The United States Postal Service an American History 1775-2006
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The United States Postal Service An American History 1775 – 2006 he history of the United States Postal Service is an ongoing story of enormous depth and breadth, rooted in a single, great principle: that every Tperson in the United States — no matter who, no matter where — has the right to equal access to secure, efficient, and affordable mail service. For more than 231 years, the Postal Service has delivered on that promise, transforming itself to better serve its customers. The United States Postal Service: An American History tells this story and introduces you to people, events, and developments affecting postal and national history. For centuries, our universal mail system has strengthened the bonds of friendship, family, and community. Our system has encouraged civil discourse, disseminated information, and bolstered the national economy — both as the hub of a vital industry and as a trusted courier of the nation’s and world’s business. The Postal Service has seized upon and immediately investigated new technology to see if it would improve service — mail distribution cases in the 18th century; steamboats, trains, and automobiles in the 19th century; and planes, letter sorting machines, and automation in the 20th century. Today, computerized equipment helps sort and distribute hundreds of millions of pieces of mail each day. We have worked with customers to better understand and serve their changing needs and to keep them informed of how best to utilize our services. We want to provide quick, easy, and convenient service. This history gives you a look into what that has entailed over the years. Above all, the history of the United States Postal Service is about the men and women whose daily efforts have provided our nation with the finest, most efficient mail service in the world. United States postal workers take pride in processing, transporting, and delivering the mail to the people of our great country. I hope you will enjoy reading this history of the United States Postal Service. It is a story that we continue to write every day — together. Sincerely, John E. Potter Postmaster General Table of Contents Introduction....................... 3 Transformation..................... 56 Measuring Improvement 56 Colonial Times ..................... .4 Transformation Plan 57 Partnering with Customers and Competitors 57 The Postal Service Begins ............ .6 President’s Commission on the Postal Service 58 Early Postal Legislation 6 Budget Impacts of 2003 Legislation: The Constitution and the Post Office 7 Escrow Fund and Military Service Benefits 58 Ebenezer Hazard, Postmaster of New York 7 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act Benjamin Franklin, First Postmaster General 8 of 2006 59 Abraham Lincoln, Postmaster 9 Dealing with the Unimaginable 59 Other Famous Postal Workers 9 Medal of Freedom 59 Everyday Heroism 60 The Postal Role in U.S. Development .. 10 Delivering Despite Disaster 60 Alexis de Tocqueville 11 Protecting the Mail ............... 62 Moving the Mail ................... 12 Extending Mail Service 62 Steamboats 12 Cleaning the Mailstream 63 The Pony Express 13 The De Autremont Train Holdup, 1923 64 The Confederate Post Office Department 14 Pursuing Rogues and Robbers 64 Mail by Rail 15 Protecting the Innocent 65 Owney, Mascot of the Railway Mail Service 17 Star Routes 18 The Office of Inspector General..... 66 Discovering Savings 67 Reaching Out to Everyone .......... 20 Free City Delivery 20 Postmasters General ............... 68 City Delivery Pioneer 21 Rural Free Delivery (RFD) 22 Statistics: Pieces & Post Offices ...... .70 Postmasters in the Mid-19th Century 23 U.S. Postage Stamps 26 Significant Years in U.S. Postal History .......................... 72 The 20th Century................... 28 Parcel Post 28 Delivery in Cities: A Visual Timeline.. .74 Postal Savings System 29 Airmail 29 How A Letter Travels .............. 76 New York to San Francisco 31 Airmail Pilot Bill Hopson 32 Research Sources .................. 78 ZIP Code 33 New Deal Art: Eager and Alive 34 Bibliography...................... 80 Post Office Names 36 Post Office Buildings: All Shapes and Sizes 37 Notes ............................. 82 Postal Reorganization ............... 38 Postal Insignia .................... 84 Reform Proposal 38 Postal Reorganization Act 39 United States Postal Service......... .40 Finances and Rates 40 Personnel 40 Labor-Management Relations 40 Transportation 40 Pay 41 Postal Mechanization and Early Automation 41 Rates for Domestic Letters 41 ZIP+4 Code 43 The Automation Age 44 Sorting Letters Better 44 Processing Flats 47 Processing Parcels 49 Automating Mail Handling and Acceptance 49 Giving Customers Greater Access 50 Intelligent Mail 50 The Postal Service Board of Governors 52 Governors of the Postal Service 53 Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 54 An American History 1775–2006 1 n July 26, 1775, members of the Second Continental OCongress, meeting in Philadelphia, agreed That a postmaster General be appointed for the United Colonies, who shall hold his office at Philada, and shall be allowed a salary of 1000 dollars per an: for himself, and 340 dollars per an: for a secretary and Comptroller, with power to appoint such, and so many deputies as to him may seem proper and necessary. That a line of posts be appointed under the direction of the Postmaster general, from Falmouth in New England to Savannah in Georgia, with as many cross posts as he shall think fit.1 This simple statement signaled the birth of the Post Office Department, the predecessor of the United States Postal Service and the second oldest federal department or agency of the United States of America. An American History 1775–2006 3 Colonial Times n early colonial times, correspon- Central postal organization came dents depended on friends, to the colonies only after 1692, when Imerchants, and Native Americans Thomas Neale received a 21-year grant to carry messages among the colonies. from the British Crown, whose settle- However, most correspondence ran ments dominated the Atlantic seaboard, between the colonists and England, for a North American postal system.2 the Netherlands, or Sweden — their Neale never visited America. Instead, he mother countries. It was largely to appointed Governor Andrew Hamilton handle this mail that, in 1639, the first of New Jersey as his deputy postmaster official notice of mail service in the general. Neale’s franchise cost him only colonies appeared. The General Court six shillings and eight pence a year but of Massachusetts designated Richard was no bargain. He died heavily in Fairbanks’ tavern in Boston as the offi- debt in 1699 after assigning his interests cial repository of mail brought from or in America to Andrew Hamilton and sent overseas, in line with the European another Englishman, Robert West. practice of using coffee houses and tav- In 1707, the British government erns as mail stations. bought the rights to the North American Local authorities operated post routes postal system from West and Andrew within the colonies. Then, in 1673, Hamilton’s widow. The government Governor Francis Lovelace of New York then appointed Hamilton’s son John as set up a monthly post between New York deputy postmaster general of America. and Boston. The service was short-lived, He served until 1721, when he was suc- but the post rider’s trail became known ceeded by John Lloyd of Charleston, as the Old Boston Post Road, part of South Carolina. today’s U.S. Route 1. In 1730, Alexander Spotswood, a Governor William Penn established former lieutenant governor of Virginia, Pennsylvania’s first Post Office in 1683. became deputy postmaster general of In the South, private messengers, usually America. The appointment of Benjamin slaves, connected the huge plantations; a Franklin as postmaster of Philadelphia in hogshead (a barrel 43 inches high and 26 1737 may have been Spotswood’s most inches in diameter) of tobacco was the notable achievement. Franklin, only 31 penalty for failing to relay mail to the years old at the time, was a successful next plantation. As plantations expanded printer, publisher, and civic leader. He inland from port regions, so did the would later become one of the most communications network. popular men of his age. 18th Century Tavern In colonial times, overseas mail often was brought to taverns and coffee houses. 4 The United States Postal Service Two other Virginians succeeded cause of the colonies. Shortly after, Spotswood: Head Lynch in 1739 and William Goddard, a printer, newspaper Elliot Benger in 1743. When Benger publisher, and former postmaster, set up died in 1753, Benjamin Franklin the Constitutional Post for intercolonial and William Hunter, postmaster of mail service. Colonies funded it by sub- Williamsburg, Virginia, were appointed scription, and net revenues were to be by the Crown as joint postmasters gen- used to improve mail service rather than eral for the colonies. Hunter died in to be paid back to the subscribers. By 1761, and John Foxcroft of New York 1775, when the Continental Congress succeeded him, serving until the out- met at Philadelphia, Goddard’s post was break of the Revolutionary War. flourishing, and 30 Post Offices operated During his time as joint postmaster between Williamsburg and Portsmouth, general for the Crown, Franklin made New Hampshire. important and lasting improvements The Constitutional Post required in the colonial posts. He began to each postmaster to hire only reputable reorganize the service, setting out on post riders. Each post rider had to swear a long tour to inspect Post Offices in to secure his mail under lock and key. the North and as far south as Virginia. As for the Crown’s service, Goddard New surveys were made, milestones warned: were placed on principal roads, and Library of Congress new and shorter routes were laid out. Letters are liable to be stopped & opened Benjamin Franklin For the first time, post riders carried by ministerial mandates, & their Contents by Charles Willson Peale, 1787 mail at night to speed service between construed into treasonable Conspiracies; and The last known portrait of Franklin.