REPORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE
of the
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
The exhibits of the Post Office Department occupied a space near the rotunda of
the Government, facing on the main aisle, adjacent to and between the displays
of the Department of State and the Commission of Fish and Fisheries. The area
assigned was in the form of a rectangle, and contained about 3,400 square feet.
The preparation of the exhibits was commenced about the first of January, 1898,
and continued to begin the work of packing. The preparation consisted in
collecting materials from the various Bureaus of the Department and preparing
the same for exhibition purposes. There was a very large quantity of material
collected in this way, which had never been previously exhibited. Many series
of postage stamps were mounted and artistically grouped, transportation models
repaired, pictures framed, and material of the most interesting character
selected which experience had shown to be of the greatest interest to the
general public.
It was the desire of the Representative to exhibit those features of the postal
service which would best represent the various branches of its actual workings,
and thereby better show the system employed in this and foreign countries in
the handling and delivery of the millions of tons of mail matter annually
transported.
A number of new exhibition cases were made to supersede those of an antiquated
pattern then in use in the Postal Museum, which were entirely unsuited for the
purposes of proper display.
When the installation of the exhibits was commenced, it was found desirable,
owing to the nature of the space assigned, and the character of the material to
be exhibited, to erect a partition extending from the back wall to the center
aisle, forming two divisions of the space. These divisions were equal in size
and were connected by arches in the partition. This partition not only aided
the grouping and proper classification but added to the wall space, which had
not been sufficient for the purposes required. In the first of these
divisions, the one nearest the center of the building, it was intended to
display material pertaining to the equipment branch of the service and models
illustrative of the methods of mail transportation. In the second division
were the stamps, historical records, and dead-letter exhibits. This plan of
arrangement was adhered to throughout the exhibit, with slight exceptions made
necessary to allow for improving the general appearance of the display.
A description of the material exhibited can best be given by its classification
under the various Divisions, as follows:
THE STAMP DIVISION'S exhibits,much of which was entirely new, was prepared by
the Curator of the Postal Museum and the Assistant to the Representative, and
embraced the following:
1. A complete series of United States postage stamps from their introduction
in 1847. Included in this collection were the Departmental, special delivery,
postage-due, and newspaper periodical stamps.
2. Complete sets of stamped envelopes from their introduction in 1863 to 1898.
3. Sets of foreign stamps, stamped envelopes, and postal cards from all
stamp-issuing countries in the world.
4. A collection of entire sheets of stamps before being gummed, perforated or
cut, showing the process of manufacture.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Madison Davis, Chief Clerk of the Office of the
Third Assistant Postmaster General, the series of stamps issued commemorative
to the Exposition was added to the collection. This series was represented by
entire sheets of each denomination, each sheet being the first impression taken
from the plates, and arriving some time before the stamps were placed on sale;
they proved a most interesting exhibit.
The collection of stamps was shown to good advantage by means of the wall space
contiguous to the exhibit, and by two column cases on each of which were hung
96 frames in which the stamps were artistically mounted. In this collection
there was displayed on these cases and the walls, 400 frames containing stamps
and photographs of post offices, and methods of transportation in this and
other countries. Of this number 200 were devoted entirely to stamps, each
frame displaying from 50 to 400. The issues of the different countries were
grouped in a manner affording ready facility for finding any particular issue.
THE EQUIPMENT DIVISION was represented by life-sized models of uniformed mail
carriers of this and other countries, fully equipped; and the following;
A complete collection of United States mail bags and pouches.
A collection of foreign mail bags and pouches.
A collection of foreign mail carriers' uniforms and equipment in use in the
principal countries of the world (Notable among which were those presented to
the United States by Japan and Sweden).
A collection of post-marking stamps and locks in use in the United States from
1800 to the present time, showing the great progressing development from the
crude padlock of a hundred years ago to the complex registered lock of today.
A large collection of foreign equipment, including post-office marking stamps,
letter scales, etc.
Pictures and photographs of vehicles employed in the United States and Foreign
countries in the transportation of the mails.
Illustrative of the methods of mail transportation employed by the United
States, were shown the following:
A model of the "Southerner". the first steam vessel to carry mail across the
Atlantic Ocean.
A model of the steamship, "City of Paris", complete in every detail,--a
striking contrast to that of the "Southerner", and having additional interest
because of its use by the Government during the period of the Exposition as the
auxiliary cruiser "Yale", in the Spanish American War.
A model of the "Ochlawaha", a type of the steamer in use on the small rivers of
the country, principally in the Southern States.
A model of the steamboat "City of St. Louis", a vessel in use on the
Mississippi River, which was presented to the Postal Museum by the St. Louis
Merchants Exchange, through the kindly efforts of its Secretary, Hon. George H.
Morgan.
A full-sized model of a Western mail carrier, mounted on horseback, typical of
the rural service.
An old mail and passenger coach, used for many years in carrying the mails
between Heoena and Bozeman, Montana, and which had been "held-up" by
highway-men.
A model of an Indian runner, with toboggan drawn by three dogs hitched tandem,
a method of carrying the mails that is resorted to in some sections of the
Northern frontier during the Winter.
A model of a United States postal car, one-sixth the size of a sixty-foot car,
completely furnished, and containing, in miniature, every detail of equipment.
Two pneumatic carriers, recently introduced for the purpose of transmitting the
mail from the post offices to the railroad depots in the larger cities.
A model of a German mail and passenger coach, illustrative of the rural service
as it now exists in that country; also models of a mail wagon and collecting
cart in use in German cities.
DEAD LETTER DIVISION. A large space was devoted to the dead-letter exhibits.
Every possible manner in which letters and packages are miscarried was shown
and if carefully inspected, would have insured the visitor against committing
any of the errors, which, in spite of all efforts of the Department to prevent,
cause thousands of letters and packages to fail both of deliver and return to
the persons who mailed them. This object lesson was of unquestionable value to
the thousands who visited the exhibit and may prove fruitful of good results
both to the public and to the Department.
In this collection were exhibited a variety of misdirected letters which had
passed through the Dead Letter Office, and had been eventually delivered to the
persons for whom they were intended. The collection fully illustrated the
various steps taken by the Department to locate the persons for whom the
letters were intended. During the Exposition, 300 souvenir postal cards were
received at the branch station of the Omaha Post Office, located in the
Government building, the address side of which were entirely blank. These were
placed in the Department's exhibit.
There was also displayed a large collection of articles that had found their
way to the Dead Letter Office, showing the variety of matter that passes
through the mails. This display included paintings, photographs,
agricultural implements, kitchen utensils, Indian relics, wearing apparel,
jewelry, food stuffs, trinkets of every description, books, papers, etc..
DIVISION OF MAIL DEPREDATIONS. This Division exhibited several old
mail bags which had been cut open and robbed, illustration the dangers
attending the transportation of mails in some of the newly settled sections
of our country. There was also exhibited a variety of articles which had
been confiscated because of prohibited transmission through the mails by
postal laws, among which were deadly weapons, explosive bombs, poisonous
reptiles and insects, poisonous liquids and compounds, opium, and other
articles of a like character. Much interest was evinced in an "infernal
machine" which had been mailed to the Commander of the Spanish warship
"Viscays" while anchored in New York harbor, after the destruction of the
Maine. This package failed of delivery, owing to the vigilance of the postal
authorities, by whom it was confiscated and its contents rendered harmless.
DIVISION OF HISTORY, RECORDS AND STATISTICS. This Division displayed
a post office ledger in the handwriting of the illustrious Benjamin Franklin,
Postmaster General for the American Colonies, and also the following:
The growth of the postal service was illustrated by an exhibit of five
old ledgers kept during the War of the Revolution by the Postmaster General,
embodying the accounts of about 75 postmasters (all there were at that time),
in contrast to a conspicuous statistical chart, showing the magnitude of the
service at the present date.
Numbers of old letters that had passed through the mails, before the
introduction of postage stamps.
A report of a committee of the United States Senate, dated January 20,
1829, on the transportation of the mails on Sunday, the propriety of which
became a serious and prolonged discussion both in and out of Congress.
Framed statistics of the postal service of the United States.
The magnitude of the postal service of the United States as compared
with France, Germany and Great Britain.
An exhibit of articles partially showing the manner of transacting
postal business by foreign administrations, contributed by some of the
countries constituting the Universal Postal Union.
A history of the travels, in this country and other countries of a
registered letter and a postal card.
Pictures of foreign and United States post offices.
Portraits of Benjamin Franklin, the first, and the succeeding
Postmaster Generals.
In connection with the Department's exhibit, several thousand copies
of a publication was distributed, under the title of "A Brief Sketch of the
Postal Service", which was embodied a history of the same with information in
regard to the administration of the various Bureaus of the Department, the
rates of postage, postal regulations, etc. The material for this publication
was collected by Mr. S. I. Slack, Curator of the Postal Museum.
On the day after the closing of the Exposition, the work of packing
begun and by November 15 completed, when the entire exhibit was shipped to
Washington. The re-installation was begun December 1, the date of the
arrival of the cars in Washington, and was hastened to a speedy conclusion.
The material prepared and all cases purchased for the Exposition were
designed for permanent use in the Postal Museum after the close of the
Exposition. In this way the benefits derived from the expenditure are well
represented in the lasting addition made to the Museum, everything secured
for the exhibit being now a factor of the Museum's display.
As Representative of the Post Office Department on the Board of
Management of the Government Exhibit, the Postmaster General designated the
undersigned, of the office of the Second Assistant Postmaster General. The
Representative was greatly aided in the preparation, installation and
maintenance of the exhibit by having as his assistant, Mr. S. I. Slack,
Curator of the Postal Museum, who had served in a similar capacity at the
exposition held at Atlanta, Georgia, and Nashville, Tennessee, and to whose
ingenuity, skill and experience much of the success attained is due.
In conclusion the Representative feels it his duty, as it is a
pleasure, to express his appreciation of the valuable assistance rendered by
the Honorable James A. Gary, who was the Postmaster General until after the
exhibits were shipped, and of the great interest he took in promoting a
creditable and successful exhibit.
The following is a statement of the expenditures made on account of
the Post Office Department Exhibit:
Services,-------------------------------------$2,535.94
Services, clerical,--------------------------- 35.00
Travel and subsistence,----------------------- 2,287.61
Freight, cartage, expressage, etc.,----------- 456.01
Contract or special services,----------------- 641.00
Specimens and apparatus, etc.,---------------- 118.90
Exhibition cases, frames, etc.,--------------- 2,217.04
Supplies,------------------------------------- 443.46
Decorations, partitions, etc.,---------------- 112.90
Heat, light and power,------------------------ 85.00
Office expenses,------------------------------ 250.84
Telegraphic service,-------------------------- 1.95
Total,-----$9,186.54
John B. Brownlow,
Representative, Post Office Department