The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-26
POSTAL POINTS.

The American people are the most
prolific of correspondence of any people
in the world, and this betokens high
order of intelligence among the people;
| but, notwithstanding this fact
millions of matter finds its way into
! the dead letter office from being INSULT
GENTLY addressed or other reasons. From
an official circular recently issued by the
superintendent of that department of the
postal service of the government the fol-
lowing statement of facts and sugges-
lions are CLEANED that are of special in
terest to all who have occasion to use
the mails and which it will be well to
note carefully:
Over six million pieces of mail matter
are sent annually to the dead letter Office
by reason of incorrect. illegible, or def
cient address, insufficient postage, inse-
cure inclOSing. whereby matter mailed
becomes separated 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.
Packages and parcels are recorded.
and when they do not disclose the name
and address of the owner are filed: if
not called for or claimed within two
years they are disposed of at public auo-
ton and the proceeds covered into the
United States treasury.
A large proportion of the packages and
parcels sent to the dead letter office fail
10 be restored to the owners because of
the absence on the wrappers or inclos-
uTes of anything to Indicate ownership
thereof.
OF the unclaimed and undelivered
mail matter received at the dead letter
office during the past fiscal year. four
hundred and fifty-one thousand were
letters INSTRUCTED, or only partially adj
dressed-that is, not addressed to post
office. or, addressed to a postoffice with
out the state being given, or. addressed
to pOStOtfice not in the state named,
etc.-while twentv-four thousand were
entirely blank, bearing no address what
ever. Among the latter were frequently
found the correspondence of business
men. of which a large portion contained
enclosures of money. drafts. checks. etc
Ninety-eight thousand We're letters to
domestic addresses. "held for postage"
together with letters, etc, addressed to
Canada and Mexico. matter to these |
countries being unavailable except upon |
full prepayment of postage.
Twentyeight thousand contained /
money, amounting in all to S4S.642
Four thousand had Enclosures of postal |
notes in small sums under s., aggregat- !
ing $500.
Twenty-seven thousand were found to |
contain drafts, checks, notes, commercial |
paper, etc, etc. in the sum of S1.471 81, /
while $4,000 contained paid and Cancelled /
receipts evidencing payments /
of money, deed. mortgages, general mis-
cellaueous papers, etc, etc
Five hundred and thirty-one thousand
were letters. and fortv-One thousand par
GELS OF printed matter. samples, etc,
which had been mailed in foreign coun-
tries to postoffices within the United
states and failing Of delivery were sent
to the dead letter Office. and thence re-
turned 10 the postal administrations of
their respective countries Of origin, IN
opened.
Two hundred and five thousand were
letters, and forty-Seven thousand were
parcels, books, samples Of merchandise,
etc
MisdireCtion. incorrect, illegible and
denCfent addresses are gwen as leading
causes which occasion the failure Of mail
matter to reach its proper destination.
and affect alike that which Is 50 address
ed to either city, town or village.
Where mail matter Is addressed to
cities or free delivery Office the street
or house number, or pOst-office box
number Of the person addressed are i'm
portant. and should always be given
it = possible 10 do 30.
Where this can not he done the bust
ness or employment Of the person adj
'ressed, if stated, viii often secure de-
livery.
The name and address Of the sender.
either printed or written. should be
placed upon the upper left hand corner
4 all matter mailed. This will secure I
Il immediate return to the sender from
he mailing Office for correction IL inn
property addressed. insufiiclently paid I
r otherwise defective
Letters and all other matter mailed. 20 !
marked with the name and address Of ,
he sender. that should fail to BE- called
or or delivered % the person addresz.-i
.nd upon which full letter rates Of post !
.ge has teen paid are not sent TO the
lead letter Office, but are returnable 10 /. I