Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-08-23
THE RURAL MAIL BOXES
Orders Regulating Them Issued by
P. U. Department.
TO GO INTO EFFECT OCTOBER
How They Shall Be Constructed and How
to Be Placed Along the Roadside for the
Delivery Of the Mail.

OtttNclf VI VIC HoHs
The following order respecting rural
free delivery mail boxes, to go into
effect on October /, 1902, has been is
sued by the Postoffice Department
Each person desiring the rural free
delivery service must erect at his own
cost, and in the manner prescribed by
the regulations of tho Department. a
box complying with the following spec
ifications:
Material All square or oblong box
e shall be made of not less than 20
standard guage sheet iron or sheet
steel, and galvanized, the edges of
which shall be supported or strength
ened either by folding the metal back
upon itself, or by riyeting to the edges
band iron OF steel at least |. 16 inch in
thickness and at least u inch in width
or by wiring with at least No. 10 gauge
wire; provided, if box be made of a
heavier material than 20 gauge, the
above requirements need not be observ-
ed
Circular, semi circular or rounding
boxes shall be made of not less than %
gauge iron or steel; provided, howev-
err, that should boxes be made Of black
iron or steel, and galvanized after
they are made, they shall not be made
Of lighter than "a gauge. Circular,
semi circular or rounding boxes shall
have the openings made so that there
shall be no unsupported edges; and
edges must be strengthened by either
corrugating, bending, curling or wir-
ing with No. 10 gauge wire, or by
folding the metal back upon itself, or
by supporting by riveting to such edg-
es band iron at least lie inch in thick
ness and at least Il inch in width.
Workmanship. All boxes must be
made in the best workmanlike man
ner, and there must be no joints de-
pending solely on solder to hold the
different parts Of the box together,
but all joints must be either scanned,
curled or riveted. Covers, lids or in
easements shall be hinged or pivoted
in strong substantial manner, and
edges of same shall extend down or.lap
over the mailholding compartment
for a sufficient distance, so that when
closed it will thoroughly protect the
mail from rain, snow or dust under
all circumstances. All exposed parts,
such as riyets and hinges, must be
galvanized
Size. The dimensions of rural free
delivery boxes shall be, if n square or
rectangular box, not less than 1Sx6X6
inches; of cylindrical, not less than
Is inches long and inches i'll diane
ter, the capacity to be not less than
1873 cubic inches.
Shape. Experience has shown that
boxes opening at the sioe or top are
more convenient than those opening at
the end.
Inspection. individuals or firms
who propose to manufacture rural rail
boxes shall submit sample of the box
or boxes, together with n sample of
the material of which the box is to be
composed, to the Special Agent in
Charge of the Division in whose terri
tory he may reside, or in whose terri
tory the factory may be located, for
inspection and approval. II said box
or boxes shall be found to conform to
the requirements and specifications of
the Department, the manufacturer Will
be authorized to stencil in IA consuicu-
Gus place thereon the words "ApprOv-
ed bv the Postmaster General.
Boxes thus marked will come under
the protection of that provision of the
Act making appropriation for the Pos
tai Service of the United States for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1903,
approved April 2l, 1902, which reads
as follows;
Whoever shall hereafter willfuIly
or maliciously injure, tear down or de-
strov any letter box or other receptacle
established by order Of the Postmaster
General or approved OF designated by
him for the receipt or delivery of mail
matter on any rural free delivery route,
or shall break open the same, or will
fully or maliciously injure, deface or
destroy any mail matter deposited
therein, or shall willfully take or steal
such matter from or out Of such letter
box or other receptacle or shall willful-