The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-11-14
THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE.

The Post Office Department has issued a
circular concerning the Dead Letter Office,
from which the folio wing facts are gleam-
ed:
Over six million pieces of mail matter
are sent annually to the Dead Letter Office
by reason Of incorrect, illegible, or defici-
ent address, insufficient postage, insecure
closing, whereby matter mailed becomes
aeparated from the envelope or wrapper,
or the failure to be called for or delivered
to the person addressed. This is daily
average of over twenty thousand pieces.
OF these the greater portion either are
not called for at the post office to which
they are directed, or, in case of free deliv-
cry offices, the addresses cannot be found,
notwithstanding every known meaps is re-
sorted to on the part of the postal officials
to effect. delivery.
Matter sent to the Dead Letter Office,
which cannot be delivered to the person
addressed, is required to be opened in its
treatment for the purpose OF return to the
SENDER and if the name and address of the
sender be not shown or cannot be a'cer-
tanned from the contents, and it contains
no valuable inclosure, it must be destroyed.
Letters opened and found to contain any
inclosure of obvious value are entered up
on proper records and, OF such, those
which do not disclose sufficient informa-
tion to enable them to be returned are filed
subject to reclamation upon proper sppli-
cation aud Identification.
Letters which contain no inclosure of
obvious value are not recorded,
Packages and parcels are recorded, and
where they do not disclose the name and
address of the owner are filed; il not called
for or claimed within two years they are
disposed of atlpublic auction and the pro.
ceeds covered into the United States Treas
ury.
Misdirection, incorrect, illegible, and de-
ficient address are gwen as leading causes
which occasion the failure oflmail matter
to reach its proper destination, and affect
alike that which is 80 addressed to either
| city, town, or village.
The following suggestions, il observed
will aid the dispatch and delivery of mat.
ter sent through the mails, or its return di.
rectly to the sender in the event of monde
| livery, and thus prevent the annoyance,
delay, and embarrassment caused by send
ing matter to the Dead Letter Office.
Mail matter should be plainly and Ger
rectly addressed, the name Of the post OF
| a.. ,s.t. Z IL 10 hn L
clearly and distinctly stated, and to avoiC
confusion from the similarity Of abbrevia a
tions, as frequently used, the name Of thC
State should also be given in full. In tn,
case of mail addressed to small offices, o
where there are offices of like names II
different States, tho name of the county
should be added
Where mail matter Is addressed 10 cite
or free-delivery offices the street and hous
number, or post-offlce box number OF tn
person addressed are important, and shoult
always be given when il is possible to d.
so.
Where this cannot be done, the busines
or employment Of the person addressed,
stated, viii often secure delivery.
The name and address of The sender
either printed or written, should he place,
upon the upper left-hand corner OF the en-
velope or wrapper Of all matter mailed.
This Will secure its immediate return l.
the sender from the mailing office for cor
rectloa If Improperly addressed, insufii
eiently paid, or otherwise defective; thu
affording opportunity to comply with tn