The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-11-14
FACTS ABOUT THE POSTAL
SERVICE

l.
be given a brief synopsis of Post
aster Moorhead's talks to the school
c1ildren of Keokuk on the postal
service, including the classification
Of mail matter, rates of postage and
other information of like character OF
practical value.
Classificatio of Mail Matter: Mall
able matter is divided into four class.
es, to-wit: First, written matter; Sec
ond, periodical publications.; third,
miscellaneous printed matter; fourth,
merchandise. Postage on all mail
matter must be prepaid by stamps at
the time of mailing
The present article will deal exclu-
sively with first class mail matter,
which includes all written matter, all
matter closed against inspection, and
all matter, though printed, which has
tle nature Of actual and personal cor
respondence, except that certain writ.
ing or printing may be placed upon
matter OF tae second, third and fourth
classes without increasing the rate.
Letters, United States postal cards,
post cards manufactured by private
persons and all matter wholly or part.
| ly in writing, whether sealed or
unsealed, belong In this class.
The rate Of domestic postage on
this class is two cents for each ounce
or fraction. The limit of weight is
four pounds. United States postal
cards are one cent each. Post cards
of the same material and approx.
mately the same size, quality of paper
and weight, are one cent each.
A post card made of other
material, leather for instance,
will go through the mails for
one cent provided there Is no writing
on it. If there is writing on 1t the
postage on such card is two cents.
Post cards with tinsel on them must
be enclosed in unsealed transparent
envelopes and the stamp placed on the
envelope. If there is no writing on
the card the postage is one cent Writ
ing on it subjects such card to two
cents postage.
All mail matter of the first class
upon which one full rate of postage
has been prepaid will be forwarded tc
it's destination, charged with the I'M
paid rate, which will be collected or
delivery. If any mail matter, or
which by law the postage is required
to be prepaid at the mailin,5 office, by
inadvertance reaches its destination
without any prepayment, double the pre-
paid rates are charge! and collected
on delivery No matter except tina
which is wholly unpaid is rated witt
double postage. Prepaid letters are
forwarded from one postoffice to an
, other, at the request Of the party al
dressed, without additional charge
for postage. The same is true of par
cells fully prepaid at the first elias!
rate, postal cards and post cards. Blu
postal cards and post cards are no
returned to the sender when unde
liverable.
. Stamps on letters should always b,
placed on the upper right-hand corner
and should be securely affixed The.
are cancelled by machinery and mus
be so placed to be cancelled by thu
machine If placed elsewhere the let
ter SO stamped will be laid aside to b.
: cancelled later by hand, and may no
get out of the mailing office on frs
delivery or first train, as the case ma.
be. All letters should bear on tn
upper left-hand corner what is know
as return card" Similar to what 1
printed on the envelopes supplied b.
/ the government: After - days return
} to -" This will ensure it
return to writer in case delivery i
not possible. Otherwise it will b
A sent to the dead letter office in Wash
: ington. First class matter bearing
/ return card, if not deliverable, will b
returned at the expiration of the tim
t indicated on the envelope or wrapper
: If no time is set for return the matte
5 will be returned at the end of thirt
: days. The sender has the right t
lengthen or shorten tde time set b
subsequent direction to the postmas
n ter but the matter must remain in tn
postoffice for delivery at least tire
: days.
Mail matter should be addressed leg
IDLY and completely. The name of tn
: addressee, the postoffice and the stat
must be given. If the addressee re
sides in city having free deliver
the house number and street, or tn
postoffice box, if known, should b
L given If the addressee resides on
d rural free delivery route the numbe
of the route, if known, should b
n given If the matter is intended fC
J. delivery through the general deliver
t at the postoffice the words "Gener;
i Delivery" should be added.
n Hotel matter-that is, matter az
J. dressed for delivery at hotels, shoul
h be returned to the postoffice as 500
J. as it is evident that it will not
e claimed Proprietors of hotels, off
y GERS of clubs, and boards of trade an
: exchanges should not hold unclaime
!. letters longer than ten days except ;