The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-10-04
MAIL BOXES
ALMOST ANY KIND OF REcEP-
TAcLE WILL DO.
Patrons of Country Postal Service Can
Make Their Own, So Long as They
Conform to the Required
Specifications.

Washington. From recent discus
sion upon the subject and statements
which have appeared in the public
press relative to the amendment
which was proposed In the senate to
the bill making appropriation for the
service of the post Office department
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907,
wherein 1t is proposed that patrons Of
rural delivery could make their own
mail boxes Of metal or of wood, it
would seem that there is a general
misunderstanding concerning the re-
quirements Of the post Office depart
ment applicable to rural delivery
boxes.
The order Of the postmaster general
now in force which requires patrons
OF rural delivery to supply themselves
with suitable boxes provides that all
rural mail boxes shall be made Of gal
vanized sheet iron or steel, of certain
designated thicknesses for boxes OF
various sizes and styles, the minimum
size box being indicated, the boxes to
be made in a workmanlike manner
end weatherproof, and to be submitted
to division superintendent Of rural
delivery or post office inspector in
charge for examination for approval
Inquiry at the department developed
the fact that under the provisions of
this order patrons of the service may
make boxes for their own use, pro-
vided such boxes conform to the re-
quired specifications and are submit
ted for examination and approval.
The allegation that there is a monop-
oily in the manufacture and sale Of
boxes which have been approved for
use on rural routes is not founded on
fact, as the postmaster general has APP
proved for 1893 individuals and firms
manufacturing boxes 299 different
styles of boxes, varying in price from
80 cents to four dollars each, the aver
age price being about one dollar each,
and there is great competition among
manufacturers for this business
Long before the matter was taken
up by congress, and as far back as the
early part of March, 1906, the depart
ment had under consideration the mat
ter Of amplifying and amending the
previous order which had been issued
pertaining to the manufacture Of rural
mail boxes, so that any patron who de-
sired could make OF have made for his
individual use box conforming to the
requirements by submitting the plan
OF such box and sample Of material OF
which Ii is to be constructed, or the
box itself, to the postmaster at post
Office located at a county seat for APP
proval, and If the box should be found
to conform to the specifications of the
department, the owner would be auA
thorized to imprint on the box the
words, Approved by the Postmaster
General"
BY this plan the expense heretofore
entailed upon the maker Of an indi-
vidual box In forwarding rural mail
box to a division superintendent of
rural delivery or post Office inspector
in charge for examination and APP
proval will be obviated
IL is proposed 70 issue an dmeHud-
tory order embodying these sugges-
tions within a few days 1t should be
stated, however. that patrons who avail
themselves of the privilege Of making
their own boxes, or having same made
to order, must conform to the specit-
cations as to material, size and man
ner of construction required IN the
original order