OPINION
In the mail?

As we start to look at another new postal rate, how about this … Postal Improvement Week (?) In may, of the 1920’s there was actually such a week. It started on May 1st. Your postal service was the largest business of its kind at the time. Today, UPS, Federal Express and the like spread out over the world may be bigger.

Postal Improvement Week sought suggestions as to way to improve mail delivery and handling. In addition, they had suggestions for us, like spell out the name and address of the person you are sending mail to. Try not to abbreviate. Even if your letter is not leaving town, do not use the term “City” for the address. (By some accident, it may get in a bag leaving town). Spell out your own return address in the upper left corner (not the back).

Take a look at your letter before you put it in the box. Did you remember to put a stamp on it? Now these suggestions may seem elementary. We have been taught these things in school. At the time however, it was not that clear.

At that time also, mail boxes were a target of improvement. What mail was actually delivered, rather than placed in a box in the post office, needed a good clear identification. The carriers that delivered the rural mail were often treated to old buckets, hand made wooden and metal boxes, leather bags and the like sitting on a fence post near the gate. In many places, they had to drive up to the house. Those rural carriers must have had fun in bad weather.

Speaking of bad weather, in 1913 there was a bad storm. We were hit with nearly three feet of snow overnight. The trains did not get through. Even as late as the 1940’s people came to some railroad stations to get their mail. As the railroad cut passenger stops, some towns lost their post office.

Some small towns not on the railroad saw post offices close as a part of budget cuts. I must say however, even at the present rates, we are actually doing pretty well. By comparison, the postal rates in other countries would be seen here as outrageous. I recently ran across a stack of 2 cent postal cards. Guess if I want to use them I’ll have to add 25 cents worth of stamps.


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