not over thirty
miles, Ct cents; over 80 miles and
under 80 miles, 10 cents; over 80 miles
and under $50 miles, 125 cents; over
$50 and under 400 miles, 1871 cents;
over 400 miles, 20 cents, and an addi-
tional rate for every additional piece OF
paper, and if the latter weighed an
ounce four times these rates. News
papers under 100 miles, or within the
, spaie where published, l cent; over 100
miles and out of the state, II cents;
magazines and pamphlets II cents a
sheet under 100 miles, if periodicals;
over 100 miles, % cents a sheet, If not
periodicals, 4 and cents.
In 1915 the following lates were
adopted: For letter not exceeding
Aounce IN weight. under 800 miles, D
cents, over 300 miles, 10 cents; and an
additional rate for every additional
ounce or fraction of J ounce. Advertls-
ed letters, cents additional; drop-let-
tiers, 2 cents; circulars, unsealed,
cents, pamphlets, magazines, etc,
per ounce, % cents, and each adj
a I
under 80 miles, free; over 30 and I'M
der 100, or any distance within the
state where published, l cent; over
100 miles and out OF the state, -
cents. The next congress made the
postage on transient newspapers D
cents, and required payment; the
postage on circulars was raised TO
cents; newspaper postage to oregon
and California was fixed at AZ cents;
and letters to the Pacific territories
via Chagres and Panama, ~ cents. In
1849 the postage on transient news
papers was reduced to ordinary news
paper rates, but prepayment was still
required.
y In 1851 law was passed estab-
fishing the following rates: For
single letter ii. e., of bounce weight,
under 5000 miles, if prepaid, 3 cents,
or if not prepaid, cents; over 5000
miles, or II cents; to foreign coun-
tries, not over $500 miles, except
where postal arrangements have been
made, 10 cents; over $500 miles, 20
cents; drop letters, l cent; ship let
tiers, cents, or if delivered where de-
posted, cents; if sent through the
mails the ordinary postage to be added.
Weekly newspapers to actual sub
scrlbers in the country where pub
, lished, free; under so miles and out of
the county, 3 cents quarter; over 5O
and under 800 miles, 10 cents; over 800
and under 200 miles, ID cents; over
1000 and under 1000 miles, 20 cents;
over 1000 and under 1000 miles, 20
cents; over 1000 miles, 80 cents.
Monthly papers one-quarter and semi
monthly papers one-half these rates;
semi-weekly double, tri-weekly treble,
and oftener than tri-w eeklv, five times
these rates; newspapers under 300
square inches, one-quarter these rates;
if paid quarterly in advance de-
duction of one-half to be made from
these rates. Transient newspapers,
circulars, and other printed matter, l
cent an ounce under 500 miles; over
500 and under 1900, = cents; over
1900 and under $500, 3 cents; under
$500, cents; over $500, 8 cents.
Books under 32 ounces, l cent an
ounce if prepaid; if not cents an
ounce. In 1852 the following modih-
cations were made: Letters sent over
5000 miles, and not prepaid, 10 cents;
newspapers, circulars, etc, under
ounces, cent; every additional ounce
or fraction, cent; small periodicals,
published monthly or oftener, and
pamphlets of not more than 10 octave
pages, sent in single packages of not
less than 8 ounces, prepaid, cent an
ounce, or if not prepaid, cent. Books,
bound or unbound, less than 4pounds,
under 3, 600 miles, cent an ounce;
over 5000, cents an ounce; 90 per
cent added when not prepaid. BY
the act OF the same year postage
stamps and envelopes were ordered
BY law passed March 3, 1865, and
taking effect July of the same year,
.,ln latt