The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-24
POSTAL CARDS, NEW STYLE.
Effects of the Law Allowing Them to
be Printed by Individuals.
New York Sun.


On Dec. j, 1897. the Postofice Department
in Washington entered into a four years
contract for the printing of its postal cards.
which are made at Piedmont. ~. Va. and
cost the government fraction less than
"A cents a thousand United States postal
cards under the contract are of three kinds
the common card. three and a quarter by
five and half inches. the weight of which
is six pounds three ounces per thousand;
the double postal card, containing a printed
flap for an answer. the weight of which is
exactly double that OF the regular card and
the small single postal card, which is three
by five inches, the weight OF which is five
pounds per thousand. The contract price for
these last is 20 cents thousand For the
double or reply postals IL is AZ cents thou
sand.
AS. according TO the estimates of the
Postoffice Department, the previous con-
tract was let at bedrock price, and as the
new contract was let at an even smaller
price, whereby the government expects To
save 5000 year in printing, il might
naturally be supposed that there was no
very active demand among printers for a
chance TO print postal cards for profit, even
II such activity was authorized by federal
statute. Under a law passed by the last
Congress, however. the printing of postal
cards is no longer. TO speak. govern
who find business somewhat dull and whose
Office facilities are not overtaxed are going
into the printing OF private postal cards,
so-called- The size fixed by law is three and
a quarter by five and half inches, and the
weight six pounds three ounces 10 the thou
sand. In color they must be white, cream,
light gray or light buff. while on the face
must be the words. Private mailing card,
authorized by act of Congress May 10. 1895.
and in the upper right-hand corner must be
left a space with the words. Place stamp
here"
The occupation or business of the adj
dreSSee briefly stated is allowable on the
address side. The practical effect of this
change is TO increase the governments reve-
nue. and at the same time enlarge the dis
semination OF postal cards. The govern
ment's revenue is increased because the
users of private postal cards pay the same
price for circulating a card printed by them
selves as they would pay for circulating a
postal card printed by the government. The
government makes the difference. The dis
seminatiOn of postal cards is enlarged by
the new law because previously II was
necessary for printers to buy postal cards
in bulk and then print upon them the adj
new system inaugurated printers can print
cards and the advertisements upon them
simultaneously, with manifest advantage in
symmetry and appearance, at least, for IL
issued by the government are OF cheap ma
terial and after having been exposed TO at
mOspheric influences deteriorate so that
printing does not take well upon them. The
paper stock upon which government cards
are printed is made of 50 per cent. of sui
phite-bleached spruce fiber. OF % per cent.
of bleached poplar fiber and of per cent. OF
English clay. The contract provides further
that in case is there to be a water finish
TO the paper, and the weight is regulated
more than % 900 postals TO be delivered i'm
one package TO the government
The estimated number of postal cards re-
quired by the government during the four
years of the present contract is 2015Ooo.ooe.
of which 20,009,0oo are double or reply pos
tails. By the printing of private postal cards
the number manufactured for public
will be still further extended.