Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1877 — Dead Letters. [ARTICLE]

Dead Letters.

From the annual report of Mr. Edgar J. Dallas, Superintendent of the DeadLetter Office, some interesting statistics are gained to show the amount of carelessness that exists among letter-writers in this country. The whole number of dead letters received at the Dead-Letter Office during the year ending June, 1877, was 3,234,800, which is 349,944 less than the number received the previous year. Of these 2,604,833 were merely letters of no special importance, about half of which were returned to the writers, or forwarded to the persons for whom they were intended. This is a reduction of about 200,000 from the number received the previous year. There were 121,165 letters received, which were properly addressed, but on which the sender bad neglected to place a stamp. The number of letters returned to the United States from foreign countries was 160,599, the persons to whom they were addressed not having called for them Avithin ninety days, the time allowed. The number of letters sent to the Dead-Letter Office containing money was 42,746; and the aggregate amount contained in them was $51,957.41. This is a reduction from the previous year, when there were received 35,612 letters, containing currency to the amount of $54,721. Last year oAvners were found for 20,884 letters, inclosing $37,952. The year previous the proportion was about the same. The money is held in tho Dead-Letter Office for one year, to the credit of tlie Avriter, but at tlie expiration of that time it goes into the United States treasury. Nearly $1,400,000 was found in 12,9,41 letters, in the shape of drafts, certificates of deposits, bonds, and other paper representing money. Of these, 11,608 letters, with inclosures valued at $1,204,405, Avere returned to their owners. There were 261,356 letters that came in containing jewelry and other articles of intrinsic value. Of these, 141,126 were delivered to their Avriters Avith the inclosures. Over 27,000 letters were found to contain photographs, and over 38,000' contained postage stamps. A great portion of these were returned either to tlie writer or the person ad-dressed.—-11 ashington Cor. Chicago Intcr-Occan.