Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-31


$3.50. This metallic box is one of the
boxes that has the approval of the
postmaster general and hence comes
under the protection of the federal
statutes as set out in the circular pub
lished herewith. The routes in this
county and district have been equipped
in the manner desired by the post
office department and the protection
of these boxes by the federal author
tiles is matter of the greatest impor-
lance. Any infringement of the law
should be reported at once to F. M.
Hunter, u. S. commissioner, Ottumwa,
and to the postmaster at the points
where the routes originate. The Off
cial circular follows:
W. NJ johnson,
First Asst. P. M. General.
In your reply please refer
to initial and number.
RURAL. 81
Post Office Department
First Assistant Postmaster General
Office Of Supt. Free Delivery System,
Washington.
Sir:-The following information is
given for your guidance in regard to
delivery boxes on rural free delivery
routes:
l. Congress has not authorized the
department to require the adoption OF
any particular description of box for
use on rural free delivery routes.
ii. For the proper protection of
the mails, the department insists that
: the boxes put up shall be secure and
appropriate and of a character to give
protection from the weather and to
be reasonable proof against mischiey
GUS or malicious interference. Me-
tallic boxes are deemed best for this
purpose and it is desired, tho not i'm
|! peritively required. that they should
-gbe of uniform make.
-. III. Such boxes, when put up with
the approval of the postmaster gen
eral, thru his authorized agents. are
regarded as falling under the protec-
tion of Section 1856, United States Re-
yised Statutes (Section 1924 of the
postal laws and regulations), which
provides that:
ANY person who shall wilfully or
maliciously injure, deface or destroy
any mail matter deposited in any let
ter box, pillar box, or other receptacle
established by authority of the post
master general" shall be liable to a
fine of not more than $500 and i'm
prisonment for not more than three
years.
". Postmasters are instructed to
call the attention of the United States
attorney for the district to any viola
ton of this provision of law, and to
aid in the discovery and prosecution
Q. the offender.
Very respectfully,
w. NJ Johnson,
First Assistant Postmaster General.
Examination of Rural Mail Boxes.
Postmaster Waite, of Burlington,
has received the following order from
the postmaster general:
Washington, ID. c., Jan -, 1901.
Ordered, That H. Conquest Clarke
chief special agent, rural free deliy.
cry; E. H. Hathaway, special agent
in charge eastern division; A. S. Eli
senbower supervisor second district
rural free delivery; Milton Schaeffer
postmaster, Winchester, Maryland
and j. l.. Waite, postmaster Burling.
ton, Ia, be and the same hereby are
appointed a committee to examine and
report upon such boxes for use on
rural free delivery routes as may be
submitted to the department on or be
fore February Is, 1901. AS soon
thereafter as practicable this commit
tee will submit to me list of the
boxes which in its judgment best meet
4, the requirements of the service.
Signed. Charles Emory Smith
Postmaster General
The Burlington Hawkeye says al
rural mail csrriers. and the patrons
and the public generally, are invited
to make suggestions, and send to Mr.
Waite plans and designs for rural
mail boxes. The inventive genius O
the American people ought to evolve
the ideal rural mail box. The dimen
sions ought to be about 16x6x6 inches
1t is probably the purpose of the de
partment TIC secure something like
uniformity of size, style and materia
and the most convenient arrangement
for the carrier and patron.