Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 265, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1917 — Postage Is Just Half What It Used To Be [ARTICLE]

Postage Is Just Half What It Used To Be

Those who think the three-cent rate for postage on letter is “pretty steep** should have lived in these United States in “the good old day**’ when “for every single letter conveyed not exceeding thirty miles, the rate was 6 cents; thirty to sixty miles, 8 cents; sixty to one hundred miles, 10 cents," etc. / The act of March 3, 1863, was the first law which established a uniform rate of postage on letters regardless of distance transmitted, this law fixed the rate at 3 cents for each half ounce or fraction of the present law. This three-cent rate remained in force until Oct. 1, 1883, when the rate was reduced to 2 cents for each half ounce. The Act of Congress of March 3, 1886, and the rate on first class matter thereof. This law went into effect July 1, 1886, and remained in force until the present law, which fixes the rate at 3 cents per ounce, which, considering weight is just half the rate prevailing from 1863 to 1883.