The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-09-20
The Post Office.

The Post Office.
September %, 1889, the Congress Of
the United States passed an act for the
establishment of a national post Office
system, and that prince of practical men,
Benjamin Franklin was appointed the
first postmaster general. Previously
some of the colonies had made attempts
to provide for postal service. In 1857,
the Virginia legislature passed an act
requiring planters to furnish a man
and horse to forward letters from plan
tation to plantation, under penalty OF
being fined a hOgshead OF tobacco. In
1872, monthly post" was started be-
tween New York and Boston. From
1892 to 1899 the following were letter
postage rates; 80 miles, 6 cents; 60
miles, cents; 100 miles, 10 cents; $50
miles, IL cents; 200 miles, Is cents; $50
miles, II cents; $50 miles, 20 cents; $50
miles, % cents; over $50 miles, Is cents.
These rates were pretty nearly prohib-
itory. In 1916, the rate was reduced to
5 cents for distances under 300 miles;
over that distance 10 cents. In 1850,
the rate was made cents on prepaid let
ters, cents on not prepaid, under 1000
miles; over that distances, double rates.
October Z, 1883, the letter rate was re-
duced to 2 cents for any distance in the
United States. In 1875, the estimate of
the Post Office department indicated a
profit of 100000 on letter mail, but a
loss of $11 100000 on newspapers and
packages. Two out of three post offices
! do not pay expenses of maintenance.
The most rapid development, however,
has been in the railway service. Whole
trains Of specially built cars, similar to
d s'fast mail" on the Burlington Route
i from Chicago to Denver, over a
s thousand miles, fly daily across
:, the country, while a force
: of clerks distribute letters and papers
on the way. The United States mail ser.
: vice bring the whole people into quick
;. comm unication, and we could hardly
exist without it, but the mail is only one
: of many services the railroads render
the people. If you would have at you,
e command the most elegant and comfort
able means of modern travel, purchase
tickets always via the Burlington, O
e any ticket agent, or address W. J. G
|. KENYON, Gen. Pass. Agent, St. Pau
MINI.
" r. F. Mcclellan is jumping into tn
county fair business with determine
ton that everything shall be in frs
u class shape before next Thursday, tn
S. opening day. A force of men is now a
a. work fitting up and charging tn
stock accommoda tions, getting hay O
the grounds for feed, fixing the gran
TO stand, smoothing the track--in fac
i'll everything that needs touching up,
10 getting it in fine form.
ne The school house in district ~, mort
OF town, had a narrow escape from fir
8, Joseph Nokes, who is teaching Their
= found it necessary to fight fire ava
Il. from the house, Friday, Tuesday an
b. Wednesday, The fires rolled throug
IT. the swamps and woods creating hug
ho volumes of dense smoke and destroyir
valuable timber. Another rain
needed.
= Joseph Craig, Of the Roller Mill &c
'eI has been under the eagle eye of DR.. Ia
es- box for a few days. There issan epidem
We of influenza floating around to cat,
Is the unwary and with due deliberate
it nails on to a fellow like the de-
when it has him duly spotted. Lo
lr- out for it and beware Of taking cold.
Is. Notice.
lay Having sold out the flour and fe
she store I want all outstanding accour
a settled without delay.
LEON WHEELER