The Report of 1889 states that "the Post Office Act of 1889 increased the limit of weight of a single rate letter from ½ ounce to 1 ounce. The rate on drop letters at the same time was fixed at 2 cents per ounce." The
Act[115] referred to was an amendment to the Post Office Act, (assented to on the 2nd May, 1889), and the notice of the changes issued to the public was as follows:—
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.
CHANGES IN POSTAGE RATES UNDER AUTHORITY OF POST OFFICE ACT 1889.
The rate of postage upon Letters posted in Canada, addressed to places within the Dominion or in the United States, will be 3 cents per ounce instead of 3 cents per half ounce as heretofore.
Upon Drop Letters posted at an Office from which letters are delivered by Letter Carrier, the postage rate will be 2 cents per ounce, instead of 1 cent per half ounce. The rate of postage upon Drop Letters, except in the Cities where free delivery by Letter Carrier has been established, will be 1 cent per ounce.
The fee for the Registration of a letter or other article of mail matter, will be five cents upon all classes of correspondence passing within the Dominion. For the present and until further instructed, the registration fee may be prepaid by using the 2 cent Registration Stamps and Postage Stamps to make up the amount.
Letters insufficiently prepaid will be charged double the deficiency as heretofore, provided at least a partial prepayment has been made.
Letters posted wholly unpaid will be sent to the Dead Letter Office for return to the writer.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, JOHN G. HAGGART.
OTTAWA, 8th MAY, 1889 Postmaster General