History of the Railway Mail Service; A Chapter in the History of Postal Affairs in the United States (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ... Appendix K. EXTRACT FROM THE UNITED STATES MAIL, JULY, 1863. DISTBIBUTION. "At the late convention of special agents of the Post-Office Department, held at Cleveland, Ohio, the subject of letter distribution being under discussion, a paper was read from which we here make some extracts. They will no doubt be interesting as showing the origin, objects, and history of our distribution system. # * * * '* * * "In reference to many of the offices mentioned, distribution was discontinued while the mails were yet carried in stages; the delays and detentions were then being found prejudicial to the public interests. "As railroads were constructed and the mails carried upon them the evils of the system became more apparent, occasioning delays'of from twelve to twenty-four hours in correspondence and causing very loud and j ust complaint. "Since the completion of 24,000 miles of railway, now in operation and carrying the mails, many offices heretofore favorably located for distribution became mere way offices, the trains passing them with slight pauses only and thus largely increasing the evil of detention. ' The emoluments derived by postmasters at distributing offices consist of a commission on the letters distributed. Originally the commission was 5 per cent. on letter postage, paid and unpaid. This was afterwards increased by law to 7 per cent. and then to 12J percent., at which it now stands. It is obviously the interest of those having charge of such offices to increase business of this kind to the utmost, and though expressly forbidden by the Department to invite distribution from its legitimate channel, it has often been done and it is believed that the post-office revenue has in this manner been largely defrauded. Letters have been...