The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-03-23

Z
177S, has not an undisputed claim to
the title of independence day is the
surprising claim, based on little known
facts, put forward by investigators,
who assert that to July rs, ITS,
should be accorded at least the honor
of being known as Little independence
day, since it was on that day that the
first independent American institution
was established. AS a result for near
ly year previous to the signing OF
the Declaration of independence this
country, in one important department
at least, had achieved independence
from the English crown. That de-
partment was the postoff1ce, and while
July 4, 1776, undoubtedly will con-
tinue to be looked upon as the date OF
the birth of our independence, July
26, It's, the date Of the birth Of our
first independent institution is OF such
importance as to entitle it to proper
recognition, since but for unknown
Little Independence day the more ia
millar date might have been postpon-
ed for a considerable time.
Up to the advent of Little Independ-
ence day.. the postal service had pass,
ed through many and chaotic phases.
Service was slow and irregular. the
post riders consuming days and weeks
i'm covering distances which now are
negotiated in hours. They were in
constant danger OF highwaymen and
also of the agents OF the English
crown, who did not hesitate TO stop
them, search the mails and destroy
anything which they considered treas
enable or likely to assist the colonies
in their revolt. AS consequence any
general knowledge among the colon
lists Of the whole situation was impos-
sible and it was by relieving this con-
dition Of affairs that the independent
postoff1ce so materially assisted the
cause of liberty. At first King George
viewed with suspicion the independent
postoffice, but on Christmas day, 1775,
five months after it's establishment, he
capitulated, thus placing in the hands
Of the colonists the agency which ma
terially hastened the coming of the
revolution.
It was in 1851 that the seed of the
present postoffice was planted when
William and Mary by letters patent
granted to one Thomas Neale, master
Of the mint, constituted him the first
postmaster general Of America. Neale
delegated the task Of establishing a
postal service in the wilderness OF the
new world to a versatile, energetic
Scotchman, Andrew Hamilton. Ham
ilton's first service. a weekly post, was
from Portsmouth, N. a., to Boston,
S, ,ybrook, New York, Philadelphia
Maryland and Virginia. though the
service was dependent to large de-
gree upon the weather. The receipts
of the postofice of New York City
during the year 1893 were e61.
In 1907, however, the English king
thought 1t worth while to buy back
from Neale his grant and for it paid
him &1,64 sterling. It is interesting
to note that the purchase bringing the
postoff1ce again under the control OF
the crown ended the first and last
private post in America, although
from time to time dissatisfaction with
the administration of the department
has led to suggestions that it be turn
Cd over to private interests because
Of the belief in their ability to operate
it more successfully, for, judged by
the standards Of modern business, it's
administration has shown many short
comings. Another curious fact IN
connection with the postal service of
pioneer days was that the recipient
of mail paid the postage instead of
the sender, a rule which remained in
force until 1857. Also it was dis
eretionary with the several pnstInast-
ers as to whether or not they would
accept mail of q bulky nature.
Here and there in its early history
the beginnings of it's present features