always fully and plainly written or printed inside or on the envelopes. Persons who have large correspondence find it most convenient to use special request envelopes;" but those who only mail an occasional letter can avoid much trouble by writing a request to return if not delivered, etc.. on the envelope. When dropping a letter, newspaper, etc., into a street mailing-box, or into the receptacle at a post-office, always see that the packet falls into the box and does not stick in its passage; observe, also, particularly, whether the postage stamps remain securely in their places. matter. Postage stamps should be placed on the upper right-hand corner of the address side of all mail The street and number (or box number) should form a part of the address of all mail matter directed to cities. In most cities there are many persons, and even firms, bearing the same name. Before depositing any package or other article for mailing, the sender should assure himself that it is wrapped and packed in the manner prescribed by postal regulations; that it does not contain unmailable matter nor exceed the limit of size and weight as fixed by law; and that it is fully prepaid and properly addressed. The postage stamps on all mail matter are necessarily cancelled at once, and the value of those affixed to packages that are afterward discovered to be short-paid or otherwise unmailable is therefore liable to be lost to the senders. It is unlawful to send an ordinary letter by express or otherwise outside of the mails unless it be inclosed in a Government-stamped envelope. It is also unlawful to inclose a letter in an express package unless it pertains wholly to the contents of the package. It is forbidden by the regulations of the Post-Office Department for postmasters to give to any person information concerning the mail matter of another, or to disclose the name of a box-holder at a post-office. Letters addressed to persons temporarily sojourning in a city where the Free Delivery System is in operation should be marked "Transient" or "General Delivery," if not addressed to a street and number or some other designated place of delivery. Foreign books, etc., infringing United States copyright are undeliverable if received in foreign mails, or mailed here. The foregoing rates, rules, and suggestions apply to postal matters in the United States. Foreign Mails. POSTAGE RATES AND CONDITIONS. THE rates of postage to all foreign countries and colonies (except Canada and Mexico) are as follows: Letters, per 15 grams (1⁄2 ounce)... Postal cards, each. Newspapers and other printed matter, per 2 ounces.. ounces or fraction thereof.. Commercial papers (such as legal and insurance (Packets not in excess of 10 ounces.. 5 cents. 2 cents. 1 cent. 5 cents. 1 cent. 2 cents. 1 cent. 8 cents. Ordinary letters for countries of the Postal Union (except Canada and Mexico) will be forwarded, whether any postage is prepaid on them or not. All other mailable matter must be prepaid at least partially. Domestic rates apply to Porto Rico, Guam, Philippine Islands, Cuba, Tutuila, and Hawaii. CANADA. Letters, per ounce, prepayment compulsory. Newspapers, per 4 ounces..... ..... Merchandise, not exceeding 4 pounds 6 ounces. Samples of merchandise, same as to other Postal Union countries. 2 cents. 1 cent. 1 cent. 1 cent. 8 cents. Any article of correspondence may be registered. Packages of merchandise are subject to the regulations of either country to prevent violations of the revenue laws; must not be closed against inspection, and must be so wrapped and inclosed as to be easily examined. Samples must not exceed 12 ounces in weight. No sealed packages other than letters in their usual and ordinary form may be sent by mail to Canada. Mails for and via United States Postal Agency at Shanghai go at domestic rates and conditions. except letters (5 cents) and postal cards (2 cents). Samples of merchandise (must not exceed 12 ounces), 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fraction. Sealed packages prohibited. MEXICO. Letters, newspapers, and printed matter are now carried between the United States and Mexico at same rates as in the United States. Samples, 2 cents for first 4 ounces, and 1 cent for each additional 2 ounces; limit of weight, 12 ounces. Merchandise other than samples may only be sent by Parcels Post. No sealed packages other than letters in their usual and ordinary form may be sent by mail to Mexico, nor any package over 4 pounds 6 ounces in weight. SAMPLES. Packets of samples of merchandise are admissible up to 12 ounces in weight, and the following dimensions apply to all Postal Union countries: 12 inches in lengths, 8 inches in width, and 4 inches in depth, or if they are in the form of a roll, 12 inches in length and 6 inches in diameter. Merchandise of salable value and goods not in execution of orders, or as gifts, must be paid at full letter rate. PARCELS POST. Unsealed packages of mailable merchandise may be sent by Parcels Post to Jamaica (including Turk's Island), Barbadoes, the Bahamas, British Honduras, Mexico, the Leeward Islands, the Republic of Colombia, Costa Rica, Salvador, British Guiana, Danish West Indies (St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John) and the Windward Islands (St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada, and the Grenadines), Trinidad, including Tobago, Chile, Venezuela (20 cents per pound), and Newfoundland, Honduras (Republic of), Germany, New Zealand, and Nicaragua, at the following postage rate: For a parcel not exceeding one pound in weight, 12 cents; for each additional pound or fraction thereof, 12 cents. The maximum weight allowed is eleven pounds-the extreme dimensions allowed for Mexico, Costa Rica, and Colombia being two feet length by four feet girth, and for the other countries not more than three feet six inches in length, nor more than six feet in length and girth combined. Parcels must be wrapped so as to permit their contents to be easily FOREIGN MAILS-Continued. examined by postmasters. Poisonous, explosive, and inflammable substances are excluded. Parcels may be registered for 8 cents each to any of the above places, except Barbadoes. Rates and conditions to countries not in the Universal Postal Union are now the same as those to Universal Postal Union countries. GENERAL REGULATIONS RESPECTING FOREIGN MAILS. Postage can be prepaid upon articles only by means of the postage stamps of the country in which the articles are mailed. Hence articles mailed in one country addressed to another country which bear postage stamps of the country to which they are addressed are treated as if they had no postage stamps attached to them. Unpaid letters received from the Postal Union are chargeable with 10 cents per 15 grams ( ounce). Insufficiently prepaid correspondence of all kinds is chargeable with double the amount of the deficient postage. Matter to be sent in the mails at less than letter rates must be so wrapped that it can be readily examined at the office of delivery, as well as the mailing office, without destroying the wrapper. Newspapers and periodicals sent in the mails to foreign countries other than those of the Postal Union should be wrapped singly. Those sent by publishers to regular subscribers in Canada and Mexico are transmissible as in domestic mails, except that packages addressed to Mexico must not exceed 4 pounds 6 ounces in weight. The United States two-cent postal card should be used for card correspondence with foreign countries (except Canada, Cuba, and Mexico, to which countries the one-cent card is transmissible), but where these cards cannot be obtained, it is allowable to use for this purpose the United States one-cent postal card with a one-cent United States adhesive postage stamp attached thereto. Private cards can now be used if conforming in size, etc., to Government cards, and bearing words "Postal CardCarte Postale." Mail matter of all kinds received from any country of the Postal Union is required to be reforwarded at the request of the addressee, from one post-office to another, or to any foreign country embraced in the Postal Union, without additional charge for postage. All articles prohibited from domestic mails are also excluded from circulation in the mails to and from foreign countries. Postal cards or letters addressed to go around the world will not be forwarded, being prohibited. The act of March 3, 1883, imposes a duty of 25 per cent ad valorem on all printed matter not therein otherwise provided for, without regard to mode of importation. Under said act all printed matter, except newspapers and periodicals, and except printed matter other than books imported in the mails for personal use, is subject to the regular duty of 25 per cent ad valorem. FOREIGN (INTERNATIONAL) MONEY ORDERS. There are now in operation postal conventions for the exchange of money orders between the United States and the following countries, viz.: Switzerland, Great Britain and Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Newfoundland, Jamaica, New South Wales, Victoria, New Zealand, Queensland, the Cape Colony, the Windward Islands, the Leeward Islands, Belgium, Portugal, Tasmania, Sweden, Norway, Japan, Denmark, Netherlands, Dutch East Indies, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, British Guiana, Republic of Honduras, Austria, Hungary, Hong Kong, Salvador, Bermuda, Luxembourg, South Australia, Cuba, Chile, British Honduras, Egypt, Finland, and Korea. Upon receiving an international money order from the issuing postmaster the remitter must send it, at his own cost, to the payee, if the latter resides in Canada, Great Britain and Ireland, Queensland, Cape Colony, France and Algeria, New Zealand, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Jamaica, Leeward and Windward Islands and Constantinople, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, British Guiana, Hong Kong, Bermuda, South Australia, Cuba, and British Honduras. But the order should be retained by the remitter if the intended beneficiary live in any of the following named countries: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, British India, Egypt, Japan, Salvador, Luxembourg, Chile, Finland, and Korea, in which case it is of no value except as evidence of deposit of the sum therein mentioned. Another and different form of order will be forwarded to the payee by the exchange office in the country of payment. The rates of commission or fees charged for the issue of all international money orders are as follows: For sums not exceeding $10, 10 cents; over $10 and not exceeding $20, 20 cents; over $20 and not exceeding $30, 30 cents; over $30 and not exceeding $40, 40 cents; over $40 and not exceeding $50, 50 cents; over $50 and not exceeding $60, 60 cents; over $60 and not exceeding $70, 70 cents over $70 and not exceeding $80, 80 cents; over $80 and not exceeding $90, 90 cents; over $90 and not exceeding $100, one dollar. Domestic rates and regulations apply to money orders for Cuba, Hawaii, Porto Rico, and the Philippine Islands. Endia, China, Japan, and Australia Mails. FIGURES in parentheses indicate numer of days in transit from port of embarkation. The Post-Office Department allows 5 days for transmission of mails from New York to San Francisco, 6 days from New York to Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver, and 8 days from New York to London, Eng. Leave London, Eng., every Friday for Aden (10), Bombay (15). Colombo (18), Singapore (22-25), Hong Kong (29-32), Shanghai (35), Yokohama (39-41). By Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navi. gation Co. and Messageries Maritimes. Leave San Francisco. Cal., about every 7 to 10 days for Hong Kong (29), Shanghai (26), Yokohama (19). By Pacific Mail and Occidental and Oriental Steamship lines. Leave Vancouver, B. C., about every 28 days for Hong Kong (22), Shanghai (19), Yokohama (14). By Canadian Pacific Steamship Line. Leave Tacoma. Wash., about every 9 to 26 days for Hong Kong (26-31), Shanghai (22-26), Yokohama (15-18). By Northern Pacific Steamship Co. Leave Seattle, Wash., about every 14 to 21 days for Hong Kong (32), Yokohama (17). By Great Northern Steamship Line. AUSTRALIA MAILS.-Mails for West Australia are all sent via London, Eng. Leave San Francisco, Cal., every 9 to 12 days for Honolulu, Sandwich Islands (7); and every 21 days for Pago Pago (13), Auckland, New Zealand (18), Sydney, New South Wales (22). By Oceanic Steamship Co. Mails also leave Vancouver, B.C., about every 28 days for Honolulu, Brisbane, Sydney. Leave London, Eng., every Friday for all parts of Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, etc. Postal Distances and Time from New York City. As indicated by the Official Postal Guide, showing the distance by shortest routes and time in transit by fastest trains from New York City. CITIES IN UNITED STATES. Miles. Hours. CITIES IN UNITED STATES. Miles. Hours. CITIES IN UNITED STATES. Miles. Hours. DISTANCES AND MAIL TIME TO FOREIGN CITIES FROM THE CITY OF NEW YORK. 907 1397 1195 ROME 647 840 414 639 1048 1180 1033 1746 1223 TRIESTE 510 487 370 391 533 888 1066 1009 1828 1416 863 1352 1150 WARSAW 806 1276 702 436 1156 1021 398 576 895 2593 1925 1067 1557 1355 CONSTANTINOPLE 1205 1725 2138 1564 1298 2018 1883 1699 1903 2025 3345 2718 1899 2232 2030 ODESSA 363 842 1330 1800 1226 960 1680 1545 1240 1418 1737 3117 2625 1760 2119 1917 Moscow 950 1339 811 1617 2087 1513 1247 1967 1832 1209 1387 1706 3414 2904 1843 2117,1915 ST. PETERSBURG 406 1356 1733 693 1769 2239 1395 399 2119 1714 1091 1269 1588 3286 2874 1699 1976 1774 STOCKHOLM 430 836 1510 2408 1082 1171 1731 1084 1110 1337 1176 685 580 993 2384 1972 1219 1491 1289 COPENHAGEN 416 846 1252 1510 1510 668 1067 1318 671 697 1047 885 270 208 620 2012 1600 812 1181 979 Metric System of Weights and Measures. THE METRIC SYSTEM has been adopted by Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Peru, etc., and except Russia and Great Britain, where it is permissive, by all European nations. Various names of the preceding systems are, however, frequently used: In Germany, kilogram = 1 pound; in Switzerland, 3-10 of a metre 1 foot, etc. If the first letters of the prefixes deka, hecto, kilo, myria, from the Greek, and deci, centi, mili, from the Latin, are used in preference to our plain English, 10, 100, etc., it is best to employ capital letters for the multiples and small letters for the subdivisions, to avoid ambiguities in abbreviations: 1 dekametre or 10 metres 1 Dm.; 1 decimetre or 1-10 of a metre = 1 dm. The METRE, unit of length, is nearly the ten-millionth part of a quadrant of a meridian, of the distance between Equator and Pole. The International Standard Metre is, practically, nothing else but a length defined by the distance between two lines on a platinum-iridium bar at 00 Centigrade, deposited at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, Paris, France. The LITRE, unit of capacity, is derived from the weight of one kilogram pure water at greatest density, a cube whose edge is one-tenth of a metre and, therefore, the one-thousandth part of a metric ton. The GRAM, unit of weight, is a cube of pure water at greatest density, whose edge is one-hundredth of a metre, and, therefore, the one-thousandth part of a kilogram, and the one-millionth part of a metric ton. One silver dollar weighs 25 grams, 1 dime = 2% grams, 1 five-cent nickel 5 grams. The Metric System was legalized in the United States on July 28, 1866, when Congress enacted as follows: The tables in the schedule hereto annexed shall be recognized in the construction of contracts, and in all legal proceedings, as establishing, in terms of the weights and measures now in use in the United States, the equivalents of the weights and measures expressed therein in terms of the metric system, and the tables may lawfully be used for computing, determining, and expressing in customary weights and measures the weights and measures of the metric system. The following are the tables annexed to the above: TABLES FOR THE CONVERSION OF METRIC WEIGHTS AND MEASURES INTO CUSTOMARY UNITED STATES EQUIVALENTS AND THE REVERSE, From the legal equivalents are deduced the following tables for converting United States weights and measures: METRIC TO CUSTOMARY. CUSTOMARY TO METRIC. Me LINEAR MEASURE. Kilome Ins. Cen Me- SQUARE MEASURE. 1 2.54 1-0,304798 1-0.914393 1 |