Evening journal., 1923-01-15

III HAAAA0ENAANA anu tA"NNNN
laid the foundation of the presen
postal system OF the United states.
All the earlier postal history o
the thirteen American colonies radi
ates about him as the central hs
ure. Franklin first served as post
master Of Philadelphia. He ran tn
Office very much like A fourth clas
Office IN the smaller community hf'
Of this country is managed today
He owned a weekly newspaper anC
the most office was operated IN con
junction with this publication.
Franklin was named deputy post
master general Of the British colonies
OF America in the year 1888. I'M
n1ediately his troubles began. DIS
Matching and delivering letters
throurhout the thickly-wooded and
parsely-populated areas IN these
nioneer times was a difficult task and
there was little to encourage MN
Then the mails were transported nS
couriers and six weeks were con
suued IN making the excursion from
PHILADELPHIA 20 Boston. During
+ba winter months the couriers ven
tured out only twice in every thirty
davs. In most instances travellers
made much faster time than the mail
couriers along the same roads SO
mat the postal system IN the MD
ale Of the eighteenth century was
unreliable as we'll as precarlous'
However, Franklin set TO Work 20
rsorpsnize the service. Trips were
inaugurated weekly between Phila-
delpbia and Boston, throughout the
- the time OF travel was short
ened nv one-half. new routes were
onened 20 Savannah and southern
points and many Improvements w.
effected. In the year 100 ai'e'
he British had won over Canada a.
new colony from the French
Franklin proceeded al once 70
O,,ebec and opened the hrst pos
o4ace there with subordinate ofhces
a. Three Rivers and Montreal
-,o1tbiv service between Quebec ana
Tew York was promptly arranged
Tho courier making close connexions
With the packet boats sailing month-
- between New York and Falmoull'
England. q
The colonial postal system-as n
10 cssa with our department To-
5s,-1vas a losing business, the eN-
,a,di+ures far outrunning the re-
cents. Franklin. as deputy posi-
master general. was allowed 70
sboi1lder the burdens OF the ahhusi
da6clts out Of his private purse tne
Iebts running as high as 800 POUNDS
,v the year 1857. His salary vas
81 ooo ner annum. The British
,-,,-e rnent took only the sllghtesl
s,,+erest IN the post office OF its Amer
"a, colonies. almost forgetting It's
,ery existence during this period.
ru+ Franklin was obdurate. ne
lent hts post riders conveying tre
D,ails and maintained his post o'
gces Al various villages regardless
- +bA losses incurred. Three years
- no saw the silver lining slip
- f~ono behind the dark clouds
In 1850 the debt was not onIy en-
t,relv cleared up but upon oalahc.hs
bis books Franklin found surplus
~ 27s pounds. In 1871 thls SUI
,,1,,. crew to the amount OF 494
,,o,,,ds and with a feeling OF deep
lido akin 10 the satisfaction as
,,To1,ed nv a present-day postmaster
GENERAL should ne be able 20 report
an annual profit 10 Congress Deputy
pc master General Franklin sent
he money in a sailing vessel 10 the
13ri.ish postmaster general IN Lon
don After that, a regular remit
ts1ce was forwarded from America
80 the British crown covering an
D." .t-e-s ~ the colonial postal
service. ,o-,,,,
,.,o,r,, Tseniarnin Franklin was dis
r,tssed IN the year 1874 by the Brit
~ crovn as deputy postmaster
general Of the American ooiohIes'
The charge lodged against MIN was
that he made public a NUMBER OF
private letters passing through ms
hands from Governor Hutchinson
and Lieutenant Governor Oliver OF
Nraesac hueetts, written to frienos IN
England. These letters contained
of the rebelhous spirit
displayed by the people in this colo
ny against the despotiem OF Eng
lish rule and urged the use OF mill
tarv force TO suppress these
growing sentiments vitality IN
terested in seeing the struggle FOR
Justice and freedom succeed, Frank
lin permitted the publication Of
these letters, which resulted in the
general assembly of Massachusetts
adopting resolutions condemning
and oliver as meters
and breeders Of oppression and petit
.loning the King for their removal !
from Office. a widespread feeling Of
resentment swept over England
lgainst Franklin and no time was
lost IN summarily discharging him
as deputy postmaster general.
After the Boston riots in Sep
.ember. 1774, IL became inevitable
hat the colonies would separate
from the mother country. A con-
mental congress was organized at
Philadelphia for the purpose Of es-
abliehing a separate government
ind one Of the first questions that
anne up before the delegates was
he matter OF providing for the con-
'eying and delivery of the mails.
Benjamin Franklin, as chairman of
! committee of investigation. made a
'eport providing for the appoint
nent OF a postmaster general of the
thirteen American colonies TO con-