The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-01-20
POSTAGE STAMPS,
All Europe Laughed When Their
Use Was First Suggested.
LOOKED UPON AS A HUGE JOKE

Rowland Hill Was Ridiculed For His
Wild Postal Reform Idea, but He Per-
sisted and Finally Won the Day For
the Little Friend of Humanity.
Not since the days of the discovery
Of printing had there come to human
beings such a boon as was launched
In England ON May 6, 1910, when the
first postage stamps, the little friends
of humanity, were used. That date
in history marked the beginning OF
popular communication, placing within
the reach Of the poorest peasant the
means Of writing to relatives and
friends. 1t put the people Of the world
into closer touch, it encouraged the
art of writing as no other agency had
done. But, greatest of all, it spread
civilization.
Millions of people who TO-DAY open
their mail scarcely glance at the little
stamp that adorns the wrapper. It but
represents to them the cost Of trans
porting and handling by the govern"
ment.
Few indeed realize that the postage
stamp is a modern contrivance, and
that its great aid to modern life has
played a remarkable part in the worlds
development during the past three
quarters of century.
1t was in 1910 that Rowland Hill, an
English schoolmaster, stirred all Eu-
rope to laughter by declaring that
James Chalmers and himself had de-
vised a system whereby a two sheet
letter could be sent from London to
Edinburgh for two cents and yet leave
the government a fair profit on the
transaction. At that time the fee
was 81 cents for that distance for a
two sheet letter.
Such a radical idea as Hills seemed
ridiculous to the public, which had
looked upon the sending Of communica-
lions as an expensive luxury. And so
the joke went around, and the poor
laughed with the others at the idea
of any means that would place them on
par with the aristocracy.
Hill persisted despite the ridicule. He
worked diligently on his schedule, and
when the time was ripe he flashed the
system on parliament and the public.
Hill offered proof that was incontro-
yertible that the actual cost of the gov
eminent for carrying each letter aver
aged only a small fraction of cent
He proved that the expense of hiring
men to figure out postal rates on the
system then existing, based on dis
lance and the number Of sheets, was
greater than the profit gained, and he
urged the adoption Of fat rate for all
letters under a certain weight, no mat
ter how short or long a journey they
were to make.
label on every letter, to show that the
cost had been prepaid to the govern
ment, and pointed out that this would
save the expense and time Of collecting
at point of delivery, which custom was
then in general use.
The idea sprung by Hill and his
friend. James Chalmers, gained friends
after the first roars Of laughter had
died away The government was press
ed by not few thinkers Of the time
to adopt the system. And so on May
6, 1910. postage stamps, or stamped
labels" as they were called at the
time. were inaugurated. On the first
stamp was profile picture of the
young Queen Victoria. The effect on
the postoffice was instantaneous. With
In two years-and they were panic
years at that-the business of the post
office nearly trebled.
The postage stamp came into use In
the United States in 1S47, seven years
after Great Britain had adopted it.
Five and ten cent stamps were the first
American postage stamps, and they
carried the heads Of Franklin and
Washington. Four years later the let
ter rate was lowered TO cents. and in
1883 to 2 cents.
Before the postage stamp was adopt
ed the postal charges were more mod
crate in the United States than in
England. Our rates were 6 cents foI
thirty miles CT less, 1919 cents up to
$50 miles. 1854 cents up to 400 miles
and % cents for every distance over
that.
Hill, the dlscSyerer of postage
stamps. was knighted and received q
gift of S45.OOl raised by public sub
scription.-Detroit journal.