UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Early Colonial Period.—As between the villages of the same colony, special messengers were employed to carry mail, but be tween colonies, letters were entrusted to merchants and travellers. A proposal to the English Government to establish a post office in America was made in 1638, but the first formal step toward such an establishment was made by the General Court of Massa chusetts in 1639. Provision for postal service was made in other colonies considerably later. The first advance toward an or ganized intercolonial service was made by the granting of .a patent to Thomas Neale on Feb. 17, 1692, to establish post offices in North America. An office was established at Philadelphia and rates fixed to most of the colonies. Receipts did not cover ex penses.
In 1707 the Government purchased the rights. The service grew and improved with the development of the colonies. Benja min Franklin became deputy postmaster in 1737 and postmaster general in 1753. Under his administration and with the improve ments in service it showed a substantial surplus. A packet line was established direct from England to New York in 1755 and from Falmouth to Charleston in 1768. In the approaching crisis be tween the colonies and the mother country, Franklin was dis missed from office in 1774. The service continued until taken over by the second Continental Congress.
The Continental establishment and maintenance of postal facilities was given early attention by the Continental Congress in 1775. The establishment of a post office and the appointment of a postmaster general with office at Philadelphia was provided for. Franklin was chosen the first postmaster gen eral. Because of the special conditions existing the Continental post office was not able to operate at a profit. A provision in the Articles of Confederation gave to Congress the sole and ex clusive right to establish and regulate post offices from one State to another throughout the United States and exact such postage on papers passing throughout the same as might be necessary to pay expenses of the office.
Under the Constitution.—A distinctly new era began with the adoption of the Constitution. The postal grant in that in
strument gave to Congress much wider powers. Under the express and implied powers of this brief provision a vast and most im portant public service has been established and developed. Post offices were established as rapidly as possible, speedy transporta tion of mails provided and service extended unifying the distant parts of the country.
In 1789 there were only 75 post offices; in 1928 there were 49,944. In 1790 there were only 1,875 m. of post routes; in 1928 there were 1,776,396.
Policies.—The policy in colonial times was to make a profit out of the postal business. In 1791 the post office was annexed to the Treasury department. By 1796 it was felt that the post office should become a pioneer of civilization and the means to rapid and regular communication between remote posts and the Gov ernment.
In 1823 the post office became in fact and later in law, a separate department as distinguished from a subordinate branch of the Treasury. The present policy is that the department should render good service to the public consistent with due regard for cost, and in doing so it is not necessary for the service to be always self-sustaining. Deficits have not been unusual in the history of the service. In 1927 the operating deficit was 716.05, which, however, was only 4.06% of the total cost of the service.
Post Offices.—Post offices are established in every city, town and village in the country, for the receipt and delivery of mail matter and the performance of such special services as may be provided appropriate to their size and importance. These offices, with each a postmaster, are of f our classes. Postmasters of the first three classes are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and those of the fourth class by the postmaster general. There are 1,154 first class, 3,472 second class, 11,065 third class and 34,253 fourth class offices. There are em ployed in offices of the first and second classes 129,074, not includ ing postmasters, rural carriers and motor service employees.