Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-10
MAKING The MAILS SURER
Postmaster Thomas Offers Suggestions
to Patrons Of the Post.
GENERAL POSTAL INFORMATION
COmmonest Errors Made by People
Who send Letters, and How n
Great Deal of Trouble
May BE Avoided.

the problems presented by the postal serv-
ice, and makes these suggestions to the
public as tending to make the service
better:
Patrons of the Omaha postoffice expect
and rightfully expect a large measure Of
efficiency from the men who handle their
mail. but, on the other hand, they should
not forget their duty in relation to the
postofficc, or fail TO appreciate the fact
that in so complex a machinery. requiring
instant decision In handling so many thou
sands Of pieces of mail, mistakes must
necessarily occur. That q vast majority
of the errors are due to no fault OF the
postal employees, is evidenced by the fact
that each month an average of 5000 letters
J are sent to the dead letter office as hope
| lessiy unbelievable. or r~eturnaole, and
this, only after the most patient scrutiny
and effort to discover either the ADDRESSED
i or the sender.
1.-THE matter Of properly addressing an
} envelope and preparing It for the mail
1 would seem simple enough not to require
special instruction, but as this Is one
Of the most serious handicars to a perfect
working OF the system It cannot be too
thoroughly drilled into the public mind.
Mistakes in this regard are of two kinds
Ono in which the employee of the postal
service is simply made extra labor, and
| hindered in. his work, and the letter prob
ably DELAYED IN transmission, and the
other where the mistake Is such as to
make the delivery entirely impossible.
Among the first class may be mentioned
the fad Of putting the stamp on the en-
velope on the lower left hand corner, in
the center, near the top, or ON the back.
This results, in the Omaha postoffice,
where a machine Ii used to cancel stamps,
in obliging the clerk to use a hand stamp;
It Furthermore requires careful watching
of each letter, whereas II the public could
be depended upon to gut stamps on always
in the same place, all this loss of time.
trouble and care could be avoided. In the
country postoffice, where a hand stamp
is used, this failure TO put the stamp on
in the light place probably results In the
postmaster pounding his thumb in an I'M
T. conscious, last moment effort to reach the
misplaced stamp with the iron dater.
Prepayment OF Postage.
"A frequent cause of delay and trouble
Is insufficient postage. Mail matter is d.
yided into four classes. First-class In
oludes written matter and matter closed
against inspection, and the rate of postage
is 2 cents for each ounce or fraction
thereof. Limit of weight, four pounds.
Domestic rates Of postage apply alike to
Canada, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, Great
Britain and Germany.
patrons should avoid the common mis-
take OF putting third or four-class matter
with the flrst-class matter, and forgetting
that this subjects the whole package to
first-class rates. ANY form of writing.
whether by hand. typewriter, carbon or
letter press, subjects the matter to first
class rates. Accurate scales can be pur-
chased very cheaply, but in their absence
there is no safe rule to follow, except In
case of doubt, put on another stamp.
Postal cards, whether issued by the gov
eminent or by private individuals, are first
class matter. and the postage is 1 cent
each. Cards bearing particles of glass,
mica, metal, sand. tinsel or other similar
substance are unavailable, except when en-
closed in envelopes.
1.-THE rate for second-class matter Is /
cent for each four ounces or fraction
thereof and applies only so far as the pub
lie is concerned to newspapers. There is
no limit as to weight. but patrons should
be certain before mailing a package OF
newspapers that the wrapper has on It
sufficient postage, as without It the pack
age will not be forwarded. Care should
also be exercised not to have the mucilage
duutlN 81 bo ~ pA'NNhN NHN
removed, as this subjects 1t to first-class
rates.
1.-THE rate Of postage for third-class mat
ter is l cent for each two ounces or frac-
ton thereof-the limit of weight is four
pounds except 1t be a single book-and in
cludes books. newspapers. periodicals. cir
culars. printed matter not personal corre-
spondence. proof sheets, corrected proof
sheets, manuscript accompanying the same
and characters for the blind
9TH rate for fourth-class matter is !
cent for each ounce or fraction thereof,
and includes merchandise and all other
matter not included in any other class.
Inaumcient Address.
9TH second class OF mistakes which rem
der delivery impossible is due to incom-
plete address or illegible address. more fire.
quently the former. Letters addressed TO
be delivered in cities should invariably have
on them the street and number, as this not
only insures delivery, but prompt delivery
The name and address of the sender should
appear in the upper left hand corner and
the stamps placed in the upper right hand
corner. The following may be accepted as
q model form of address for letters;