The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-10-26
RURAL MAIL BOXES.

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RURAL MAIL BOXES.
Must be of Approved Kind in Order to be
" Entitled to Number.
Before a rural mail patron is enti-
tied to a number upon his box it is
necessary that such box be an zap
proved' One-a box that shall com
ply with the requirements of the post
office department., viz:
All square or oblong boxes shall be
made of not less than 20 standard
gauge sheet iron or sheet steel, and
galvanized, the. edges of which shall
be supported or strengthened either by
folding the metal back upon itself, or
by riveting to the edges band iron or
steel at least one-sixteenth inch in
thickness and at least one-half inch in
width, or by wiring with at least No.
10 gauge wire: provided, if a box be
made of a heavier material than 20
gauge, the above requirements as to
reinforcements need not be observed.
Circular, semicircular, or rounding
boxes shall be made of not less than
p gauge iron or steel; provided, how
ever, 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. Cir
cular, semicircular, or rounding boxes
shall have the openings made so that
there shall be no unsupported ed ges;
and edges must be strengthened by
either corrugating, bending, curling,
or wiring with No. 10 gauge wire, or
by folding the metal back upon itself,
or by supporting by riveting to such
edges band iron at least one-sixteenth
inch in thickness and at least one-half
inch in width.
All 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 riveted:
covers, lids, or incasements shall be
hinged or pivoted in a strong sub
stantial manner, and edges of same
shall extend down Or lap over the
mail-holding compartment for a sufi-
cient distance, so that when closed it
will thoroughly protect the mail from
rain, snow, or dust under all circum-
stances. All exposed parts, such as
rivets and hinges, must be galvanized.
The dimensions of rural free deliv-
cry boxes shall be, if square or rec
tangular box. not less than lSx6x6
inches; if cylindrical, not less than is
inches long and inches in diameter,
the capacity to be not less than 4SS
cubic inches.
No box shall be approved for use
on rural routes which is not provided
with an adjustable durable metallic
signal, which, although it may be
comparatively simple and inexpensive,
is so designed and attached as to fully
serve the purpose of Indicating
whether or not there is mail in the
box. ....-
Zach box must be erected by the
roadside, so that the carrier can
easily obtain access to it without dis
mounting from his vehicle, and with
out deviating from the route.
More than one family may be per-
mitted to use the same box; provided.
that written notice of such agreement
between two or more families is filed
with the postmaster of the distributing
Office
Persons neglecting or refusing to
comply with these regulations will be
regarded as not desiring rural free
delivery, and the rural carrier will be
directed not to serve them.
The following inscription only NAV
appear on approved boxes: The name
of owner of box and number. Name
and address of manufacturer, incon-
spicuously placed. The words CAP
proved by the Postmaster General, ,"
gu. S. Mail.'
In all service heretofore estab-
ished, and wherein Inappropriate,
unsafe, and unsuitable boxes are in
use, the department expects that pat
rons of rural free delivery will con-
form promptly to the foregoing re-
quirements if they desire the continu-
ance Of the service.