The Sixth Convention of the Universal Postal Union is being held in Washington this month. Delegates from all over the world are here to attend it.
The Postal Union is a union of governments to regulate the postal business between nations.
As the correspondence of the world grew larger, and the improved means of travelling made it possible for men to journey to all parts of the earth, great trouble was found in the handling of the mail matter.
The rates for carrying letters varied for each country, and infinite work and delay was caused by the calculation made necessary thereby.
At last a few of the countries most interested in the matter formulated a Universal Postal Union, which established a fixed rate for letters sent to all countries in the Union.
This plan was first suggested at Berne, in Switzerland, in 1874.
The countries agreeing to abide by this rule styled themselves the Universal Postal Union, and made many useful laws for the transmission of mail matter.
It was the hope when the Association was started that every country in the world would join it.
In 1894 the hope was so nearly realized that all countries excepting parts of Asia and Africa had become members of the Union.