The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-02-19
u. S, MAIL MATTERS.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE POSTAL
LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
Also Some of the Difficulties and
Trials Of the United States
Postal officials.
THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE.


Postal Officials.
THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE.
The superintendent of the Dead Let
ter Office at Washington, D. c., has
been trying to devise means to lessen
the great stream constantly flowing
into his department.
Most of the work of this great
morgue is caused either by carelessness
or ignorance on the part of the public.
Over six million pieces of mail matter
are sent annually to the Dead Letter
Office by reason of incorrect, illegible
or deficient address, insufficient post
age, insecure inclosing, whereby mat
ter mailed becomes separated from the
envelope or wrapper, or the failure to
be called for or delivered to the per-
son 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 addressed, or in case of free
delivery offices, the addresse can not
be found, notwithstanding every known
means is resorted to on the part of the
postal officials to effect delivery. A
large portion OF packages and parcels
sent to the Dead Letter Office failed
to be restored to the owners because of
the absence Of anything to indicate
ownership thereof. or 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 misdirected,
or only partially addressed-that is,
not addressed to a postoffice, or adj
dressed without the name of the State
being given, or addressed to 4 post
Office not in the State named, etc.
while twentyfour thousand were en-
tirely blank, bearing no address what
ever. Among the latter were found
the correspondence of business men,
of which a large portion contained
enclosures of money, drafts, checks,
etc. Twenty-eight thousand contained
money amounting in all to S48,645.
Four thousand had enclosures of postal
notes in small sums under S., aggre-
eating S4,3o Twenty-seven thous-
and were found to contcin drafts,
checks, commercial paper, ETC., in the
sum of s1,471,S71, while forty eight
thousand contained paid and cancelled
obligations, receipts evidencing pay
ment of money, deeds, mortgages,
general miscellaneous papers, ETC., etc.
Forty one thousand contained photog-
raphs, one thousand contained articles
forbidden to be transmitted through
the mails, and eleven thousand, on be-
ing opened, were found to contain lot
terry tickets, which under the terms of
the law are declared unmailab bic. One
hundred and sixty-two thousand con-
tanned postage stamps, and were en-
closures to secure return answers to the
correspondence which they accompan-
led, or were the remittances in pay
ment of small balances, or accom-
panying orders for small Purchases
of merchandise, subscriptions, etc.
Misdirection, incorrect, illegible and
deficient address is given as leading
causes which occasion the failure of
mail matter to reach its proper desti-
nation, and affect alike that which is
SO addressed to either city, town or
village.
Every business man, at least, should
learn the distinction made between
various mailable articles and the post
age on same. There are four classes
of mail matter divided as follows:
FIRST CLASS MATTER.
Letters and all other written matter,
whether sealed or unsealed, and all
other matter, sealed, sewed, tied or
fastened in any manner, SO that it can
not be easily examined. Postage on
frst-class matter is two cents per ounce
or fraction thereof Postal cards one
cent each but are unavailable with any
writing on the address side, except the
direction, or with anything pasted upon
or attached to them. Drop letters re-
quire postage at the rate of two cents
for each ounce or fraction thereof at
letter carrier offices, and one cent a,
all other offices.
In addition to other Objectionable
matter which cannot be written on a
postal card, a recent act of Congress
forbids denunciations and threats
thereon.
SECOND CLASS MATTER.
This embraces all newspapers and
all other periodical publications. The
postage on second-class matter is one
cent per pound. Newspapers and
neutrality-suspicious. Of second
class-when sent by other than the
publisher or newsdealer, at the rate Of
one cent for each four ounces or frac.
ton thereof. Papers of the second
class can be distributed IN the county
where printed and published free, pro
vided they are not delivered at letter
carrier offices or distributed By
carriers.
THIRD CLASS MATTER.
Miscellaneous printed matter, sucl
as printed books, pamphlets, circulars
engravings, photographs, etc. The rat'
Of postage on matter of the third clas
is one Cent for each two ounces O
fraction thereof. By an act of lat
Congress seeds, bulbs, and cuttings Ar
mailed at third class rates.
| FOURTH CLASS MATTER.
Merchandise of all kinds. and every