I I, eye bolts, for holding the inner ends of the springs K and K. (Also see Fig. 2.)

K K, tension springs, 21 inches long, upon which the mail pouch is stretched. K is made of 13 by and of 14 by spring steel. The inner end of each spring is perforated with a hole, through which passes the hook of the eye bolts, and by means of which the springs are permitted to swing freely when not in use. The outer ends of the springs. are slightly narrowed and curved, one upward and the other downward, so as to prevent the handles of the pouch from slipping too easily from the springs. (Also see Fig. 2.)

LL', tension plates, screwed upon the ends of the arms. L is concave upon its upper edge, and is fastened to the superior arm in such a `manner as to hold the spring about three-eighths of an inch away from the surface of the arm. L' is the reverse of L, holding its spring away from the under surface of the inferior arm. (Also see Fig. 2.)

M, mail pouch, in position for being taken up by the catcher. The pouch should be belted or tied around the middle by a strap or string, so as to give it the proper diameter for passing easily between the prongs of the catcher, and should be hung in an inverted position, as shown in the diagram.

HOW TO OPERATE THE CATCHER.

The pouch being already placed in position, as shown in Plate B, one of the employés from within the approaching mail car seizes the handle D (Plate A), and brings the prong B to a rest in a horizontal position. On passing the crane the middle of the pouch strikes the inside of the prong B about half way out from the socket A, slides with force into the angle V, which strips it from its fastenings upon the crane and carries it forward with the car, into which it is taken by the employé inside. The arms of the crane, being thus set free at once drop to the perpendicular position of rest.

IX.-POSTAGE-STAMPS; STAMPED ENVELOPES; POSTAL CARDS, ETC.

The use of postage stamps in the United States was first authorized by act of Congress approved March 3, 1847, and their issue, in denominations of 5 and 10 cents only, to meet the then existing rates of postage, was begun by the Post-Office Department on the 1st of July following. Previous to this date postage was collected entirely in money, its prepayment being in all cases optional.

On the 1st of July, 1851, under the operation of the act of Congress of March 3 of that year, reducing the rates of postage, a new series of postage-stamps was adopted, consisting at first of denominations of 1

and 3 cents only, but subsequently of the additional denominations of 5, 10, 12, 24, 30, and 90 cents. The issue of these stamps continued until 1861, when, soon after the commencement of the late rebellion, to prevent the use of such of them as were outstanding in the hands of postmasters in the insurrectionary States, the series was superseded by a new one of the same denominations, but of different designs and colors. Another denomination-2 cents-was, however, added on the 1st of July, 1863, to accommodate the local rate of postage. Moreover, in consequence of a change in the rates of newspaper postage, special stamps of large size, in denominations of 5, 10, and 25 cents, were issued on the 1st of April, 1865, but soon fell into disuse on account of unpopularity. In March, 1869, a new series of stamps replaced those then in use, of the same denominations, except that a 6-cent was substituted for the 5-cent stamp, but the series not meeting with favor, it was, in its turn, superseded in May, 1869, by the stamps now in use. The same denominations continued to be employed, with the subsequent addition of a 7-cent stamp, until July 1, 1875, when a 5-cent stamp was added, and the 7, 12, and 24 cent stamps were discontinued. The series, therefore, at present consists of the following denominations: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30, and 90 cents.

By act of Congress of March 3, 1873, in consequence of the repeal of the franking privilege, the Postmaster-General was required to provide stamps or stamped envelopes, of special design, for each of the several Executive Departments, to prepay postage on official matter passing through the mails. The issue of these stamps was commenced on the 24th of May, 1872, for use on the 1st of July following, and still continues. Their denominations are as follows: Executive, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 10 cents; Department of State, 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents, and 2, 5, 10, and 20 dollars; Treasury, War, and Navy Departments, each, 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents; Departments of Interior, Justice, and Post-Office, each, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents; Department of Agriculture, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, and 30 cents.

Under the act of Congress approved June 23, 1874, stamps of special designs were provided for the prepayment of postage on newspapers and periodicals mailed from known offices of publication or news agen cies. The act took effect on the 1st of January, 1875, but the issue was begun on the 11th of December previous, and still continues. The following are the denominations: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, and 96 cents, and 1.92, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 dollars.

The following tables give the issues of postage-stamps from the date of their adoption to the present time:

Official postage-stamps.

June 30, 1873.* June 30, 1874. June 30, 1875. June 30, 1876. Aggregate.

The first issue of stamped envelopes was begun in June, 1853, the denominations being 3 and 6 cents; but during the following year the design of the 3-cent envelope was altered, and on the 25th of April, 1855, a 10-cent envelope was added. This series remained uninterruptedly in use until October, 1860, when it was succeeded by new designs of all three denominations, with additions of a 1 and a 4 cent denomination (the latter being a combination of the 1 and 3 cent stamps) in December, 1860, and of 12, 20, 24, and 40 cent denominations in January, 1861. In July of the same year (owing to the rebellion in the Southern States), the designs of the three principal denominations-3, 6, and 10 cents-were again changed, remaining in use until September, 1864, when the 3 and 6 cent designs were further altered. In June, 1863, however, a 2-cent denomination was adopted, and in December,

1865, four others-9, 12, 18, and 30 cents-the 24 and 40 cent denominations being likewise changed in design. This series, consisting of denominations of 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 18, 20, 24, 30, and 40 cents, continued in use until 1870.

Up to October, 1859, the stamped envelopes issued had all been plain, but at that time a self-ruling envelope was added to the series, meeting, however, with only a moderate demand. In May, 1865, envelopes containing a printed request for the return of the letter to the writer, in case of non-delivery, began to be issued, becoming popular at once. There were also issued, in August, 1861, for the first time, stamped note and letter sheets of the denomination of 3 cents, which, though only partially successful, remained in use until April, 1864.

On the 1st of October, 1870, the entire series of stamped envelopes was changed in design, and in some of its denominations, the latter consisting of 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, 30, and 90 cents. These designs and denominations have remained unchanged up to the present time, with the exception of the 12 and 24 cents, which have been recently discontinued. A 5 and a 7 cent denomination were also added, but the 7 cent has also lately gone out of use. For some time after the adoption of this series, envelopes were furnished, when desired, with black or faint blue lines on their face, to indicate the place for the superscription, but they continued in demand for a comparatively short period. The envelopes now being issued are of seven different sizes, of three qualities of paper, of four colors, and are furnished either plain or with "printed request," according to the desire of purchasers.

In May of the present year an entirely new and distinctive design of stamped envelope was adopted for issue during the continuance of the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia. Their manufacture began on the 10th of May and ended on the 10th of November. Only two sizes were made, both of first quality white paper, and of the same denomination (3 cents), the stamp on the larger size, however, being printed in red, and that on the smaller in green. The design was a shield, bearing in the upper half the device of a mounted post-boy and the date 1776, and in the lower half a representation of a "fast-mail train" and a telegraph line with the date 1876, as the principal figures.

In addition to the several kinds of stamped envelopes, described in the foregoing sketch, there was adopted, in October, 1861, a new article of postal manufacture, known as the newspaper wrapper, the convenience of which was at once recognized. So great, indeed, was the popular sense of their utility, that the issue during the first three months succeeding their introduction amounted to nearly 1,000,000. Since then they have continued to form a part of the series of stamped envelopes, and the demand for them annually increases. They are made of inexpensive manila paper, are of oblong shape, and of such size as to allow of two folds over an ordinary-sized newspaper. At first the denomination was 2 cents; in October, 1870, it was changed to 1 cent; at present they are issued of both denominations.

Soon after the repeal of the franking privilege and the consequent adoption of official stamps, two of the Executive Departments-the War and Post-Office-began the use, also, of official stamped envelopes to cover official matter passing through the mails. Such envelopes are still being used, of denominations as follows: War Department, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15, 24, and 30 cents; Post-Office, 2, 3, and 6 cents. The War Department envelopes are of colors and qualities such as are sold to the public; the Post-Office envelopes are of four sizes only, and all are of the same color and quality. None of the other Executive Departments have ever used official stamped envelopes.

The following tables' show the number of stamped envelopes issued to postmasters for sale to the public, and of official stamped envelopes issued to the War and Post-Office Departments for official use, from the first issue to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876. In the first of these tables newspaper wrappers are included under the head of plain envelopes.

Statement of stamped envelopes issued to postmasters for sale to the public from 1853 to 1876, inclusive.

*These amounts include 212,300 stamped note and letter sheets (166,100 letter and 46,200 note). Statement of official stamped envelopes issued to the War and Post-Office Departments from 1872 to 1876, inclusive.