The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1890-09-26
SUGGESTIONS TO LETTER WRIT,
Frs.
The Postoffice Department states
How to Secure Prompt De-
livery of Mail.

The POStOffiCe Department states
How to Secure Prompt De-
livery Of Mail.
Over 5000, 900 pieces of unclaimed and
undeliyered mail matter are received
annually at the dead letter Office at
Washington. This is daily average of
over 10000 pieces. The postmaster gen.
eral, DESTROYS that the best possible
service attainable may be rendered to
the public, directed inquiries to be made
of the postmasters at the free delivery
offices, requesting their opinions as to
and inviting such suggestions as to prac-
tical remedies as might occur to them
from the observation and experience of
their offices. Misdirection and lmper-
feet and illegible addresses are the lead
ing causes which occasion the failure of
mail matters to reach its proper destin-
alton. In addition to these, in the case
of matter addressed to cities and free
delivery Offices, are the failure to give
street and house number, the inability
to find transient people, neglect of the
latter to give forwarding orders, and
neglect of permanent residents to report
changes in address. These show no
fault in the system, and are conditions
which alone can be remedied by the
people themselves. Fifty per cent of
the matter received at the dead letter
Office is sent from the free delivery of
fees alone. The postoffice department
has issued statement pointing out to
the public such matters of neglect, omis-
sion or fault on the part of the patrons
of the mail as impair or hinder a more
effective delivery of mail matter, to-
gether with suggestions of such practical
remedies within the ready and easy ac-
ton of the public as would seem to tend
to reasonably remedy the difficulties.
Among others are the following SUCCESS
lions:
Mail matter should be plainly and
correctly addressed, the name of the
postoffice to which it is to be sent should
be clearly and distinctly stated, and to
avoid confusion from the similarity of
authorizations, as frequently used, the
name of the State should also be given
in full. In the case of mail addressed
to small offices, or where there are Of
fees of like names in different States,
the name of the county should be added.
Where mail matter is addressed to
cities or free delivery Offices the street
ard house number, or post-office box
number of the person addressed are i'm
portant, and should always be gwen
when it Is possible to do so.
Letters addressed to persons temper
arily sojourning In city where the let
ter-carrler system is in operation should
be marked Transient" or General
Delivery" If not addressed to street
and number, or some other designated
place of delivery.
This will secure its immediate return
to the sender from the mailing office
for correction If improperly addressed,
insufficiently paid, or otherwise defect
i've.
Letters and all other matter mailed,
so marked with the name and address
Of the sender, that should fail to be call
ed for or delivered to the person ad-
dressed, and upon which full letter rates
of postage has been paid are not sent to
the Dead Letter Office, but are returna-
BILE to the sender directlv-without addi-
tional charge, and with the reason of
on-delivery Endorsed thereon.
Packages and all matter mailed at less
than letter rates of postage, should, in
addition to the name and address of the
sender upon the envelope or wrapper,
bear In connection therew with request
tor it's return in the event of non-deliv-
cry, in which case it is also returnable
directly to the sender from the post Of
fee addressed, charged with return pos
tage at the rate requil led for the class Of
matter to which it belongs.
In mailing packages addressed to for
eign countries, care should be taken to
ascertain whether they are prohibited
from Transmission to the country of des-
tination, or can only be forwarded
when the postage is fully prepaid at
foreign letter rates-5 cents per half
ounce.
In addition to being sealed or closed
against inspection and deficient In post
age, many of them contain articles that
are unavailable through the post because
| of customs, regulations and conditions of
the countries to which they are address
ed, or exceed the limit of size and
weight.
All valuable matter to be sent by mail
should be registered. 1t will thus re-
ceive such protection as it is not always
possible to give to matter sent in the or
| binary mails.
Proprietors of hotels should omit the
return request from envelopes supplied
gratuitously to their guests; and guests
using envelopes furnished by hotels,
should be careful to designate what dis
posal should be made Of letters sent by
them in case of non-delivery.
In sending packages and parcels
books, pamphlets, and other articles
by mail, the address should be placed
on the article inclosed as well as on the
wrapper.
Should the wrappers become de-
tached, as they frequently do, through
the handling incident to mail transpor-
tation by sea or land, the address would
sill be known.