Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 16.djvu/364

POST-OFFICE. central office at Berne, which meets every three years to consider questions affecting the postal relations of the States concerned. This was followed in June, 1878, by the Treaty of Paris, signed or subsequently adhered to by all the parties to the former treaty, with the addition of British India, the colonies of France, Spain, Holland, and Portugal, various British colonies, Persia, Japan, Liberia, Brazil, Peru, Mexico, in fact every country in the world except China, the new convention receiving the name of the ‘Universal Postal Union.’ Under this important treaty all the consenting nations were declared to be “a single postal territory for the reciprocal exchange of correspondence.” Instead of the varying rates theretofore prevailing, equal rates, weights, and rules were established, and considerable reduction of postage followed its adoption. Except in the case of lengthy sea transit, a uniform rate of 25 centimes (5 cents) was adopted for a letter of 15 grams (½ ounce); of 10 centimes (2 cents) for post-cards; of 5 centimes (1 cent) for packets of print, etc., of 50 grams (2 ounces); and of 25 centimes (5 cents) for registration in Europe, and 50 centimes (10 cents) for registration beyond Europe. Prepayment of postage is required except on letters.

In the English colonies of America before 1639 such postal facilities as existed were supplied by private enterprise. Letters from abroad were delivered at the wharf to those who called for them or sent to a near-by coffee-house for distribution. In 1639 the General Court of Massachusetts took the first step toward the establishment of a Government postal system by enacting the following decree: “It is ordered, that notice be given that Richard Fairbanks, his house in Boston, is the place appointed for all letters which are brought from beyond the seas, or are to be sent thither, to be left with him; and he is to take care that they are to be delivered or sent according to directions; and he shall be allowed for every letter a penny, and he must answer all miscarriages through his own neglect in this kind, provided that no man shall be compelled to bring his letters thither except he please.” In Virginia each planter was required to convey the dispatches, as they arrived, to the next plantation, and so on. In 1672 the Government of New York established a monthly mail to Boston. In 1683 and in 1693 post-offices were established in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire respectively. In 1692 the Legislature of Virginia passed an act reciting that one Thomas Neale had been empowered by letters patent from William and Mary to take charge of the postal business of the colonies. Neale's patent authorized him “to erect, settle, and establish offices in America for the receiving and dispatching away of letters and packquettes” and to appoint the necessary persons to assist him. This patent created for the first time an American inter-colonial postal service. In general its charges for carrying a letter ranged from 4d. to 15d., according to distance. The post roads were generally in bad condition; the riders were frequently untrustworthy, and the postmasters are represented as being little better.

No man in America was so identified with the interests of the colonial post-office as Benjamin Franklin. In 1737 he was appointed postmaster of Philadelphia. In 1753 he received with William Hunter a royal commission as Deputy Postmaster-General for the colonies. Franklin immediately proceeded to systematize the department and personally made a tour of inspection, in which he visited every post-office in the country except that of Charleston, S. C. After four years of his administration the post-office yielded the salary of the postmasters, and a small revenue besides, and in 1774 a clear annual revenue of £3000 to Great Britain. In 1753 the delivery of letters by the penny post was begun, and also the practice of advertising letters remaining in the office in Philadelphia. In 1774 Franklin became obnoxious to the British Government, on account of his connection with the petition for the removal of Governor Hutchinson from Massachusetts, and on January 31st of that year he was dismissed from the Deputy Postmaster-Generalship. By this time the patriotic movement which concluded in the Revolution was in full tide, and so great was the feeling caused by Franklin's dismissal that private arrangements were made for carrying letters, and after 1774 the American post-office never again contributed a farthing to the British treasury. In fact, in 1775 the colonies combined to establish their own post-offices and to pay the necessary officials, the Continental Congress appointing a committee to devise a postal system, which went into effect July 26, 1775, when Benjamin Franklin was unanimously appointed Postmaster-General, with authority to establish a line of posts from Falmouth, Me., to Savannah, Ga., and as manv cross posts as might seem to him necessary. During the period of the Revolution the postage was paid in currency; but this depreciated so much in value that it was ordered that only specie should be received. In 1792 rates of postage were fixed which remained unaltered for nearly half a century. They were: for 30 miles and under, 6 cents; over 30 miles and not exceeding 60 miles, 8 cents; over 60 and not exceeding 100 miles, 10 cents; and so on up to 450 miles and over, for which the charge was 25 cents. On account of these expensive rates, comparatively few letters were sent through the mails, it being found cheaper to send them by private express. In 1845 the rates were lowered and a scale based on weight as well as distance was adopted. The postage on letters not exceeding ½ ounce in weight was fixed at 5 cents for any distance not exceeding 300 miles; over 300 miles it was 10 cents, with an increase of rate for every additional half ounce in weight. The rate on newspapers was nothing for distances under 30 miles; for over 30 miles and under 100, one cent was charged; over 100 miles, if beyond the borders of the State, the charge was 1½ cents. In 1851 the rate on letters not exceeding ½ ounce in weight was reduced to 3 cents for distances under 3000 miles and 6 cents for distances above 3000 miles. If not prepaid the rates were 5 and 12 cents respectively. Prior to 1851 no reduction was made for prepayment of postage. In 1855 a law was passed requiring prepayment, and this has continued to be the rule. In 1863 the element of distance as a factor in fixing the scale of rates was abolished and a uniform rate of 3 cents was established for letters not exceeding ½ ounce in weight. In 1883 this rate was reduced to 2 cents.

In 1847 adhesive postage stamps were first introduced into the United States, but, on account of the high rate of postage and the