The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1902-10-10
RnraI Free DelIYerY Boxes.


Po-i office Department, Washington,
D G.. July o, 1902. Order No. 739.
ed;-That in all free ruraldelivery
ser,ire established on and after OctO-
ber |, 1902, these requirements shall be
observed:
Each person desiring rural free de-
livery service must erect at his own
cost, and IN the manner prescribed by
the regulations of the department, a
box complying with the following
specifications: = o.
Material.-All square or oblong box
es shall be made of not less than 20
standard gauge sheet iron or sheet
steel, and supported or strengthened
either by folding the metal back on it.
9self, or by riveting to the edges band
iron or steel at least l-l6 inch in thick
ness and at least y 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 as TO reinforce
ments need not be observed
Circular and semi-circular or round
ing boxes shall be made of not less
than 22 gauge iron or steel; provided,
however, 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. Circu-
lar, semi-circnlar or rounding boxes
shall have the openings make SO that
there shall be no unsupported edges;
and edges must be strengthened by Ell
ther corrugating, bending, curling or
wiring with No. 10 gauge wire, or
by folding tue metal back upon Itself, or
by supporting by riveiing to such edges
band iron ut least 1l6 inch in thick
ness, and at least 1s inch in width.
Workmanship.-All boxes must be
made in the best workmanlike manner,
and there must be Ivy joints depending
solely on solder to hold the different
parts together, but all joints must be
either scanned, curled or riyeted. Cow
ers, lids and incasements shall be
hinged or pivoted in a strong, substan-
tial manner, and edges of same shall
extend down or lap over the mail-hold-
ing compartment for a sufficient dis
tance, SO that when closed it will
thoroughly protect the mail from snow
rain or dust under all circumstances.
All exposed parts, such as rivets and
hinges, must be galvanized.
Size The dimensions of rural free
delivery boxes shall be, if a square or
rectangular box, not less than 1916 6
inches; if cylindrical, not less than Is
inches long and 6 inches in diameter,
the capacity to be not less than 48S Gu
bic inches.
Shape. Experience has shown that
boxes opening at the side or top are
more convenient than those opening
at the end.
Inspection. n.-Individuals or firms
who propose to manufacture rural mau
boxes shall submit sample of the box
or boxes, together with sample of the
material of " hich the box is to be COM
posed, to the special agent In charge of
the division in whose territory he may
reside, or in whose territory the factory
may be located, for inspection aud ap-
proval. If 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 conspicuous place thereon
the words Approved by the Postmas-
ter General"
Boxes thus marked will come under
the protection of that provision of the
act making appropriation for the post
al service of the United States for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1908 Tap
proved April 2I, 1902, which reads as
follows:
'Whoever shall hereafter wilfully or
maliciously injure, tear down or destroy
any letter box or other receptacle estab-
lished by the order of the postmaster
general or approved or designated by
him for the receipt or delivery of mail
matter on any rural free delivery route,
or shall break open the same ,or wilfuIly
or malicously injure, deface or destroy
any mail matter deposited therein,
Orshall wilfully take or steal such
matter fromor out of such letter
box or other receptacle, or shall
wilfulIy aid or assist in any 70 the
aforementioned offenses, shall for every
such offense be punished by a fine of
not more than one thousand dollars, or
by imprisonment for not more than
three years.
Each box must be erected by the
roadside, SO that the carrier can easily
obtain access to 1t without dismounting
from his vehicle. The same box must
not be used for more than one family,
except in the case of near relatives or
those residing in the same house.
Persons neglecting to or refusing to
comply with these conditions will be
regarded us not desiring rural free deliv-
4 .
not to serve them.
The IA designated boxes included in
Department order of March %, 1901, as
receiving The approval of the -postmas-
ter general, will be accepted as falling
within the provisions OF the statute as
adove quoted, when contracted for or
erected in good faith prior TO the date
when this order goes into effect but on
and after October /, 1902, the manu-
facturels whose boxes have been here
tofore approved, will be required to
conform to the stipulations herein set
forth as to size, shape, material and
workmanship of boxes supplied by
them.
In all service heretofore established,
and wherein inappropriate, unsafe ana
unsuitable boxes are in use, the depart.
ment will expect that patrons OF rural
free delivery (n0w accepted as perma-
nent feature of the postal service) will
conform as promptly as possible to the
foregoing requirements, II they desire
the continuance of rural free delivery.
Those charged with the administration
of the service will put this order into
effect with firmness, but without undue
haste or harshness.
The order prohibiting postmasters
and carries from assisting in the. selec-
tion of rural mail boxes is modified, to
the extent of permitting them to advise
proposed patrons Of rural free delivery
SO that, in the selection of boxes, they
shall comply with the requirements OF
the department; but they are prohibit
ed from hecoming the agents of any rn-
raj box manufacturer in canvas5ng for
or otherwise aiding in the sale OF any
particular box.
No special agent, route Inspector, or
other officer of the post office service
can be- permitted to act as agent Tor,