Many persons are in the habit of addressing letters and circulars for firms and individuals, simply, “Philadelphia,” “New York,” &c. This practice not unfrequently occasions delay in such letters reaching their rightful owners. In all cases, however well the firm may be known, it is most essential, to insure their correct delivery, that the street or locality in which they reside, and the number of the house, should form a portion of the address. Many of these circulars are prepared with great care and considerable expense: yet they are so carelessly directed that not more than one-half of them ever reach their place of destination, simply because that place is not designated.
There is another matter to which we would call the attention of merchants and others, and that is, to be very careful in putting postal currency on their letters, and not revenue-stamps.
This carelessness on the part of those forwarding letters has led to much loss and inconvenience, and if persisted in they cannot blame the department, which has from time to time called public attention to the fact. Some put on their letters revenue-stamps, others no stamp at all; and in many instances letters of importance have thus lain in the office until the parties have received through the dead-letter office information of their whereabouts.
UNMAILABLE LETTERS.
“Letters attempted to be sent with stamps previously used or stamps cut from stamped envelopes.
“Unpaid letters for foreign countries, on which prepayment is required by the regulations.
“Letters not addressed, or so badly addressed that their destination cannot be known.
“Letters misdirected to places where there are no post-offices.”
It will be here seen that the government is not responsible for the ignorance and stupidity of all epistolarians.
In some instances, however, postmasters are to blame in not paying more attention to the mode of stamping letters.