Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XIII.djvu/771

 POST 751 under 80, 10 cts. ; over 80 and under 150, 12 cts. ; over 150 and under 400, 18| cts. ; over 400, 25 cts. ; and an additional rate for every additional piece of paper; and if the letter weighed an ounce, four times these rates. Newspapers under 100 ra., or within the state where published, 1 ct. ; over 100, and out of the state, 1 ct. ; magazines and pamphlets, 1 ct. a sheet, under 100 m., if periodicals; over 100, 2^ cts. a sheet; if not periodicals, 4 and 6 cts. As the facilities for transportation of the mails by steamboats, railroads, &c., in- creased, these high rates occasioned much dis- satisfaction, and in various ways the law was evaded. For several years letters were carried in large numbers by express between the prin- cipal cities, at rates much below those of the post office. The reduction of rates was re- peatedly urged in congress, and measures for that purpose were proposed by Edward Ever- ett in 1836 ; but no well digested plan was brought forward. In 1843 the general discon- tent was expressed in the form of resolutions by the legislatures of several states, instructing their senators and requesting their representa- tives in congress to take some measures for a reduction. Mr. C. A. Wickliffe, at that time postmaster general, made some investigation in regard to the English system, and in an elaborate report advocated some reduction, but not a radical one, on the ground that the de- partment would become a heavy charge upon the government if a large reduction were made. In 1845 the following rates were adopted : For a letter not exceeding oz. in weight, under 300 m., 5 cts.; over 300, 10 cts. ; and an ad- ditional rate for every additional oz. or frac- tion of oz. Advertised letters, 2 cts. addi- tional ; drop letters, 2 cts. ; circulars unsealed, 2 cts. ; pamphlets, magazines, &c., per oz. 2^ cts., and each additional oz. 1 ct. Newspapers, under 30 m., free; over 30 and under 100, or any distance within the state where published, 1 ct. ; over 100 and out of the state, 1| ct. Carriage by express was prohibited, unless the postage was previously paid. In the next congress an effort was made to raise these rates, as the postal revenue did not defray ex- penses; it was unsuccessful in regard to letter postage, but transient newspapers were charged 3 cts., and prepayment was required; the postage on circulars was raised to 3 cts. ; news- paper postage to Oregon and California was fixed at 4 cts., and letter postage to the Pacific territories, via Chagres and Panama, at 40 cts. In 1849 the postage on transient newspapers was reduced to ordinary newspaper rates, but prepayment was still required. In 1851 anoth- er effort was made to raise the postage, which proved unsuccessful; but a law was passed establishing the following rates : For a single letter (i. e., of i oz. weight), under 3,000 m., if prepaid, 3 cts., or if not prepaid, 5 cts. ; over 3,000 m., 6 or 12 cts.; to foreign countries, not over 2,500 m., except where postal arrange- ments have been made, 10 cts. ; over 2,500, 20 cts. ; drop letters, 1 ct. ; ship letters, 2 cts., or if delivered where deposited, 6 cts. ; if sent through the mails, the ordinary postage to be added. Weekly newspapers, to actual subscribers in the county where published, free ; under 50 m. and out of the county, 5 cts. a quarter; over 50 and under 300, 10 cts. ; over 300 and under 1,000, 15 cts.; over 1,000 and under 2,000, 20 cts. ; over 2,000 and under 4,000, 25 cts. ; over 4,000, 30 cts. Monthly papers one quarter, and semi-monthly one half these rates ; semi-weekly double, tri-weekly treble, and oftener than tri-weekly five times these rates ; newspapers under 300 sq. in., one quarter these rates; if paid quarterly in advance, a deduc- tion of one half to be made from these rates. Transient newspapers, circulars, and other printed matter, 1 ct. an ounce under 500 m. ; over 500 and under 1,500, 2 cts. ; over 1,500 and under 2,500, 3 cts. ; under 3,500, 4 cts. ; over 3,500, 5 cts. Books under 32 oz., 1 ct. an ounce if prepaid; if not, 2 cts. an ounce. In 1852 the following modifications were made: Letters sent over 3,000 m., and not prepaid, 10 cts. postage; newspapers, circulars, &c., under 3 oz., 1 ct. ; every additional ounce or frac- tion, 1 ct. ; small newspapers and periodicals, published monthly or oftener, and pamphlets of not more than 16 octavo pages, sent in sin- gle packages of not less than 8 oz., prepaid, -J ct. an ounce, or if not prepaid, 1 ct. Books, bound or unbound, less than 4 Ibs., under 3,000 m., 1 ct. an ounce ; over 3,000, 2 cts. an ounce; 50 per cent, added when not prepaid. By the act of the same year, postage stamps and stamped envelopes were ordered. By a law passed March 3, 1855, and taking effect July 1 of the same year, the rates on single inland letters were reduced to 3 cts. for all distances under 3,000 m., and 10 cts. for all over that distance ; and all inland letter post- age was to be prepaid. The charge for ad- vertising letters was reduced to 1 cent. In 1863 the rate of postage was made uniform at 3 cts. on all domestic letters not exceeding fraction thereof; on drop letters not exceed- ing i oz., 2 cts. The quarterly postage on newspapers and periodicals sent to subscri- bers, and not exceeding 4 oz., was fixed as follows: weekly, 5 cts.; semi- weekly, 10 cts.; tri-weekly, 15 cts.; six times a week, 30 cts.; seven times a week, 35 cts. Periodicals issued less than weekly and not exceeding 4 oz. were charged 1 ct. each. The rate for transient newspapers and periodicals was 2 cts. for each 4 oz. or fraction thereof. In 1868 the law was so amended as to allow weekly news-' papers to be sent free to regular sul scribers residing in the county. The post office de- partment of the United States is under the direction of a postmaster general, who is ap- pointed by the president with the consent of the senate, is a member of the cabinet, and re- ceives an annual salary of $6,000. He is aided .by three assistant postmasters general, whose
 * oz., and 3 cts. additional for every i oz. or