The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-05
MAILS 200 YEARS AGO.
There Was Difficulty in Transporting
Letters in Early Colonial Days.

From the Postal Record.
Intercourse between the American
colonies, previous to 1893, was so slight as
not to call for special facilities or regular
lines. In urgent cases special messengers
were sent, but the bulk of correspondence,
such as it was, went by friends, especi-
ally in COaStwise vessels. The first idea
for postal line along the coast
from New England to the
Carolinas originated in New York. and
was approved by their lordships in Lon
don, provided at least One-tenth Of the
gross receipts were paid over to the Duke
Of York. OF course the plan failed Be
fore there could be any gross receipts
somebody had to pay for post riders to
travel those long roads from Nova Scotia
to Carolina, of which the great men in
London expected profits for the duke
Not to mention other schemes, Andrew
Hamilton of East Jersey had occasion to
90 to London in consequence of the
Andres troubles He was far
sighted man, and while he was in London
patent for an American postof1ee was
issued to Thomas Neale, and Andrew
Hamilton was appointed American post
master general, an appointment so happy
that after lapse Of two centuries we
ought to be thankful for it. Hamilton, the
father of the American postoflice was
Very wise man and he was successful. He
had nothing to start with other than the
patent, which gave him a monopoly, but
might arouse the opposition of the colonies
and their local postmasters. He had to
select post route through a country very
little Travelled. He had to engage trUsty
mail carriers. He had to buy horses and
the regulation horns for his post riders.
He had to replace the local pOstOtficeS
and he had to get the consent OF each col
ony for his postage rates. Late in the
summer of 1892 he returned from London
to America, where he Travelled from col
ony to colony, getting from each what he
could in the way of subsidies and law, and
then starting his mail service.
jealousy between the colonies was
great, the prejudice against strangers was
greater and distrust of suggestions from
the mother country was greatest. Ham
nton overcamc all obstacles; he actually
induced all colonies to pass substantially
the same postoffice act, prescribing the
same postage rates; he obtained from
each colony what authority he required
and in 1898 the mail was carried from
Portsmouth, n H., then known as
Piscataqua, to Philadelphia, and be-
yond. It has been carried ever since
with but accidental interruptions. The
mail route was from Portsmouth TO Bos-
ton, Saybrook, New Haven, New York,
Perth Amboy, Burlington and Philadel-
phia. The chief point beyond was New
Castle. The question may be well asked,
which was the greater achievement,
TO create this service or to get Pennsyl-
Yania. New York and Massachusetts, not
tomention the other colonies, TO be OF one
mind in renoUncing local rights and local
OLlceS, to agree on apOStal system that ala
not exist, and to promise money to carry
the enterprise into effect? Neither be-
lore nor after 1898 has there been a like
triumph in all American legislation. The
greatest of these Hamilton acts IS the
massachusetts law of June 9, 1893, which
provides even for the receiving stamp to
be put on all mail matter; but the most
important perhaps, is the Pennsylvania
act, passed on May 80, 1893, at Philadel-
phla. The reason for this statement IS
the fact that the Massachusetts, act was
qlsallowed by their lordships in
London, while the Pennsylvania
act was not subject tC superior
approval. Virginia, New York and Con-
necticut passed similar acts: New Hamp-
snlre helped. If date for the great bi-
centenary Of the American pOstoflcc
must be named, May so appears to be the
most appropriate, the earlier steps being
preliminary, while the Pennsylvania act
assured the success of Hamilton's plan,
and was promptly followed by the
post-riders making their regular
weekly trips between Portsmouth ana
philadelphia. If there is to be general
celebration it ought to be in the latter
city. Hamilton deserves a monument,
which ought 10 stand in front OF the
Philadelphia postofiice More than any
one thing, Hamilton's poStofice served 10