The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-16

OWACA Q WCCAAJ hGWCVdUCTe anu the post office was operated in conjunction with that publication. Tn 1753 Franklin was named deputy postmaster general of the British Colonies. Immediately his trouble began. Dispatching and delivering letters through the thickly' wooded and sparsely popu- lated areas in these pioneer times was difficult task. Then the mails were transported by couriers, and six weeks were consumed in mak- ing the excursion from Philadel- phia to Boston. During the winter months the couriers ventured out only twice in every 30 days. Inl most instances travellers made l much faster time then the mail courier along the same roads, so that the postal system in the mid dle of the 18th century was unre- liable as we'll as precarious.
 During the administration of Franklin mailing a letter in this country was an expensive luxury. In 1766 a Falmouth, Me, citizen l paid $40 postage on three letters which he sent to Boston. But Franklin was determined to main- tain a service demanded by the pcOpic OI Lne N<OiOHieS.
 But the colonial system was a losing business. sthe expenditures far exceeding the receipts. just as they are doing at the present | time, Franklin, as deputy post l master general. was allowed to shoulder the burdens of the annual deficit out of his private purse, the | debts running as high as $4,500 by the year 1757. His salary was but s3,000 per annum, half of which he paid to his associate, William Hunter. But he was ob- durate and kept his post riders conveying the mails and main- tained his post offices at various villages regardless of the losses incurred. Three years later he reported a surplus to the govern ment. In 1761 this surplus grew to E494. and, with a feeling of deep pride, Franklin sent the money in sailing vessel to the British postmaster general in Lon don.
 After the Boston riots in Sep tember. 1774, it became inevitable that the Colonies would separate from the mother country. A Con- tinental Congress- was organized at Philadelphia for the purpose of esta blishing to separate government One of the first questions that came up before the delegates was the matter of providing for the con veying and delivering of the mails. Benjamin Franklin. as chairman of committee of investigation, made 6 report providing for the appointment of a postmaster gem ..R L@ A ..f< r.v4 atae, to conduct a postal system and his report was adopted. Franklin him self was named to the office. A line of posts was established by him from Massachusetts to Geor- gia. with many cross posts. and postmasters were selected for all the principal communities.
 This was the foundation laid for the present Post office Depart l ment of the United States. Frank lin served as colonial postmaster general for little more than a year. being succeeded November '. 1776, by his son-inlaw, Richard Bache. Franklin when head of the col onial post office under the British crown franked his letters Free. B. Franklin" When the continen- tai Congress. in f755. made him postmaster general of the infant republic. he altered his frank to read. "B. Free Franhlin."- The Pathfinder
 Prices Are Low.
 Moderate prices even for e.- trcmeIy rare specimens prevailed at the opening session yesterday of the auction Of the United States stamp collection of former Sena- tor Joseph S. frelinghuysen con ducted by George E. Sloane at ii6 Nassau Street with Walter S. Scott as auctioneer. The highest price vas s5i0 for the 2-cent Pan. American issue of'i90i. having the centre inverted. The Standard Catalogue value of the stamp Is s2.700. but moderate defects were responsible for tine moderate bid- ding. 4 4-cent inverted center of the same issue sold for s325. The f5 and 2f cent values of tine 1 isG9 issue. both with inverted cen- tres, also sold cileaply owing io minor defects. the I5-eent stamp bringing sis5 while the 2f-een. variety sold for $500. 4 nice eopy of the Baltimore postmaster stamp : cents, is55, on fbe originaI en- veiiope. sold for s33O and anothe- copy on biuish paper brought s35e.
 Prom the phi.atelic standpoint. the best prices. at present day yal- uations. were obtained for tbe ifn- perforsfe varieties of the 1895 is- sue and ths 1881 reissues. The 1895 impsrforafes were ail unused and in strips of three. For the f5 stump of which only 100 were Issu- ed. s2f7.s0 was paid, the s2 value brought fss and the si strip of three, Of which only 100 were is- sued. s0id for gTi Of the 1881 reissues. all unused. inc 3o.eeni eopy sold for the highest price. SOS,
 4 bsagtlfuI copy 0f the 39-esni. 1880. special printing. sold for efe2.b0 and iile lg-oeDt. speclai printing. 1875, brought si00. the 2s-eenf value Of the same issue went for sgo. 4 bIseeted copy Of fhe J2-ceDf 1851, used to pay [ cents postage, sold for s92.S0-- New York Times,
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