RURAL FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

Objects and Benefits. The free delivery of mail in rural districts is the latest extension of the postal service. Its object, as its title suggests, is to give the advantages of the mail delivery to rural communities. Its benefits are obvious. It broadens the thoughts and activities of country people, and arouses their interest in the events of the day. Nothing is doing re for the higher and more universal education of I districts than are these free delivery routes. ing his 1 their families, whose Letter rates a by the typewriter or by manifolding process, and on all printed imitations of typewriting or manuscript, unless such productions are presented at post-office windows in the minimum number of twenty identical copies separately addressed.

Letters (but no other class of mail matter) will be returned to the sender free if a request to that effect is printed or written on the envelope. There is no limit of size for first-class matter fully prepaid. The limit of weight is four pounds. Rate, 2 cents per ounce or fraction thereof.

Prepaid letters will be forwarded from one post office to another upon the written request of the person addressed, without additional charge for postage. The direction on forwarded letters may be changed as many times as may be necessary to reach the person addressed.

Second-class matter includes all newspapers, periodicals, or matter exclusively in print and regularly issued at stated intervals, and as frequently as four times a year; there must be a known office of publication and actual subscribers. Second-class matter must be so wrapped as to enable the postmaster to inspect it. The sender's name and address may be written in publications going as secondclass matter, but any other writing subjects this matter to letter

The full rate applies to each fraction of an ounce, e.g., a letter weighing one and one eighth ounces costs four cents, or as much as one weighing two ounces.

First-class matter includes letters, postal cards, and anything sealed or otherwise closed against inspection, or anything containing writing not allowed as an accompaniment to printed matter under class three. For this matter prepayment by stamps is invariably required. Postage on all letters should be fully prepaid, but if paid for one ounce and no more, they will be forwarded, and the amount of deficient postage collected on delivery; if wholly unpaid, or prepaid less than the rate for one ounce, and deposited at a post office, the addressee will be notified to remit postage; and if he fails to do so, they will be sent to the Dead-letter Office; such letters will be returned to the sender if he is located at the place of mailing, providing his address is printed or written upon them.

Letter rates are charged on all productions by the typewriter or by manifolding process, and on all printed imitations of typewriting or manuscript, unless such productions are presented at post-office windows in the minimum number of twenty identical copies separately addressed.

Letters (but no other class of mail matter) will be returned to the sender free if a request to that effect is printed or written on the envelope. There is no limit of size for first-class matter fully prepaid. The limit of weight is four pounds. Rate, 2 cents per ounce or fraction thereof.

Prepaid letters will be forwarded from one post office to another upon the written request of the person addressed, without additional charge for postage. The direction on forwarded letters may be changed as many times as may be necessary to reach the person addressed.

Second-class matter includes all newspapers, periodicals, or matter exclusively in print and regularly issued at stated intervals, and as frequently as four times a year; there must be a known office of publication and actual subscribers. Second-class matter must be so wrapped as to enable the postmaster to inspect it. The sender's name and address may be written in publications going as secondclass matter, but any other writing subjects this matter to letter

postage. Second-class matter is entitled to special delivery. Postage must be prepaid on all matter of this class, and there is no limit of weight or size. Rate, one cent for each four ounces or fraction thereof. Publishers sending to subscribers are given a rate of one cent a pound or fractional part thereof.

Third-class matter includes printed books, pamphlets, engravings, circulars in print (or by hectograph, electric pen, or similar process, when at least twenty identical copies, separately addressed, are mailed at post-office windows at one time) and other matter wholly in print, proof sheets, corrected proof sheets, and manuscript copy accompanying the same. Manuscript unaccompanied by proof sheets must pay letter rates. Third-class matter must admit of easy inspection, otherwise it will be charged letter rates on delivery. There may be placed upon the blank leaves or cover of any book a simple manuscript dedication, or inscription not of the nature of a personal correspondence. Matter of the third-class must be fully prepaid, otherwise it will not be forwarded. The limit of weight is four pounds, except single books, on which the weight is not limited. This matter is entitled to special delivery when special delivery stamps are affixed. There may be inclosed with third-class matter without changing the classification thereof a single visiting or business card; a single printed order blank, or a single printed combination order blank and coin card with envelope bearing return address, or a single postal card bearing return address. There is no limit as to size. Rate, one cent for each two ounces or fraction thereof.

Fourth-class matter includes all mailable matter not included in the three preceding classes, so prepared as to be easily withdrawn from the wrapper and examined. It embraces merchandise and samples of every description. This matter must be fully prepaid, and is entitled to special delivery. The limit of weight is four pounds. There is no limit as to size. Rate, one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof.

Second, third, and fourth class matter, whenever forwarded, require additional postage at the same rate at which they were originally mailed. Mail matter of the second, third, or fourth class is not returned to the sender if undeliverable; but if it is of obvious value the

postmaster must notify the sender that it cannot be delivered, and give him an opportunity to furnish the return postage; or in the case of third and fourth class matter, to withdraw the matter, if he so prefers, from the mails (either himself or through some person authorized by him) at the office where it is held, upon payment of 1 cent postage for each card notice sent him.

Any person who knowingly conceals or incloses any matter of a higher class in that of a lower class, and deposits or causes the same to be deposited for conveyance by mail, at a less rate than would be charged for both such higher and lower class matter, is subject, for every such offence, to a penalty of ten dollars.

Unmailable Matter. What is Unmailable. Unmailable matter includes all matter which is prohibited from being transmitted in the mails, or which, by reason of illegible, incorrect, or insufficient address of person or office cannot be forwarded to destination or delivered to the person for whom intended. Unmailable matter is classified thus:

Held for Postage. Matter insufficiently prepaid to entitle it to be forwarded. This includes domestic matter of the first class which is not prepaid at least one full rate, two cents, and all other domestic matter not fully prepaid.

Misdirected. That is, matter without address, or so incorrectly, insufficiently, or illegibly addressed that it cannot be forwarded to its destination. This includes "nixes," the term applied to designate mail matter not addressed to a post office, or addressed to a post office without the name of the state being given, or otherwise so incorrectly, illegibly, or insufficiently addressed that it cannot be transmitted.

Destructive. Articles which are of a harmful nature are forbidden the mails. Among these are poisons, explosives, or inflammable articles, fruits or vegetable matter liable to decomposition, or any article exhaling a bad odor; vinous, spirituous, and malt liquors, and liquids liable to explosion, etc.

Obscene Matter.