USA > Pennsylvania > Jefferson County > Jefferson County, Pennsylvania : her pioneers and people, 1800-1915, Volume I > Part 44
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It is interesting to note that the State pub- lished these laws in German as well as English until 1856.
AUDITORS
The first county auditors were elected in 1825. Prior to 1875 one candidate was elected each year, to serve three years. Since 1875 three have been elected every third year, in the same manner as county commissioners.
In the summer of 1861 A. H. Tracy en- listed in the army and Ira Bronson was ap- pointed to serve as auditor in his place until the next election. The following comprises a full list of the auditors elected in the county :
1825, James Corbet, Alonzo Baldwin, Thomas Robinson: 1826. James Brockway ; 1827, Jonathan Coon; 1828, John Christie; 1829, Joseph Mccullough; 1830, John Hess ; 1831, William Kelso; 1832, David Postle- wait; 1833. John Welsh ; 1834, William Fer- guson ; 1835, J. J. Y. Thompson ; 1836, Hance Robinson ; 1837. C. A. Alexander ; 1838, Jesse Smith : 1839, M. Johnston; 1840, James Gray ; 1841, James Perry; 1842, Woodward Rey- nolds ; 1843. John Pifer ; 1844. A. Mckinstry ; 1845, James Perry ; 1846, William Davis; 1847, C. R. B. Morris ; 1848, J. K. Ormond ; 1849, Samttel Milliron ; 1850, B. S. Wesson ; 1851, Irwin Robinson ; 1852, Robert Moor- head ; 1853, Robert Gourley ; 1854, George W. Andrews; 1855, Joseph B. Graham; 1856, Woodward Reynolds; 1857, Truman London ; 1858, Robert R. Means; 1859, A. H. Tracy ; 1860. W. W. Reed; 1861, Joel Spyker; 1862, Charles Jacox; 1863. Ninian Cooper; 1864, Miles Vasbinder ; 1865, Joseph L. Millen : 1866, J. B. Morris : 1867, R. R. Means ; 1868, Eli Coulter ; 1869, R. M. Matson : 1870. W. E. Simpson; 1871, M. C. Thompson ; 1872, D. S. Orcutt ; 1873. J. G. Mitchell.
In 1873 the new Constitution provided for the election of the three auditors at the same
election, to serve for three years : 1875, James F. Hawthorn, M. H. Williams, Eli Coulter; 1878, James F. Hawthorn, Henry A. Smith, Samuel McDonald; 1881, W. A. Andrews, IV. C. Smith, Robert Dougherty; 1884, Thomas R. Harris, W. A. Andrews, Frank M. Woods ; 1887, Joseph W. Mayes, Samuel Shill- ing, James Chambers; 1890, D. G. Gourley, W. M. McGarey, C. W. Espy; 1893, James B. Jordan, S. C. Ewing, C. A. Morris; 1896, Thomas B. Adams, I. M. Mclaughlin, S. R. Kelly; 1899, W. A. McGee, S. C. Ewing, W. T. Pifer; 1903, Thomas B. Adams, Ethber Taylor, W. T. Pifer; 1906, Thomas B. Adams, G. H. Smail, J. H. Carr ; 1909, Thomas B. Adams, David Neil, S. M. Shields; 1912, I. B. Mclaughlin, David Neil, S. M. Shields ( Neil resigned in 1914, and W. T. Nicholson was appointed to fill the vacancy) ; 1915, Frank A. Glenn, W. D. Campbell, N. H. Diener.
PROTIIONOTARIES, REGISTERS AND RECORDERS
The office of prothonotary becanie elective in 1839, prior to which time the incumbents had been appointed by the governor.
An act of Assembly in 1831 relieved the prothonotary, register and recorder (then one office), of Jefferson county from payment of State tax on his fees and commissions, and refunded all such taxes already paid by him. In 1839 an act was approved authorizing one person to hold and exercise the several offices of prothonotary, clerk of the courts, register and recorder in the county of Jefferson, and all the records were kept in the prothonotary's office until 1893, when the separate office of "register and recorder" was created.
James Corbet, grandfather of Judge Charles Corbet, was appointed by Governor Wolf on the organization of the county in 1830. He was a Whig, and served until Thomas Hastings, grandfather of Thomas K. Hastings, was appointed by the same governor. In politics he was a Democrat. He served until January or February of 1836, when Thomas Lucas, an antimason, was appointed by Governor Ritner. Lucas served until De- cember, 1839. These were the only persons who filled the office by appointment. Follow- ing are the names of those elected by the voters of the county :
Levi G. Glover, Brookville, Democrat, 1839; John McCrea. Punxsutawney, Whig, 1842; John J. Y. Thompson, Corsica, Democrat, 1845; Samuel HI. Lucas, Brookville, Whig, 1848; William McCandless, Brookville, Dem-'
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ocrat, 1851 ; D. C. Gillespie, Brookville, Amer- ican, 1854: W. W. Corbet, Brookville, Dem- ocrat, 1857; Joseph Henderson, Brookville, Republican, 1860; Henry Brown, Bell, Dem- ocrat, 1863; John M. Steck, Brookville, Democrat, 1866; John M. Steck, Brookville, Democrat, 1869; Joseph B. Henderson, Brook- ville, Republican, 1872; Joseph B. Henderson, Brookville, Republican, 1875; Thomas K. Hastings, Punxsutawney, Democrat, 1878; Thomas K. Ilastings, Punxsutawney, 1881; Scott McClelland, Brookville, Republican, 1884: Scott McClelland, 1887; W. A. Neale, Brookville, Republican, 1890; W. D. Clarke, Brockwayville, Republican, 1893; W. D. Clarke, 1896; Cyrus H. Blood, Brookville, Republican, 1899: Cyrus H. Blood. 1902; Cyrus H. Blood, 1905; Blake E. Irvin, Brook- ville, Republican. 1908: Blake E. Irvin, 1911; Blake E. Irvin, 1915.
The separate office of "register and re- corder" for Jefferson county was created by the State Legislature in 1893. Prior to that time the duties of the register and recorder were performed by the prothonotary, and the records were kept in that office. The act of Assembly creating the office of register and recorder became fully effective on the first Monday in January, 1894, when John S. Barr, who had been elected the November before, was sworn into office. Under the act creating this new office in the county, he took charge of all matters relating to the registering of wills. granting of letters testamentary, and letters of administration, recording of deeds and other instruments, and is the clerk of the Orphans' court, having charge of all matters coming under the care of the Orphans' court. Following are the names of the several per- sons who have been elected to the office of register and recorder, with the year of their election : 1803. John S. Barr: 1896, John S. Barr; 1800, John D. Evans; 1902. Gil. C. Reitz: 1905, Joseph B. Means; 1908. Ira Campbell; 1911, Perry AA. Hunter; 1915. W. G. Buffington.
CORONERS
The first coroner was elected in 1830 for the term of three years: 1830, John Lucas : 1833. J. Christie: 1836, Joseph Sharp; 1838, John Farheart: 1839, John Lucas; 1842. Henry Freas : 1845. James K. Hoffman ; 1847. Jacob Shaffer; 1848, John W. Jenks; 1851. D. C. Gillespie ; 1851. Martin R. Cooley ; 1856, A. M. Clarke: 1857-1867, none elected ; 1867, Ilugh Dowling ; 1874. M. Rodgers : 1875. J. T.
Bennett; 1881, Martin J. Sarvey; 1884, Wil- liam M. Rockey; 1887, Joseph B. Morris; 1800, E. O. McHenry ; 1892, Walter W. Mat- son ; 1895. John C. Cochran; 1898, George H. Humphreys; 1901, E. V. Kyle; 1904, E. V. Kyle: 1907, E. V. Kyle; 1911, J. C. Sayers ; 1915, N. Clyde Mills.
COUNTY SURVEYORS
By an act passed and approved April 9, 1850, the county surveyor was elected for a term of three years. Previous to said act he was appointed by the surveyor general. There do not appear to have been any appoint- ments made for Jefferson county. In 1850 Cyrus Blood was elected ; 1853, Joel Spyker ; 1856, John J. Y. Thompson ; 1859, 1862, James Caldwell; 1865, James W. Drum; 1868, 1871, James Caldwell : 1874. William J. Drum ; 1877, Eli Coulter; 1880, 1883, Abner Spyker; 1886, James. B. Caldwell: 1889. 1900. John R. Gourley : 1907 to 1913, John R. Gourley, re- signed, and J. Frank Arthurs appointed ; 1915, J. Frank . Arthurs.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The first commissioners for Jefferson county were elected in 1824. Thereafter one was elected each year, giving each a term of three years in office, the oldest incumbent's time being expired when the newly-elected officer took his place. In the spring of 1834 Charles R. Barclay resigned, and John Lat- timer was appointed to take his place until the next election. George W. Porter died March 31, 1849, but no appointment was made to fill the vacancy. In December, 1857. Joel Spyker resigned, and, at the request of the remaining commissioners, the court appointed Francis Shrauger to fill the vacancy until the next election. The incumbents of the office
have been : 1824. Andrew Barnett, John Lucas. John W. Jenks: 1825. David Postlethwaite ; 1826, Frederick Hettrick; 1827, Thomas McKee: 1828. Thomas Lucas; 1829, Elijah Ileath : 1830, Robert Andrews: 1831, John B. llenderson : 1832, Charles R. Barclay : 1833. Levi G. Clover: 1834. James Corbet; 1835. James Winslow : 1836, John Philliber; 1837. John Pierce: 1838, Daniel Coder; 1839, Irvin Robinson : 1840, Benjamin McCreight ; 1841. Joel Spyker; 1842. John Gallagher; 1843, John Drum: 1844, Enoch Hall: 1845. David llarl; 1846, George W. Porter; 1847, James Wilson : 1848, Alexander Mckinstry ; 1849. Abram Winsor; 1850. Charles B. Hutchison :
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
1851, Thomas Hall; 1852, Jacob S. Steck; 1853, David Henry; 1854, C. McCullough; 1855, Benjamin McCreight ; 1856, Joel Spyker ; 1857, Jolin Boucher; 1858. John Thompson ; 1859, Charles R. B. Morris; 1860, Andrew Smith ; 1861, Charles B. Hutchison ; 1862, Benjamin McCreight; 1863, Darius Carrier; 1864, Charles B. Hutchison : 1865, Joseph P. Lucas ; 1866, Andrew J. Monks: 1867, James M. Morris: 1868, Joseph P. Lucas; 1869, Robert Dougherty ; 1870, Henry A. Hum; 1871, Martin V. Shaffer; 1872, Robert A. Travis ; 1873. Samuel A. Hunter.
Under the new constitution the entire board of commissioners were elected at the same time, to serve for three years: 1875, R. A. Travis, S. A. Hunter. R. A. Summerville ; 1878, R. A. Summerville, W. D. Reitz, Oliver Brady; 1881, James B. Jordan, Samuel Mc- Donald, Kennedy L. Blood (the vote for third commissioner was a tie between Uriah Mat- son and G. B. Carrier, and Kennedy L. Blood was appointed by the court) ; 1884, Edward Barry, James B. Jordan, Thomas H. Wilson ; 1887, Edward Barry, James A. Cathers, T. H. Wilson ; 1890, Joseph Darr. M. F. Words, A. W. Mulhollan : 1893, S. M. Shields, Daniel Brewer, Samuel States ; 1896, John J. Hinder- liter, Val. S. Murray, Samuel States; 1899, IV. C. Murray, Newton Webster, Al. Hawk; 1902, Newton Webster, Al. Hawk, Harvey D. Hawk; 1905, J. N. Kelly, John Barr, E. T. McGaw: 1908, A. F. Reitz, E. T. McGaw, J. N. Kelly; 1911, John G. Monk, A. B. Howard. Harry L. Grube: 1915, John G. North, H. M. Cochran, Harry L. Grube. Mr. Cochran is president of the board, Mr. North secretary.
COMMISSIONERS' CLERKS
The record for the early years is not quite complete, but so far as known this office has been filled as follows: 1824-26, Ira White; 1828, James Diven : 1829, William Morrison ; 1830-31, William M. Kennedy; 1832. Ben- jamin Bartholomew; 1833. Jesse Smith; 1834-35. John Beck; 1836, John Wilson ; 1838-39. Jesse G. Clark: 1840-41, William Rodgers; 1842-43. Hugh Brady ; 1846, Joseph IIenderson: 1847-1848-1849, Paul Darling ; 1850-1851-1852, E. R. Brady; 1853, John J. Y. Thompson; 1854. C. B. Hutchison ; 1855- 1857-1858, Hugh Brady: 1859-1860, Joseph Henderson : 1861-1862, John Scott; 1863. B. T. Hastings : 1864. E. H. Clark ; 1865, B. T. Hastings ; 1866, B. T. Hastings, John Scott ; 1867-1868, John Scott: 1860-1870, Martin Shaffer; 1871, Martin V. Shaffer, T. H. Wil-
son ; 1872-1873, T. H. Wilson ; 1874-1875-1876 to October 16, T. B. Adams ; October 16, 1876, to close of 1878, Scott McClelland ; 1879-1884, inclusive, T. H. Wilson; 1885-1887, W. A. Neale; 1888-1890, J. J. Hinderliter; 1891- 1893, W. D. Kane; 1894-1899, John Davis ; 1900-1908, A. E. Galbraith; 1909-191I, W. A. Kelly; 1912, W. C. Byerly; 1916, I. M. Swartz.
ASSESSORS AND COLLECTORS
The pioneer assessors and collectors under the commissioners for Jefferson county were, in 1825: Pinecreek-Assessor, James Shields ; collector, John Barnett. Perry-Assessor, Elijah Heath ; collector, Isaac Mckinley.
The township assessors for 1837 were : Rose, Samuel Lucas : Perry, Thomas Gourley ; Ridgway, Lyman Wilmarth; Eldred, John Wilson ; Tionesta, David Mead; Barnett, James Aharrah: Jenks, Cyrus Blood; Pine- creek, Joseph Carr ; Washington, Henry Keys ; Snyder, Joseph McAfec ; Young. John Grube.
PIONEER CONSTABLES IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, 18II TO 1830
Name, place and date of election : Freedom Styles, Pinecreek, March 15, 18II. Freedom Styles, Pinecreek, March 20, 1812. Joseph Barnett, Pinccreek, March 18, 1814. Freedom Styles, Pinecreek, March 17, 1815.
Elijah Graham, Pinecreek, March 15, 1816. Elijah Graham, Pinecreek, March 15, 1817. Freedom Styles, Pinecreek, March 20, 1818. David Hamilton, Perry, March 20, 1818.
Jesse Armstrong, Perry, March 19, 1819. Jacob Mason, Pinecreek, March 19, 1819. Jacob Hoover, Perry, March 17, 1820. John Dixon, Pinecreek, March 18. 1820. Moses Knapp, Pinecreek, March 16, 1821. James Wachob, Perry, March 16, 1821. David McDonald, Perry, March 15, 1822. Silas Sally, Pinecreek, March 15, 1822. Elijah Heath, Perry, March 14, 1823. James Diven, Pinecreek, March 14, 1823. Isaac McHenry, Perry, March 19, 1824. Stephen Reed, Pinecreek, March 19, 1824.
Thomas Robison, Pinecreek, March 18, 1825.
Charles R. Barclay, Perry, March 18, 1825. Thomas Robison, Pinecreek, March 17, 1826. Thomas McKee, Perry, March 17, 1826. James Park, Pinecreek, March 16, 1827. Joseph Lowry, Young, March 16, 1827. Nehemiah Bryant, Ridgway, March 16, 1827. William McAndrish, Perry, March 16, 1827. James Wachob. Perry, March 20, 1820. Peter Ostrander, Pinecreek, March 20, 1820. William Love, Rose, March 20, 1829. Clark Eggleston, Ridgway, March 20. 1820. William Bowers, Young, March 19, 1830. William Smith, Perry, March 10, 1830. James McCollough, Pinecreek, March 19, 1830. James M. Brockway, Ridgway, March 19, 1830. Herbert Smith, Rose, March 10, 1830. William Bowers, Young, March 19, 1830.
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The constables elected in November, 1915, are mentioned in the various township chap- ters.
JURY COMMISSIONERS
Prior to 1867, when the first jury commis- sioners were elected, the different juries were drawn by the sheriff and county commis- sioners. In 1867, M. H. Shannon and Joel Spyker were elected; 1870, I. M. Temple, J. P. George : 1873, J. B. Morris, Alexander Mc- Connell; 1876, Paul Fiscus, J. H. Lewis ; 1879, R. A. Gourley, P. S. Crate; 1882, James Mc- Ghee, A. G. Dougherty ; 1885, William Camp- bell, P. S. Crate ; 1888, Henry A. Miller, James 11. Brown: 1891, Samuel Ressler, George S. Weaver; 1894. Isaac Buffington, C. C. Brown ; 1897. Henry K. Worth, William Postlewaite; 1900, WV. II. Shilling. John L. Park; 1903, John Trudgeon, Thomas Kearney; 1906, John Trudgeon, John Hutchison; 1909, Robert T. Kelly. W. T. Pifer ; 1912, George W. Weaver, John C. James.
PRESIDENT JUDGES
John Young. Thomas Burnside, Nathaniel B. Eldred, Alexander McCalmont, Joseph Buffington, John C. Knox. John S. McCal- inont, Gleni W. Scofield. James Campbell, Wil- liam P. Jenks. James B. Knox, William L. Corbet. Theophilus S. Wilson, E. H. Clark, Jolin W. Reed. Charles Corbet. (See also Bench and Bar chapter.)
ASSOCIATE JUDGES
AAppointed-1830, John W. Jenks, Elijah Heath; 1835. William Jack; 1837, Andrew Barnett; 1841. James Winslow; 1843, James L. Gillis, Levi G. Clover; 1846, Thomas Hast- ings ; 1847, John W. Jenks; December, 1850, J. B. Evans ; 1851, Robert P. Barr. Elected- 1851, Robert P. Barr, J. B. Evans; 1855, James H. Bell (appointed and elected ensuing election) : 1856. Joseph Henderson, elected. but resigned to become prothonotary, Sanmel M. Moore being appointed to serve until next election : 1860, James Torrence ; 1861. John J. Y. Thompson, resigned in May, 1865, and C. Fogle appointed. 1865-Two elected for five-year terms, Philip Taylor. James St. Clair ; 1870, William Altman, Robert R. Means ; 1875, James E. Mitchell, John B. Wilson; 1880. John Thompson, Stephen Oaks; 1885. Henry Truman. J. W. Foust.
The office of associate judge was abolished by the new Constitution.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS
By an act passed May 3, 1850, the office of district attorney was made elective, and the term fixed for three years. Previous to that time the attorney general appointed, in Jefferson county : George R. Barrett. In 1850 Richard Arthurs was elected; 1853, James McCahan ; 1856, William McKee; 1858-61, A. Lewis Gordon; 1864, Lewis A. Grunder ; 1867-70, A. C. White; 1873. Charles Corbet : 1876, William M. Fairman; 1879, Samuel A. Craig; 1882-85, C. C. Benscoter ; 1888, John M. Van Vliet; 1891, William L. McCracken ; 1894, N. L. Strong; 1897, N. L. Strong : 1900, James V. Murray ; 1903, James V. Murray; 1906, James V. Murray elected for the third time for a term of three years, 1907-08-09. In 1909 Jesse C. Long was made the Republican nominee, and in July of that year Mr. Murray resigned his office to accept the appointment of deputy auditor general, and Judge Reed appointed Mr. Long to fill out the unexpired term. Mr. Long was elected for a term of three years, but by reason of the change in the Constitution his term was extended to four years. In 1913 he was re- elected for a term of four years.
MERCANTILE APPRAISERS
Mercantile appraisers are appointed. The present official is John Byers, of Beaver town- ship, appointed January 6, 1916.
PRESENT OFFICIALS
The present officials of Jefferson county. sworn in January 6, 1916, are as follows :
President Judge, Charles Corbet.
Prothonotary. Blake E. Irvin.
Register, recorder. William G. Buffington. Sheriff, Marvin G. Mayes.
District attorney, Jesse C. Long.
Treasurer, Glenn Shaffer.
Commissioners-John G. North, H. M. Cochran, Harry L. Grube.
County clerk, T. M. Swartz.
Solicitor, A. B. Stewart.
Auditors-N. Il. Diener. W. D. Campbell, Frank A. Glenn.
Coroner. Dr. N. C. Mills.
Jury commissioners-John C. James, G. S. Weaver.
County surveyor. J. Frank Arthurs.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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As to township and borough officials, school directors and road supervisors are now elected for six-year terms except to fill vacancies, in
which case the candidate is chosen to serve the unexpired time. Constables are elected for four-year terms only.
CHAPTER XII POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS
INTRODUCTION-HISTORICAL FACTS RELATING TO THE POSTAL SERVICE-RATES OF POSTAGE- PIONEER MAIL ROUTES AND POST OFFICES-LIST OF JEFFERSON COUNTY OFFICES-PRESENT OFFICES IN COUNTY
The postal history of the United States has four well-defined periods: (1) Up to 1693, Colonial; (2) 1693 to 1707, under the Neale patent ; (3) 1707 to 1774, under the control of the general post office in London; and (4) 1774 to the present, American control, in two divisions-1774-1789 under Congress; and 1789 to the present, the post office department of the United States.
The number of post offices in 1789 was seventy-five. The maximum number seventy- six thousand nine hundred and forty-five, was reached in 1901, since which time, by the in- troduction of rural delivery. the number has steadily declined, twenty thousand five hun- dred and sixty-five having been discontinued. On July 1. 1915, there were fifty-six thou- sand three hundred and eighty post offices in operation.
Extent of post routes in miles in 1790 was one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five. In 1915 the mileage was one million six hun- dred and seventy-two thousand one hundred and sixty-nine. The miles of service per- formed in 1915 amounted to six hundred and seventeen million five hundred and twenty- seven thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.
The entire compensation paid to post- masters in 1789 was one thousand six hundred and fifty-seven dollars. In 1915 the amount so paid was twenty-nine million one hundred and forty-three thousand one hundred and ., twenty-seven dollars.
The salary of rural delivery carriers has been increased from three hundred dollars per annum in 1897 to one thousand two hundred dollars, the present rate. Present cost of rural delivery service per annum is fifty-two million dollars.
The postal service has become a wonderful organization. Something like three hundred thousand human agents, at fifty-six thousand
post offices and six thousand five hundred sta- tions of all kinds, handle annually about one billion parcels, ten billion pieces of first-class mail and more than one billion pounds of sec- ond-class matter, serving the millions of peo- ple of our own land and conveying mail to all parts of the world.
While the postal savings idea dates from 1911, it was not made practically operative until 1914, when unnecessary restrictions were removed and the plan popularized and encour- aged. The amount to the credit of depositors in 1015 was sixty-five million six hundred and eighty-four thousand seven hundred and eight dollars, divided among five hundred and twenty-five thousand four hundred and four- teen persons, who took advantage of this safe and convenient way of investing their savings.
ITISTORICAL FACTS RELATING TO THE POSTAI. SERVICE
Some interesting historical data touching the introduction or beginning of the chief fea- tures of postal progress may he briefly sum- marized as follows :
Postage Stamps first issued. . July, 1847
Stamped Envelopes first issued. June, 1853
Letters Registered July, 1855
Newspaper Wrappers, Act of Con- gress . February, 1861
Free City Delivery July, 1863
Money Order System. November, 1864
International Money Orders October, 1867
Postal Cards . May, 1873
Postage reduced to 2C.
. October, 1883
Special Delivery . October, 1885
Rural Delivery October, 1896
Postal Savings January, 1911
Parcel Post January, 1913
On the 8th of May. 1794. Congress passed the first law for the proper management of the postal service. In 1799 the postal laws
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were revised and flogging substituted for the death penalty for robbing the mails. This law, however, was repealed by a subsequent enactment, and imprisonment for a term of years was made the penalty.
In 1801 it occupied forty days to get a let- ter from Portland, Maine, to Savannah, Ga., and bring back the answer.
Sunday delivery at post offices began in ISIO, and brought vigorous remonstrances from various religious bodies. The strife was kept up in Congress, and occupied the attention of the department for twenty years.
In 1813 the mails were first conveyed in steamboats from one post town to another, the government paying not over three cents for each letter, and one cent for newspapers.
In 1815 the United States had three thou- sand post offices. The postage for a single letter, composed of one piece of paper, under forty miles, was eight cents: over forty and under ninety miles, ten cents ; under one hun- dred and fifty miles, twelve and a half cents ; under three hundred miles, seventeen cents ; under five hundred miles, twenty cents ; over five hundred miles, twenty-five cents.
The postal laws of 1816 made a change in the postage, which lasted until 1845. The new scale charged letters, consisting of one piece of paper, not going over thirty miles, six and a fourth cents ; not over eighty miles, ten cents : not over one hundred and fifty miles, twelve and a half cents; and not over four hundred miles, eighteen and three quarters cents; and for greater distances, twenty-five cents. If the letter weighed an ounce, four times these rates were charged. Newspaper rates, in the State or under one hundred miles, one cent ; over one hundred miles or out of the State. one and a half cents. Periodicals, from one and a half to two, four or six cents.
On the oth of March, 1829. Hon. William T. Barry, of Kentucky, was commissioned postmaster general by President Jackson, and called to a seat in the cabinet, being the first postmaster general to receive that honor.
Early in 1836 pony expresses, as they were called. were put into operation.
In the United States, Tuly 1. 1837, the post roads were about one hundred and eighteen thousand two hundred and sixty-four miles in extent, and the annual transportation of the mails was at the rate of twenty-seven million five hundred and seventy-eight thousand six hundred and twenty-one miles, viz. : On horse- back and in sulkies, eight million two hundred and ninety-one thousand five hundred and four ; in stages, seventeen million four hundred and
eight thousand eight hundred and twenty ; in steamboats and railroad cars, one million eight hundred and seventy-eight thousand two hun- (red and ninety-seven.
The number of post offices in the United States on July 1, 1835, was ten thousand seven hundred and seventy ; on July 1, 1836, eleven thousand and ninety-one, and on December I, 1837, eleven thousand one hundred.
In the year 1837 the postmaster general rec- ommended a revision of the rates of postage, making a reduction of about twenty per cent, to take effect July Ist following. To this end he suggested the following letter postage :
Seventy-five miles and under, five cents ; one hundred and fifty miles and over seventy-five miles, ten cents ; three hundred miles and over one hundred and fifty miles, fifteen cents ; six hundred miles and over three hundred miles, twenty cents ; over six hundred miles, twenty- five cents.
Railroads were declared post routes by act of Congress in July, 1838, and mails carried upon them.
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