The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-14

chain which carry them through wooden
compartments heated by hot water pipes.
When the sheets emerge the gum is dry.
and they are ready for the counter. The
thickness OF the coating Is a matter which
h also determined to a nicely. 1t is regu-
lated with regard to atmospheric conditions
In the territory where the stamps are to
be placed on sale. For example, stamps
which go to the humid and hot climate of
the Gulf States are so gummed as to pre-
vent them from sticking together. A differ
ent cumming process Is employed for the
stamps sent to the dry and cold Northern
latitude.
When the stamp sheets are printed. dried
and gummed, they are placed under n.y.
draulic pressure. They are stacked in a
press in piles of a thousand sheets and a
pressure exerted of about forty or fifty
pounds per square inch. The stamps are
then perforated. cut up into blocks of a
hundred stamps, sent to the shipping room,
and are then ready for distribution.
The government has been printing its
own postage stamps since 1894 Previous
to that year the work was done under
contract. Under the present system the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing must
compete for the work with private COM
panies. Last year the competition was
lively, and the bureau won on a very small
margin. The Postofice Department is as
exacting with the bureau as IL would be
with private company.
THE STAMP BOOK.
Every innovation in the service has felt
the impact of prejudice and encountered
that unknown quantity in mankind which
look with dstrust upon anything that is
new. The single exception was the stamp
book which took from the beginning.
When the prepayment of postage was in
troduced in the '40's it was not popular.
People had been in the habit of either
sending their mail by express or letting
the other fellow pay the postage. But
Uncle Sam, once started in the right direc-
ton, refuses to turn aside. He knew that
the prepayment of postage was a step in
the path Of progress and the system was
finally accepted by the people.
For all practical purposes the history OF
postage stamps begins in the United King
dom, and with the great reform of its pos
tai system In 1SS9-40. The use of adhesive
stamps in the United States was author
lied by an act of Congress approved
March 8, 1S47, and on June 1, 1856, prepay
| ment by stamps was made compulsory
| Until 1868 the rates of postage were based
| upon the distances over which the mails
were conveyed. In 1886 these rates were
| not exceeding 800 miles, cents; exceed
| ing 300 miles, 10 cents In 1851 the rates
were reduced to cents for distances not
exceeding 1900 miles. and 10 cents for dis.
tances exceeding 5000 miles, In 1868 a uni
4 form rate of Docfape without ro0ard 70 d;S
| lance was fixed at cents and on Oct /
| 1883, excepting, however, lottery matter
coins, jewelry. merchandise, etc., the rate
was reduced to cents. Now the people
want penny postage.
Formerly postage stamps were very sim
| pie in design. The series authorized about
a year ago are more elaborate than any
| every before issued by the government
They are more ornate, and carry the year
| of birth and death of the subject. This
| gives them an educational value which
they did not possess in former years. The
| portrait of but two women have graced
the stamps of Uncle Sam. The cheerful
| countenance OF Martha Washington ap.
| pears on one Of the last series and that OF
! Queen Isabella. Of Spain. on an issue
| authorized at the time of the Chicago
| worlds fair.
The stamp book attains great popularity
as the public becomes more familiar with
them. 1t is in demand in every city In
the United States and calls for them are
coming from the Philippines. Porte Rice
and Hawaii The sale of the books is in.
/ creasing at the rate of 100000 a month
| Since introducing the stamp the govern
| ment has made $15OO0O in the fractional
| profits IT receives on each book.
The insular possessions are beginning t
draw upon the government for large ship
ments Of stamps. The Philippines tax,
/ about s6.0oo.oo0 a year and Hawaii and
Porto Rico each about s3.5OO,0Oo a year.
| j. Z. NJ.