The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-08-22
new ORDER OUT
Specifications for Rural Free
Delivery Boxes.
Patrons Not Having One Of the Pre-
scribed Kind Will Lose
the Service.

The United States Oaicial Postal
Guide for August, just received at
the postofice, contains the order of
the postoffice department in, regard to
approved boxes for rural free delivery,
dated July 9th, 1909.
Each person desiring rural free de-
livery service must erect at his own
cost, and in q manner prescribed by
the regulations of the department, q
box complying with specifications of
the department as Ito quality of the
sheet iron or steel used. etc. Not less
than 30 standard gauge must be used
for square er oblong boxes. and not
less than 90 guage for circular. semi
circular or rounding boxes. ALI boxes
must be made in the best workman
like manner, and there must be no
joints depending solely on solder to
hold the different parts of the box
together, but all joints must be either
scanned, curled or rivited Covers,
lids or easements must be hinged or
pivoted in strong, substantial man
ner. and the edges of same shall ex-
tend down or lap over the mail-hold-
ing compartment for sufficient dis
lance, so that when closed it will
thoroughly protect the mail from
rain, snow OF dust under all circum-
stances All exposed parts, such az
riVets and hinges, must be galvanized.
The dimensions of the boxes shall be.
if square or rectangular, not less than
Is by 6 by 6'inches; if cylindrical, not
less than te inches long and six in
ches in diameter, the capacity to be
not less than 4S8 cubic inches.
Experience has shown that boxes
opening at the. side or top are more
than those opening at
the end.
Manufacturers are required to sub
NIT sample boxes to the special agent
in charge Of the division in whose ter
ritory they may reside for his inspee-
tien and approval. If the boxes are
found to conform to the requirements
and specifications of the department,
the manufacturers will be authorized
to stencil in a conspicuous place
thereon the words "Approved by the
Postmaster General.
Boxes thus marked will come under
the provisions of the law, which
reads as follows:
"Whoever shall hereafter willfully
or maliciously injure, tear down or
destroy any letter box or other re
ceptacle established by order of the
postmaster-g general or approved or
designated by him for the reception or
delivery of mail matter on any rural
free delivery route, or shall break
open the same, or willfully or ma
fnjure. defaee or destroy any
mail matter deposited therein, or shall
take or steal such matter
from or out of such letter box or other
or shall willfully aid or
assist in any of the aforementioned
offenses, shall for every such offense
be punished by fine of not more than
81, 900. or by imprisonment for not
more than three years. 10
Each box must be erected by the
roadside. 80 that the carrier can easily
obtain access to 1t without dismount-
ing from his vehicle. The same box
must not be used for more than one
family, except in the case of near re-
latives or those residing in the same
house.
Persons neglecting or refusing to
comply with these conditions will be
regarded as not desiring rural free de-
livery, and the rural carrier will be
directed not to serve them.
Where the service has been estab-
lished and where inappropriate, IN
safe and unsuitable boxes are in use,
the department expects that patrons
will conform as promptly as possible
to the Observation-Disclosures, if they
desire the continuance of the rural
free delivery.