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LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
For Reference Not to be taken from this room
HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA REPORTS AND PAPERS Volume XII
OFFICERS
1965-1966
President. MRS. THOMAS HANEY WINFIELD TOWNSHIP
Vice-President. WALTER F. GARD CENTER TOWNSHIP
Secretary-Recording. . MRS. CORDIE KENNEY CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP, LOWELL
Secretary-Historical
. MRS. JOSEPH E. BROWN
CENTER TOWNSHIP, CROWN POINT
Treasurer
MRS. HENRY TRIBBEY
CEDAR CREEK TOWNSHIP, LOWELL
Custodian
MRS. WM. VANDERLAAN
CENTER TOWNSHIP, CROWN POINT
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
MRS. JOSEPH E. BROWN Crown Point
MRS. WILLIAM VANDERLAAN Crown Point
MRS. CORDIE KENNEY Lowell
MRS. HENRY TRIBBEY Lowell
MRS. THOMAS HANEY Crown Point
MITCHELL-FLEMING PRINTING, INC. Edition Printers and Binders 1970 Greenfield, Indiana
I
16157893
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DEDICATION
Volume XII of the reports and papers of the secre- taries of the HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA, is respectfully dedicated to the officers, who have so faithfully performed their re- spective duties and to those people, guests and mem- bers, who have contributed time and talent to pro- vide the interesting programs. Local history and legends are thus recorded and become our heritage.
Published by THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF LAKE COUNTY INDIANA
Copyright @ 1970 by the Association All Rights Reserved
II
LAKE COUNTY By MRS. CORDIE (BESSIE) KENNEY Lowell, Lake County, Indiana
Indian trails turning into highways,
Memories of Pioneers and Wilderness,
Courage and determination march with progress,
Success on many fronts,-many, many schools and churches.
Ore changed to rails and bridges, to bolts and nails.
It is carbon becoming gems,
It is ink and paper merging,-
To great books and maps for the world. Busy people from many nations.
Lake County is landscaped with fields of waving corn,
Of golden wheat and oats,-and thick soy beans.
It is homes,-wealthy homes-modest homes- Suburbia homes and farmsteads.
It is the home of a big percent
Of the world's violin strings;
Also, of Indiana's most beautiful fairgrounds. It is where both beef and dairy cattle
Contentedly fill the pastures. Lake County is where crude oil changes
To power for cars and airplanes.
It is one of the most thickly populated spots in Indiana And closest to Chicago,
It is children-citizens of the future.
"LAKE COUNTY" is an original poem, composed by Mrs. Cordie (Bessie) Kenney, recording secretary of the Historical Association of Lake County. It concisely expresses the theme of the projet sponsored by the five historical groups in the county, for the Indiana Sesquicen- tennial celebration. The Tri-state Fair held at the Lake County Fair- grounds August 20 through August 28, 1966, incorporated this par- ticipation as a special feature of their annual program.
Richard Harrigan, chairman of the Lake County Sesquicentennial committee, designated the Lake County Historical Association to be the hostess group. Mrs. William Vanderlaan was appointed general chairman, Mrs. Joseph E. Brown, co-chairman. Mrs. Thomas W. Ha- ney, president, to be chairman of the hostess committee, assisted by the presidents of the Gary, Hammond, Hobart and East Chicago so- cieties.
III
Officers 1958-1966 Periods PRESIDENTS
JOSEPH E. BROWN 1958, 1959
CHESTER A. CLARK 1960, 1961
MISS RENA DAHL. 1962, 1963
MRS. THOMAS W. HANEY
1964, 1965, 1966
VICE-PRESIDENTS
MRS. JOHN GUNDER. 1958
MISS RENA DAHL 1959, 1960
MRS. HATTIE McNAY 1961, 1962
HENRY F. FIELER 1963
WALTER GARD 1964, 1965, 1966
RECORDING SECRETARIES
MRS. EARL LITTLE 1958
MRS. CORDIE KENNEY
.. 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
TREASURERS
PAUL W. KNIGHT. 1958
MRS. GERALD T. CROSS. 1959, 1960, 1961
MISS MARGARET KOLLING 1962, 1963, 1964
MRS. HENRY TRIBBEY .1965, 1966
HISTORICAL SECRETARIES
MISS ETHEL VINNEDGE .1958, 1959 MRS. JOSEPH E. BROWN. . 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
CUSTODIANS
MRS. CHESTER A. CLARK 1958
WALTER GARD 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963
MRS. WILLIAM VANDERLAAN 1964, 1965, 1966
OTHER PICTURES
OLD TIMERS DAY, 1934 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION (identified) THE OLD HOMESTEAD, 1847-South Court Street, Crown Point, Ind. THE LAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE THE MeGWINN VILLAGE MARKER (INDIAN TRAILS), Merrillville THE BROCHURE ART SKETCHES, SESQUICENTENNIAL PROJECT LIBRARY DAY
IV
Joseph E. Brown Pres. 1958-1959
Chester A. Clark Pres. 1960-1961
Miss Rena Dahl Pres. 1962-1963 V. P. 1959-1960
Mrs. Thomas Haney Pres. 1964-5-1966
Mrs. John Gunder V. Pres. 1958
Mrs. Hattie McNay V. P. 1961-1962
Henry F. Fieler V. P. 1963
Walter Gard V. P. 1964-5-6 Custodian 1959-63
Mrs. Earl Little Rec. Sec. 1958
Mrs. Cordie Kenney Rec. Sec. 1959-1966
Paul W. Knight Treas. 1958
Miss Margaret Kolling Treas. 1962-3-4
Mrs. Henry Tribbey Treas. 1965-1966
Miss Ethel Vinnedge Hist. Sec. 1958-1959
Mrs. Joseph E. Brown Hist. Sec. 1960-1966
Mrs. Chester A. Clark Custodian 1958
Mrs. Gerald T. Cross Treas. 1959-1961 Address Unknown
Mrs. William Vanderlaan Custodian 1964-1966
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page I
Dedication II
LAKE COUNTY-a tribute-by Mrs. Cordie Kenney III
Our Officers IV
Table of Contents V-VI
Preface VII
CHAPTER I Five Year Period-1934-1939
Recording Secretary Reports 1
Historical Secretary Papers
History of the Crown Point, Indiana, Post Office, by Oscar 4
Sauerman
History of the American Legion, by Richard S. Kaplan 16
CHAPTER II
Five Year Period-1939-1944
Recording Secretary Reports 20
Historical Secretary Papers
History of the Letz Manufacturing Company, by Adah Letz 23
Muehler (Mrs. Melvin)
History of the Perfection Musical String Company, by Miss Catherine Rhein
25
History of the Clara Barton Tent No. 6, D.U.V., by Mrs. John J. Roberts
27
History of the Grand Army of the Republic, by Matilda Diedel Roberts
30
History of the Lake County Council of Churches, by C. Al- lan Watson 34
History of the Three Creek Churches 35
History of the Lowell Grade School, by Russell Kenney 35
History of the Hammond Public Schools, by R. B. Miller 36
History of the East Chicago Schools 37
History of Education in Lake County, by Mamie Spangler 39
CHAPTER III Five Year Period-1944-1949
Recording Secretary Reports 53
Historical Secretary Papers
History of the Helix Corporation, by Miss Mary Nowiski 57
History of W.W.C.A. Radio Station, by Edward Vennon 59
CHAPTER IV
Five Year Period-1949-1954
Recording Secretary Reports 61
Historical Secretary Papers
History of Dyer, by P. T. Gettler 66
History of the Town of Schneider, by Mrs. L. O. Russell 70
History of the City of Hobart, by Miriam J. Pleak 72
CHAPTER V
Five Year Period-1954-1959
Recording Secretary Reports 102
Historical Secretary Papers
V
Historical Secretary Papers
"LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA," poem by Miss Ethel Vinnedge. . 107
"Reminiscences of Cedar Lake," by Harry Taylor 108
"Eagle Creek Township" (Diary), by Fred Homfeld 110
CHAPTER VI
Five Year Period-1959-1964
Recording Secretary Reports 114
Historical Secretary Reports-
"Covered Bridges," by D. Schultz 128
"West Creek Settlement," by Mrs. Cordie Kenney 129
"West Creek Chronicle," by Merritt D. Metz 132
"Threshing Time," Hammond Times Editorial 147
CHAPTER VII
Two Year Period-1964-1966
Recording Secretary Reports 152
Historical Secretary Papers
"Wellington A. Clark-Pioneer Citizen" 162
"The Old Homestead," by Mrs. Joseph E. Brown 166
History of Winfield Township:
"(a) Census of 1850" 170
"(b) Village of Winfield" 175
"(c) Palmer Community," by Mrs. Albert Weiler 177
"(d) Le Roy Settlement," by Mrs. Minnie Keene and Mrs. Ruth Bacon . 180
"(e) Hickory Point," by Mrs. May Homeier and Mrs. Ray- mond Sherburne . 180
HISTORICAL MARKERS IN LAKE COUNTY, by Committee 181
"LAKE COUNTY FAIR 1966 Project," by Mrs. William J. Van- derlaan
182
"Sesquicentennial Report," by Mrs. William J. Vanderlaan Brochure 188
ADDENDUM:
"Membership" 189
"Roster" (for 32 year period-incomplete) 190
"WHO is WHO and WHEN they served 201
APPENDIX 204
VI
PREFACE
Volume XII has been compiled and published pursuant to a resolution made at the 1959 annual meeting of the Association.
The Constitution as adopted in 1903 has been the general directive. At the annual meeting, September 1, 1951, Articles 1, 3, 4, 5, were amended to up-date the interests. August 29, 1959, Article 1 was amended to read "THE HISTORICAL AS- SOCIATION OF LAKE COUNTY, INDIANA." After a kindly discussion the unanimous vote was given to delete from the official name the words "The Old Settlers and."
What we say and do today becomes the history of tomor- row. Each generation increases the pace of living. Life has become a fanatical race. The Old Settlers enjoyed the pleasure of rural surroundings, the Historical Association is intricately involved in a seething county-wide urban community. Lake County is recognized as the greatest industrial region in the world. It has become a network of highways, railroads and air-communications of every kind.
The duty of the historical secretary is to present an an- nual report and at the end of each five year period to compile said reports and all material of local historical interest and issue a publication. Volume XI, the Centennial edition was produced in 1934. Volume XII incorporates the intervening years. The format of this volume presents each period as a chapter, with the exception of the last one, which is for two years, 1965-1966.
The Historical Association of Lake County participated in the state wide celebration of the Indiana Sesquicentennial, April 19-December 11, 1966. This account is a desirable cli- max for the long and tedious task of assembling in chronologi- cal order and the editing of these valuable manuscripts. It has been time consuming but equally rewarding. We ask par- don for errors and omissions that may have been made. Some of the records were incomplete in regard to dates; we hope that assignments of stories are within the period of time the program was presented. We sincerely appreciate the fine co- operation of the officers and the contributors who have made it possible to produce Volume XII. Thus is the heritage from the mid twentieth century life in Lake County, Indiana.
MRS. JOSEPH E. BROWN, Historical Secretary.
VII
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
CONSULTANT
Hubert H. Hawkins, Indianapolis, Indiana Secretary, Indiana Historical Society
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
(members of the Lake County Historical Association)
Miss Marie Saylor, Crown Point, Indiana
John Wilhelm, Hammond, Indiana Warren A. Reeder, Hammond, Indiana
R. Paul Bartolini, Independence Hill, Crown Point, Ind.
Marion Isaacs, Valparaiso, Indiana
PROOF READERS
Miss Ijunia Ball, Cedar Lake, Indiana
Miss Cerilla Saylor, Crown Point, Indiana
Mrs. Joseph E. Brown, Crown Point, Indiana
SALES AND RECEIPTS
Mrs. Cordie Kenney, Lowell, Indiana Recording Secretary
Mrs. Henry Tribbie, Lowell, Indiana Treasurer
Mitchell-Fleming Printing, Inc. Edition Printers and Binders, Greenfield, Indiana
COMPILED BY
Mrs. Joseph E. Brown, Crown Point, Indiana Historical Secretary Mrs. William Vanderlaan, Crown Point, Indiana Custodian
VIII
LAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, CROWN POINT, INDIANA
"OLD TIMERS DAY" 1934 Centennial Celebration
Front row, beginning at the observer's left (seated on floor)- Mat Lennertz, Merrillville, Indiana; Mathew J. Brown, Eagle Creek Township, Lake County, Indiana, RFD; William Taylor, Crown Point, formerly of Lowell, Indiana; Jesse Little, West Creek Township, Low- ell, Indiana, RFD.
Second row (seated)-Margaret Sauerman Doehler (Mrs. John),
Crown Point, Indiana; * Helen Willing, Mrs.
, Val-
paraiso, Porter County, Indniaa; Lydia Zuevers, Mrs.
Merrillville, Ross Township, Indiana; John Taylor, Lowell (Civil War soldier) ; * Sale Hughes Morrow Ross, Mrs. ,Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; Frances Dinwiddie Bownell, Mrs.
Lowell, Indiana; Clara Spindler Pletcher, Mrs. , Lowell,
Indiana; Etta Warner Vilmer, Mrs. , Cown Point, Indiana.
Third row (standing)-Samuel Bartlet Woods, Lottaville, Ross Township, Lake County, Indiana; William Morey, Lowell, Indiana; Alice Seritchfield, Mrs. , Lowell, Indiana; * Emma Tay- lor Palmer, Mrs. , Heglar, Idaho; Oca Palmer Vallee, Creston, Indiana; Mrs. LeGrand T. Meye, Hammond, Indiana; * Alice
Woods Cormack, Mrs. California; Beatrice Clark Brownell (Mrs. Carl), Lowell, Indiana; Charles Edward Black, Crown Point, Indiana; Jay Doak, LeRoy, Indiana (South East Grove area).
* Citizens who were born, reared and lived in Lake County, Indi- ana; those with asterisk (*) are exceptions; these people moved to other locations in later life.
CHAPTER I Five Year Period
1934-35; 1935-36; 1936-37; 1937-38; 1938-39
The 60th annual meeting of the "Old Settlers and His- torical Association of Lake County, Indiana, was convened by Jesse Little, Lowell, president, September 21, 1935, in the Fine Arts Building at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
The order of the day was registration and renewal of ac- quaintances and meeting new folk, with the traditional basket dinner at the noon tide. The appointed committee of ladies made ready long tables and served delicious and bountiful food picnic style. This, as usual, was a display of favorite recipes and evidence of the skill of these experienced home-makers. The wives and mothers of each generation carried on certain secrets from the pioneer homes. This fellowship is a cherished inheritance in the organization.
Official business consisted of the annual reports of the various officers. It was proposed and discussed that there should be a first and a second vice-president. Moved, sec- onded and carried.
A thought-provoking address was given by Fred Crum- packer, a Hammond attorney.
"Off the cuff" reminiscences were given by A. Murray Turner of Hammond, Sam B. Woods of the Griffith area, and George Kingsbury, formerly of the South East Grove neigh- borhood and LeRoy, now living in the far west. These tales of local incidents of humor, pathos, thrills and monotony were pleasant listening and it is to be regretted that they were not recorded for the future.
The 61st annual meeting was held at the First Presby- terian Church, Crown Point, October 17, 1936. Registration and the fellowship period as usual in the morning; President Little reconvened the group in the sanctuary for the business and the program. After the invocation Mayor W. Vincent Youkey welcomed all to "our fair city." Musical selections by a group from the Crown Point High School Band were nicely rendered.
Professor Ross F. Lockridge, of Indiana University and head of the Federal Writers Project, gave a very informative and interesting recital about the experiences and the explora- tions of La Salle and his party when they were in what is now Lake County.
1
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
Mrs. Walter (Genevieve) Mybeck favored the audience with several beautiful vocal numbers.
Very entertaining reminiscences were related by Frank L. Knight, city surveyor, and A. Murray Turner continued from his rich storehouse of the boyhood days in Crown Point.
Mrs. Gladys Linton, Crown Point, gave her original com- position, "Old Settlers in Rhyme." This clever skit kept the "older" ones in a query-who would be the next victim of the clever satire?
A mid-winter meeting was held in the Lake Circuit Court- room, Sunday, February 14, 1937. This session was in ob- servance of the centennial of the organization of Lake County as a separate political unit. At 2:00 P.M., President Frank Borman gaveled for order. Father Joseph Hammes gave the invocation. The salute to the flag, the pledge of allegiance, and the singing of "America" were given by the audience. The president gave a brief greeting before he announced the following program:
"Aims and Purposes of the Association" were told by Fos- ter Bruce.
"Clerks of the Lake Circuit Court" were related by Wal- ter Mybeck.
"Sheriffs of Lake County" by Carroll Holley.
"Auditors of Lake County" by Eugene Swartz.
"Courts of Lake County" by Hon. T. Joseph Sullivan.
"Commissioners of Lake County" by Alvin Sanford.
"Schools of Lake County" by Mrs. Florence Connerly.
(The program was continued after impromptu singing by the audience of "Way Back Home in Indiana.")
"Recorders of Lake County" by Frank Borman.
"Assessors of Lake County" by George Kochis.
"Legislators from Lake County" by John V. Beckman.
(Each one of the above speakers had at one time served in that respective office.)
Former sheriffs, A. Murray Turner and Thomas Grant informally reminisced about interesting experiences they had during their respective terms.
"Star Spangled Banner" was sung by the audience, direct- ed by Mrs. Fred (Louise Crawford) Young.
2
FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1934-1939
Benediction by the Reverend August Rump, of Tolleston.
The Centennial Banquet was held in the Community Building, at 6:30 P.M., February 16. The American Legion Auxiliary prepared and served the food.
Program chairman, Mrs. Joseph E. Brown, presented County Agent Lloyd E. Cutler who delighted the audience with several reels of motion pictures which he had taken during the Centennial held in 1934 at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Mrs. Brown concluded the program by recounting some of the experiences in promoting the three day Centennial program. The members of the publication committee of Volume XI were introduced. Several extemporaneous tributes were given.
The sixty-second annual meeting, September 4, 1937, was convened in the Fine Arts Building at the Fairgrounds. Greet- ings were extended by Mayor Vincent Youkey. President Borman announced that February 15, 1938, would be a special program featuring an entertainment of the Northwest Terri- tory Sesquicentennial Caravan, which will make a trek across the country from Massachusetts and all of the states compris- ing the old North West Territory, during that journey.
Charles B. Murphy, professor of history at Purdue Uni- versity and a member of the pioneer Beckman family of Han- over Township, Lake County, stressed the importance of the study of history and complimented the Society for the recent issue of Lake County, Volume XI.
Sam B. Woods extended an invitation to all to attend a centennial celebration at the old Bartlett Woods farm, Ross Township, Saturday, September 25, 1937.
Rev. August Rump, Tolleston (now a part of Gary), pas- tor of the Lutheran Church, talked about his fifty years of service in the one parish.
Vocal numbers by Mrs. Fred L. Young and Mrs. Walter R. Mybeck, and music by the Crown Point Band, Eldon Ready, director, were much appreciated.
August 24, 1938, the sixty-third annual meeting was again held in the Fine Arts Building. The sumptuous "pot-luck" dinner was followed by invocation by W. C. Belman, Ham- mond; no minister was present.
Local musical talent preceded the address by Hon. Chris- topher B. Coleman, director of the Indiana State Historical
3
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
Society. His research in Indiana has been extensive and valu- able.
Oscar Sauerman, postmaster at Crown Point, read what he had compiled from his research in Crown Point. He has chronicled the gradual development of our postal service from the time of the appointment of Solon Robinson as the first postmaster to his own appointment-the present time-Aug- ust, 1938.
The History of Crown Point, Indiana, Post Office
Read at Annual Program of Old Settlers and Historical Association, August 24, 1938
By OSCAR SAUERMAN, Postmaster
In commemoration of the early pioneers who settled in this community, and reclaimed the then wilderness for the civilization which we now enjoy, the centennial of the first white settler was celebrated in 1934, and the centennial of the formation of Lake County as a governmental unit was cele- brated in 1937.
At these events gifted narrators portrayed the county's early history which prompted the writer to attempt to salvage as much of postal history as could be obtained. It is a regret- table fact that no chronological record has been kept of the post office at Crown Point, Indiana. Hands that could have written, and tongues that may have spoken, were stilled by death before these lines were written.
Little credit for originality is taken by the writer. Facts and dates relative to this history were gleaned mostly from post office records, from Ball's histories and from memories of the pioneers still living.
The purpose of this history is to preserve for future gen- erations a summarized record of salient facts and authoritive figures, which in future years may be read with greater avid- ity than now. As we pass along life's highway, historical facts become more valuable. It is the writer's hope that each sub- sequent postmaster will continue this record by adding to it the important events of his administration.
4
FIVE YEAR PERIOD-1934-1939
Postal service of today is so common place that its value and importance is only realized when the service is inter- rupted. Few realize the effort expended and the hardships endured by the pioneers to bring this service to the stage of near perfection that now exists. Early history is replete with stories of adventure, romance and heroism in carrying mail. For this reason a very brief resume of postal history is given here.
The first people to have anything like a postal system was the Chinese. Long before the Christian era they had courier service that could be called a postal system. The Bible often refers to letters being sent by messenger service. The first record of a postal service other than direct messenger, was established by the Persians shortly before the time of Christ. They established a regular system carried on by mounted couriers.
To the Egyptians is ascribed the discovery of the art of making paper. Previous to this discovery, all messages were written upon parchment. Emperor Caesar Augustus of the Roman Empire established a postal system in Europe at about the time of Christ. It is well to note from history that the greatest progress in postal service was usually made at the time of war. Great progress was made in establishing com- munication between nations during the latter part of the ele- venth century by the Crusaders.
As early as 1639 an attempt was made to establish com- munication among the American Colonies. In 1665 regular service was established between New York and Boston. Mail was carried once each month from these cities in sealed bags. As roads were not well established, communication was car- ried on to Virginia and further south by coastwise shipping. The British Government attempted to inaugurate a postal sys- tem with little success. The cost was excessive which added to the discontent of the colonies. When the breach with Eng- land was widened by the formation of the First Continental Congress, Benjamin Franklin was appointed as the first Post- master General. Paul Revere was the first postrider.
As civilization extended into the wilderness it was closely followed by the post rider, and later by the stage coach. As early as 1805 mail was carried through Fort Wayne to Fort Dearborn, now Chicago. By 1826 regular monthly trips were made through Fort Dearborn to Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 1838 railroads were first used to carry mail between Washing-
5
HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY
ton and Philadelphia.
The most romantic period of postal service followed the settlement of the far west. In 1848 gold was discovered in California. This was an incentive for a large and rapid influx of settlers. Records are full of adventure and romance of the pony express and stage coach transportation. Volumes could be written upon this stage of postal history.
The period that concerns this office had its beginning soon after the first white settler located in this vicinity. In the autumn of 1834 Solon Robinson located upon the site that is now Crown Point, Indiana, and to him is ascribed much credit for the early progress of this settlement. He, being richly endowed with foresight and integrity, was the real pio- neer in the formation of various movements to extend civili- zation into this community.
One year after he had settled here he applied to President Andrew Jackson for the establishment of a post office, and on March 14, 1836, he received his appointment as postmaster of Lake Court House, as Crown Point was then known. For com- pensation he received the proceeds of his office. He was oblig- ed to transport the mail at his own expense from the nearest post office which at that time was Michigan City. On March 14, 1837, a contract was made with James H. Woodworth to transport the mail from LaPorte, by Lake Court House, to Joliet, Illinois. This contract evidently was not in effect very long for the records indicate that a John Bradley received the same contract later in that year for the annual salary of $450.00. Lake Court House being the only post office between LaPorte and Joliet, Illinois, mail was relayed from this office to Monticello, Indiana. During the years of 1837 and 1838 H. S. Pelton had the contract to transport the mail to Monti- cello.
Postage stamps were not in use until 1847. Previous to this time the charge was written upon the letter and either prepaid or collected upon delivery. Usually the latter. The rates at that time were high. An Act of Congress of March 2, 1825, established the following rates: on a single letter com- posed of one sheet of paper, for a distance not exceeding 30 miles, 6 cents; over 30 miles and not exceeding 80 miles, 10 cents; this charge was graduated until it reached 25 cents for over 400 miles. Each sheet of paper was rated as a letter. Thus two sheets of paper required doubled the original price.
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