The sun., 1895-04-21
9th Avenue, 18th to 10th St.
WILL CARRY LETTERS NO MORE.
Wells. Fargo a. Co. Abandous n Once I'm
portant Branch Of It's business.

Wells, Fargo a. Co. Abandons n Once I'm
portant Branch of It's Business.
The announcement was made In San Francisco
yesterday that Wells. Fargo 4; Co. would dis
continue the business of letter carrying which
the company has conducted In connection with
its regular express business for many years.
This action revives old-tim recollections and
at the same time sewers another link with the
past and puts u period to conditions which,
though prevalent only a generation ago in this
country, seem already in the light of rapid de-
velopment TO be historical "reminiscences. 1t re-
calls the days OF the pony express when the
company got $3.50 for carrying u letter from
the East to the Pacific slope in nine days. half
steamers. and 25 cents for carrying letter half
dozen miles along the Gomst9ck silver lode.
Cy HE eve W.s% % Fargo o'G company ana mntcpaed
the Post Office Department in the free collection
and delivery oflctters and between trans Missis-
sippi settlements when mails were sent out per-
haps once day the express company despatched
letters by every traii and gave TO the business
communities the advantages OF prompt cor
II was in 1859 that Congress passed a law
letters In Government stamped envelopes. Tho
Government derived its revenue. tho same as in
the ordinary postal business, from the stamps.
The express company bought from the Govern
ment such quantities Of the stamped envelopes
from time TO time as were required. and got
price. For instance, tho company would
huy the stamped envelopes al TWO cents,
pace upon them next TO the Govern
ment stamp the company's stamp. and sell
them At i've cents The company then would
carry letters enclosed In them collecting them
from drop. boxes placed at different points In the
business sections OF the towns. and delivering
them In the business districts OF other towns
The system was not extended to the re. identa
neghborhoods. Tho business never grew to
large proportions east of Kansas City. the post al
facilities of the East being sufficient for the
community's needs. but it was Of great inn
portance in the development Of the business OF
the Pacific coast, particularly during tho first
fifteen Yeas.
John j. Valentine, tho President OF Wells,
Fargo d Co., is in the city at present He said
to a Sun reporter yesterday:
The improvement OF the general postal sys-
tenn from year to year las rendered our letter
carrying business Of constantly decreasing i'm
pOrtance, and we have decided to discontinue IL
In this country. We shall continue il in Mex
leo whcro IL is still OF value TO the cummuni-
ties. IL has been OF small pecuniary interest to
us of late years. but one Of the important rea-
sons Tor htoppng II Is TO preclude the possibility
OF the lottery companies making use Of those
facilities for the distribution Of their literature
Although VIC never have made any business OF
carrying letters in the East. we have brought
letters to Eastern cities, and We have reason 10
believe that some OF the lottery people were
conducting their operations 10y this means, 50
told our MANAGER To stop the letter carry ng.
We thought this would be more In conformity
with the spirit OF the Anti-lOttsry act of Con-
gress, to which We desire to give support"
Tht.a u.u.s.. 1p.k,n.