The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-03
BOUND OVER TO THE GRAND JUR
Why Letters Are Lost.

Much OF the mail matter that reaches
the dead letter office Is due to incor-
rect, illegible or deficient addresses, in
sufficient postage or Insecure closing OF
the matter, making a daily average or
over 10000 pieces. A large proportion OF
the matter sent TO the dad letter office
fails TO be restored to the senders be-
cause OF the absence on wrappers or In
closures OF anything to indicate OWNER
ship. or the Letters which read the dead
letter office many are sent 10 fictitious
addresses. and are principally correspond
snce relating to green goods" or saw
dust" swlndles. Many of these contain
money, with orders for the purchase OF
tho fraudulent goods. Improper ad-
dresses or no addresses at all send many
a. valuable missive TO Uncle Sans offi-
cial graveyard.
A large number of letters do not contain
the signatures OF the writers, who, for
various reasons, use initials or names by
which they are known only TO the persons
for whom the letters ars intended. As a
means toward preventing these mistakes
the department makes the following sug-
gestons.
Mall matter should be plainly and cor
rectly addressed. the name OF the post
office TO which IL IL TO be sent should be
clearly and distinctly stated, and the
name of the state should be given In full;
in every case where II IL possible TO DO
SO, and In many cases where II is known
the place Of employment OF 2 person ,aG as
Letters addressed TO persons temporarily
sojournng in "A city where the letter car
rier system is In operatp should be
marked transient" and the name ana
address OF the sender written or printed
on the wrapper
In mailing packages TO foreign countries
II Is recommended that the sender con
suit their postmastsrs respecting condi-
tions OF mailing. and also that hotel pro.
prietors should omit the return request
from enysoPsSSs n6 supPdin in 20 sssnder seds either
printed or written. should he placed s1on
the upper LEFT hand corner OF the en-
velope or wrapper OF all matter mailed
Letters and all other ma ttsr mailed, -
marked with the name and address Of the
sender, that should fail to be called for or
delyersd TO , the ,ps person -,teS es 5os,sTs %
has been paid. arc not sent 10 the Dead
Letter office, but are returnable 20 the
sender directly-without additional charge
and with the reason Of non-dellvery IN
dDrsed therton. The above suggestions
in respect 20 the return OF unclaimed and
undelivered mail matter directly TO the
fers only TO ittters and other mail mat
ter upon which full letter. postage has
been paid. Packages ana all matter
mailed at less than letter rates Of post,
age. should. in addition 10 the name and
address OF the sender upon the envelopc
or wrapper, bear In connection herewith
non-delivcry IN which case II r. also re.
turnnbie directly 20 the sender from the
postoffloe addressed. charged with return
ID stage at the rate required for the class
~ matter 20 which 70 belongs.
The distinction under the postal regu-
iations. as regards the return of uncl-'rIi-
cd and undelfvercd matter, is that letters
and other matter prepaid az full letter
rates are retuInable free, whereas mat
ter mailable at less than letter postage
requires tho payment OF return postage
Presbyterian Banner.