Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-25

Interesting 20 Those Who Indulge
In Epistolary Correspondence
a Brief Compendium Of the Rules Devised
10 Regulate the Transmission Of
M4iIable Matter Through
the Post-Sfiioe.


envelopes ktfidtou Of p1dluls tcttc& Lca1sy
bin l-heads, blank cards, business cards,
visiting or playing cards, tags, labels, pa
per sacks, wrapping paper, card board,
and ornamented paper, are all elassed as
merchandise, and postage is charged at one
cent an ounce.
Ia sending one, two, three, or four arti-
cles OF the fourth class, or, In fact, any.
number OF articles up 70 four pounds, you
can indicate on such package the names %
the articles inclOsed. You can also write
upon or attach TO any such articles, by tag
or label, mark or number, name or letter,
for purpose of Identification.
tax bill, a receipt, an abstract OF title,
a'power of attorney, promissory note,
mortgage, . draft or check, Cancelled
checks, coupons, an invoice bill, state
ment, pension voucher, telegraphic dis
patch, bank note, or any document with
writing upon il, is subject TO letter rates.
Third-class matter embraces such arti-
cles as books, pamphlets, circulars, en-
cravings, Autographs, newspapers, maga-
zines and all matter of the same general
character, and postage is charged at the
rate of one cent for each two ounces or
fraction thereof.
A box with its lid nailed on Is held as
being closed against inspection and is
therefore subject to letter rates. Post
masters have no right to pry open such
box and then nail it up again. Even if
they had the right to do so they have not
the time.
All manuscript matter designed FOR pub
lication in books, magazines, periodicals,
or newspapers is subject to letter postage
unless accompanied by pooof- sheets of the
same. Manuscript music is rated In the
same manner.
Any person who sends money or jewelry
in an unregistered letter not only runs the
risk of losing his property, but places
needless temptation before persons who
might not otherwise be tempted to commit
felony.
Written visiting cards are regarded as
frst-class matter, and subject to letter
rates. If printed, they can be sent at the
rate of one cent for each two ounces; that
Is, if the card Is of an embellished design.
In making present of book, it is per-
missible to write an inscription or dedica-
ton upon the cover of one of the blank
leaves, but it must not contain nything
Ribbon, pocket handkerchiefs, gloves,
neck-ties, laces, emhroideries, dress-pat
terms, corsets, samples of calico or silks,
and hosiery, are rated as fourth class, and
postage is charged at one cent an ounce
In sending packages Of the third or
fourth class be sure and write your name
ON it, as coming from you, and give your
street and number, so that if it is undeliv-
cred it may be returned to you.
Don't forget that all parcels deposited
for mailing must be so wrapped that they
can be examined without destroying the
wrapper, otherwise letter rates of postage
are charged.
The dead-letter office is a monument to
the carelessness and stupidity of the Amer
lean people. The average number of let
ters received there daily is about fifteen
thousand.
Third and fourth class matter can be
mailed in the same package, providing il
does not exceed four pounds in weight,
but it subjects the entire package TO fourth
class rates.
Every business man should use re-
turn request envelopes in all his corre-
spondence. If everybody used them the
dead-letter Office would soon wind up its
business.
A postal card is not maiIabe with any
writing or printing on the address side ex-
cept the address, nor with anything pasted
or pinned to the other side.
Nothing is received for mailing that
weighs over four pounds, except in case Of
a single book, as, for example, Bible, or
dictionary, or history.
Letter r-heads, bill heads and envelopes,
blank or printed, are charged as merchan-
disc, and postage must be paid at the rate
of one cent an ounce.
Samples of ores, metals, minerals, seeds
cuttings, bulbs, nuts, etc, are also classed
as merchandise, and postage charged at
one cent an ounce.
An unclaimed postal card is not returned
20 the writer, even though his address is
given upon it, but is sent to the dead letter
office.
Animals, reptiles, live or dead mot
stuffed insects, except queen bees when
safely securely, are excluded from the
mails.
Albums, Photographic and autographic,
are classed as merchandise. and postage is
charged at the rate of one cent an ounce.
II you wanted 10 send a suit OF clothes by
mail which weighed six pounds you would
have 20 make two packages of il.
Liquids, poisons, explosives aud infam-
mable articles are not received for mall
ing, no matter how carefully wrapped.
Matter incloSsd i'm sealed envelope.
though the corners may be cut or the ends
notched, t. subject 60 letter rates.
Seud no cash money by mail. IL ismuch
safer AMI cheaper in the long run 10 buy
money order ~ postal nnte.
A book presented for mailing With let.
Ter attached - ii would subject the eatire
package - isffef rates.
Wedding eahe can only hs mailed when
packed Ia tin or wooden tos. Confoc.
tianefies the same
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