Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-29
RURAL MAIL BOXES
Each Box Used Must Meet Require
ments of New Order.
MUST BE CONVENIENT TO CARRIERS
Conditions to be Met by Manufacture
ers of Boxes and Provisions to be
Followed in Their Erection by Bene.
ficiaries of the Free Delivery.

Residents of Wapello county living
along the rural mail routes will be in
terested to know of the order issued
recently by the, postmaster general, III.
c. Payne, in regard to the boxes to be
used along these routes. This not only
affects the bepeficiaries of the rural
free delivery mail system, but also out
lines the requirements that must be
met by persons or firms proposing to
manufacture boxes for use along these
routes Previous to this order there
lowed to be used by the people along
these routes, but hereafter only boxes
which meet the requirements of the
new order can be installed. According
to the order the boxes must be erected
along the roadside so that the carrier
can have access to them without any
Inconvenience.
The order of the postmaster general
in regard to mail boxes to be provided
by those getting the benefits of the
rural free delivery is set forth in the
following:
office of the Postmaster General,
Washington, d. c., July 8, 1902.
order NO. 739.
Ordered, That in all rural free de-
livery service established on and after
October /, 1902, these requirements
shall be observed.
Each person desiring the rural free
delivery service must erect at his own
cost, and in the manner prescribed by
the regulations of the department, a
box complying with the following speci-
tications:
"Material-All square or oblong
boxes shall be made OF not less than
~ standard gauge 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 riveting to the edges
band iron or steel at Yeast 1-16 inch in
thickness and at least Y inch in width,
or by wiring with at least No. 10 gauge
wire; provided, if box be made of
heavier material than 20 gauge, the
above requirements as to reinforce
ments need not be observed.
Circular, semi-circular or rounding
boxes shall be made of not less than %
gauge iron or steel; provided, however,
that should boxes be made OF black
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 CORFU
eating, bending. curling or wiring with
No. 10 gauge wire of by folding the
metal back upon itself, or by support
ing by riveting to such edges band iron
at least lie inch in thickness and at
least " inch in width.
workmanship boxes must be
made in the best workmanlike 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 riyet-
ed. Covers, lids or incasements shall
be hinged or pivoted in strong, sub.
stantial manner, and edges of same
shall extend down or lap over the mail
holding compartments for 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 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 1Sxex6
inches, if cylindrical, not less than 1S
inches long and inches in diameter
the capacity to be not less than 4SS
cubic inches.
Shape.-Experience has shown that
boxes opening at the side or top are
more convenient than those opening
at the end.
Observation-Disclosures or firms who
propose to manufacture rural mail
boxes shall submit sample of the box
or boxes, together with a 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. 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 conspicu.
Gus place thereon the words "Approy-
ed by the postmaster general"
Boxes thus marked will come under
the protection of that provision of the
act making appropriation for the pos
fiscal year ending June 80, 1903 (ap.
proved April 81, 1902, which reads as
follows:
Whoever shall hereafter willfully
or maliciously injure, tear down or de.
stroy any mail box or other receptacle
Established by order of the postmaster
general or approved or designated by
him for the receipt or delivery of
mail matter on any rural or free deliv.
cry route, or shall break open the
same, or willfully or maliciously in.
jure, deface or destroy any mail mat
ter deposited therein, or shall willfully
take or steal such matter from or out
of such letter box or other receptacle
or shall willfully aid or assist in any
of 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 it without dismount-
f,n, III.