UNITE]) STATES. In the English colonies of America before 1639 such postal facilities as ex isted were supplied by private enterprise. Let ters 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 or dered, that notice be given that Richard Fair banks, his house in Boston. is the place ap pointed 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 lie must answer all miscarriages through his own neglect in this kind, provided that no man shall be compelled to bring his letters thither ex cept 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 Hamp shire 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 author ized 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 cre ated for the first time an American inter-colonial postal service. In general its charges for carry ing a letter ranged from 4d. to 15d.. according to distance. The post roads were generally in bad condition ; the riders were frequently untrust worthy. 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 Wil liam Hunter a royal commission as Deputy Post master-General for the colonies. Franklin imme diately proceeded to systematize the department and personally made a tour of inspection, in which lie 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 Govermnent, on account of his connection with the petition for the re moval of Governor Hutchinson from Massachu setts, and on January 31st of that year he was dismissed from the Deputy Postmaster-General ship. 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 dis missal 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 col onies 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, 1773, when Benjamin Franklin was unanimously appointed Postmaster-General, with authority to establish a line of posts from Falmouth. Me., to Savannah, Ga., and as many 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 2.5 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 exceed ing ?•-; 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 news papers 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 1 cents. In 1351 the rate on letters not exceeding 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 185.5 a law was passed requiring prepayment, and this has con tinued to be the rule. In 1863 the element of dis tance as a factor in fixing the scale of rates was abolished and a uniform rate of 3 cents was es tablished for letters not exceeding ounce in weight. In 1883 this rate was reduced to 2 cents.