Arizona republican., 1908-06-01
DEAD LETTER MUSEUM
 IN P. 0. DEPARTMENT

Nogales. May %, Special cores pondence of The Republican.-Seldom a day passes that some stranger does not visit the Dead Letter museum, and after several hours of inspection fails in his attempt to find some article that he may have missent at some previous time. Were it anything of value it would probably be arranged along the shelves of articles that go to make up the curious collection in the museum, but were it book 1t would probably be on the shelf of the library, and to that place he would direct his steps only to be thwarted in his attempts. as he could not have recognized it among so large a num- ber of books.
 The history of the library is one of interest, and will prove no doubt. at tractive- to those who have never seen it or enjoyed its privileges.
 It was originally a library of refer ence for the benefit of the officials of the postoffice department, as it con tained a full history of congress from the proceedings of the first day to the
 
 well as the history of the organization of the office of auditor of the treasury for the postoffice department. But, in 1887, when Mir. Villas was postmas- ter general, an order was issued to the effect that all books sent through the mails, and unclaimed instead of being disposed Of at public auction, should be placed in the library. and permis- sion granted the clerks to use them, since which time it has been the source of great pleasure to many who heretofore derived no benefit what ever Every year there are received about two hundred and fifty books. for which no claimants are found, and after a careful inspection has been made, those suitable for a library are retained, -and the remainder sold at the annual sale of dead letter effects
 There are many books of rare valGe on it's shelves. noticeable among which is the original manuscript journal cf Hugh Finlay. the first postoffice in spector from 1773 to 1774, and also surveyor of post roads. It was offer ed to the department by MT. Frank H. Norton, of the AstOr Library. New York, for S2500O and accordingly ac- cepted, and purchased by Mir. St John F. L. Skinner then first assis ant postmaster general, on March 12, 1869. It contains a detailed account of all his dOings, together with maps of the routes he travelled over, said maps having been artistically drawn with a pen, and also states the time of de- or+r of He for all foreign points. The whole is bound in sheep-skin and is in a re- markedly fine condition.
 Another valuable book is the fac simile of the original manus' ript Jf the ledger of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who was postmaster general in f17S. According to an account by Mir W " Cox, formerly sixth auditor, every word, figure, and mark was written by Benjamin Franklin and all accounts were kept in pounds, shillings and pence, each state having its own cur | rency. The book is very old. singular | and valuable, and was rescued from the flames, when the postOffica build ing was burned in 1863, by Mir. COX himself, and is now on file in the of- | AiNN VI NA4N 'I-N LII cluhitDls tlS t part I the archives. It is curious and inter esting relic, being prefaced by a con | else and very interesting manuscript sketch of the early history of postal | affairs in this country, under the Colonies, the Confederacy. and the Federal Government, covering the De- riod from 1753 to 1895.
 There is also a Autograph of very interesting autograph letter from eBn- jamin Franklin to Humphrey Marshall at Chester County, Pa, dated London. l April 22, 1771, and in the clear perfect and bold handwriting of Dr. Franklin. | and is one of the greatest curiJsitie; to be found in Washington or else where.
 Besides the above mentioned relics. the following are also numbered among the collection: Complete files of the American, and the Annual cy- clopediaes, The Rebellion Records. The National 1ntelligencer. Niles Weekly
 Register, American Newspaper Direc- | tories, Official Reports of all the de- partments. The United States Blue Book, from 1916, when 1t was first published in one volume of eighty | eight pages, to the present edition of
 two volumes of twelve hundred pages ! each, Colonial Records of Maryland
 and Connecticut. The Life of nearly
 every president, State papers of Wash ington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison ' Monroe, and Hamilton, Lippincotts
 Gazetteer of the of the United States and also of the world.
 The author of this article was I resident of Washington for over four : teen years, and during this time he