Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1894 — BICYCLE MAIL SERVICE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BICYCLE MAIL SERVICE.

Something of InteroHt to Doth Stamp

Collector and Wheelman. Here is tho cut of a bicylo mail stump used in California during tho groat striko. It tolls tho roason that called for its issue. In tho upper angle are the letters “A. K. U., meaning tho American Railway Union, and in tho lower angle tho word “striko.” Tho recent blockade so interfered with mail service on tho Southern Pacific Railroad that, for rnoro than a fortnight, San Francisco was practically cut off from all railroad communication, aud

a bicycle mail Borvice was gotten up by tho agent o‘ a bicyclo manufactuer bot 'en that city and Fresno, a distance of about 210 miles. It continued for four days, when tho blockade was raised. Stamps and stamped envelopes were ha-itily do.-ignod an 1 several hundred printed, tho stamns being sold at twenty-five oents apiece and the envelopes at thirty cents. Of tho ;U0 letters carried, :t]s were stamped and forty were sent in stamped envelopes. Used specimens are already commanding a high premium in San Francisco, tho papers of that city sa , as high as $5 being paid for the stamps, while tho used envelopes aro expected to bring from $5 to $lO each.