HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 109
CHAPTER VI.
UNITED STATES MAILS,
IN ZANESTOWN, IN 1794, AND ZANESVILLE IN 1881.
GENERAL POSTOFFICE,
PHILADELPHIA, PA., May 24, 1794.
DEAR SIR : It is proposed to attempt the carriage of a mail from Pittsburgh to Wheeling, by land, and thence by water to Limestone : from Limestone by a new road on the southern side of the Ohio to the mouth of Licking, opposite to Fort Washington, where it will cross over. From Limestone, the mail will be carried through the State lof Kentucky. The Post road through the wilderness, in this case, is to be discontinued. I have given directions to have three boats constructed for the purpose, to be formed in the best manner for ease and expedition in pushing up stream, to be managed by five hands each. I hope they will be running sometime in June. Marietta will be a station for the boats to stop at as they pass, and doubtless it will be convenient to have a Postoffice there. Herewith I send a packet, addressed to you, to be put into the hands of the person you judge most suitable for Postmaster. He will see the forms in which the business is to be transacted, with which he should make himself acquainted. The law now sent will expire in a few days ; it is substantially the same as the new law as to the regulations. The latter will be forwarded when prepared. The person you designate for Postmaster should be careful and trusty, and there will be an advantage in one where residence will be near the landing place for mail boats. The advantages of a regular mail will be so great to your settlement, I am sure you will omit nothing to secure them.
I am with respect and esteem, dear sir, your most obedient servant,
TIMOTHY PICKERING.
P. S.-I suppose a postoffice may be eligible at Gallipolis, for which reason I send you a second packet addressed to you, to be disposed of as you think best. You will be so good as to favor me with an answer as soon as possible.
General RUFUS PUTNAM, Marietta.
MARIETTA, June 9, 1794. DEAR SIR :
Your favor of the 24th ult., with
110 - HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
the packets referred to, has come to hand. I have engaged Mr. Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., to undertake the business of Postmaster at this place, he is a gentleman of probity, is Attorney for the United States in this county, and keeps his office within a few yards of where the boats will naturally land, both on account of convenience and security. With respect to Gallipolis, I am not so well acquainted there as to fix on any one without some further information, which I expect to obtain in a few days.
I am your most obedient servant and friend,
RUFUS PUTNAM.
THIS CONTRACT, made the twenty-seventh day of October, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-eight, between Daniel Conyers, of the one part, and the Postmaster General of the United States of America, of the other part, witnesseth : That the said parties have mutually convenanted as follows, that is to say : The said Daniel Conyers covenants with the said PostmaSter General :
1. To carry the mail of the United States, or cause it to be carried, from Marietta, in the northwest Territory, to Zanetown, on the Muskingum river, and from Zanetown to Marietta, once a week, at the rate of ninety dollars for every quarter of a year during the continuance of this contract.
2. That the mail shall he delivered at said postoffice, in the said route, at the times specified in the schedule hereto annexed, on penalty of one dollar for each hour which shall elapse between any time so fixed and the time of the mail's actual arrival, to be deducted from the pay of said Daniel, unless he shall make it appear to the satisfaction of the said Postmaster General, that the delay was unavoidable.
[Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, refer to various details.]
8. That the said Daniel will enter into bond, with two sufficient sureties, in the sum of one thousand dollars, ect.
9. That upon reasonable complaints against any carrier of the said mail, for negligence or misbehavior, such carrier shall be forthwith discharged. That when the mail goes by a stage wagon, it shall be invariably carried within the body of it ; and when it stops at night, it shall be put in a secure place, and there locked up.
And the said Postmaster General covenants with the said Daniel to provide portmanteaus and bags necessary, etc., etc., and to pay the said Daniel for the carriage thereof as aforesaid, at the rate afore mentioned, quarterly, in the months of April, July, October and January, the penalties for failure (if any) being first deducted.
And it is mutually covenanted and agreed by the said parties, that this contract shall commence on the first day of November next, and continue in force until the thirtieth day of September, inclusive, in the year one thousand and eight hundred.
In Witness Whereof, They have hereto interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Samuel Elbert and D. Loring.
JOSEPH HABERSHAM, Postmaster General.
DANIEL CONVERS.
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE FIRST P. M. GENERAL,
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 2, 1880.
W. S Harlan, Postmaster, Zanesville, O.:
SIR: —Your communication of January 29, 1880, in which you ask for the date of the appointment of all the Postmasters who have served at the Zanesville Postoffice, Ohio, has been received at this Department. Please find the following in answer to your inquiry, as found recorded on the books of this Department.
Respectfully, JAMES H. MARR,
For 1st Assistant Postmaster General.
ZANESVILLE.
William McCulloch, appointed Postmaster, January 1, 1801.
David Harvey, appointed Postmaster, July 1, 1802.
C. Spangler, appointed Postmaster, April 1, 1804.
Abel Lewis, appointed Postmaster, April 1, 1805 .
Jeffrey Price, appointed Postmaster, January , 1806.
William Pelham, appoiuted Postmaster, July 1, 1818.
S. Sullivan, appointed Postmaster, October 13, 1825.
Samuel J. Cox, appointed Postmaster, July 24, 1828.
William Blocksom, appointed Postmaster, May 6, 1834.
A. R. Cassidy, appointed Postmaster, April 1, 1840.
Israel Hoge, appointed Postmaster, February 3, 1841.
BECAME PRESIDENT APPOINTIVE.
Isaac Dillon, appointed Postmaster, May 2,1849.
John B. Roberts, appointed Postmaster, April 29, 1853.
P. Bateman, appointed Postmaster, March 28, 1861.
W. C. Moorehead, appointed Postmaster, January 9, 1863.
*J. J. Douglas, appointed Postmaster, November 9, 1866.
W. C. Moorehead, appointed Postmaster, November 17, 1866.
J. J. Douglas, appointed Postmaster, March 28, 1867.
Col. J. J. Douglas, appointed Postmaster, March 30, 1871.
William S. Harlan, appointed Postmaster, March 3, 1879.
Moved to present location, August 26, 1872, in Maginnis' Block., southwest corner of Fountain alley and Fifth street.
* His appointment was withdrawn by the President, Andrew Johnson, and the name of William Moorehead sent in and confirmed.
HARLAN.
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 111
F. Everhart, A.M., Historian:
SIR-Your communication of the 3d inst., in which you ask for the date of the establishment of the Postoffices of Putnam and West Zanesville, and the names of the different Postmasters who have served at each office to present date, has been received at this Department. By reference to the books of this office, the following is found, which please find in answer to the inquiry above. Respectfully,
JAMES H. MARR.
For First Assistant Postmaster General.
Muskingum-Established June 27, 1838: John W. P. Lane, Postmaster. Discontinued February 6, 1843.
West Zanesville-Established January 4, 1852 ; Joseph S. Parke, Postmaster.
March 7, '54, W. Wimmer, Postmaster.
January 29, '57, James Miller, Postmaster.
September 23, '61, W. W. Wimmer, Postmaster.
October, 20, '66, D. Dugan, Postmaster.
March 19, '69, L. M. Reamy, Postmaster.
November 4, '72, A. C. Brown, Postmaster.
Putnam-Established January 3o, 1817, Henry Safford, Postmaster.
June 19, '29, John Herron, Postmaster.
November, 24, '31, D. M. Sellers, Postmaster.
March 26, '33, Samuel Glass, Postmaster.
March 25, '43, Jas. T. Cherry, Postmaster.
July 25, '46, Jeremiah Elder, Postmaster.
February 8, '49, John Goshen, Postmaster.
May 29, '49, Wm. H. Moore, Postmaster.
April 26, '53, John Goshen, Postmaster.
August 8, '53, Jeremiah Elder, Postmaster.
March 31, '60, W. Stonesipher, Postmaster.
May 4, '61, Jas. Finlayson, Postmaster.
September 23, '63, Francis R. Potts, Postmaster.
August 30, '66, Daniel Dugan, Postmaster.
October 20, '66, John Dixon, Postmaster.
November 27, '66, Francis R. Potts, Postmaster.
July 8, '72, Samuel Large, Postmaster.
July 27, '75, Eliza A. Large, Postmistress.
March 5, '79, Chas. Parsons, Postmaster.
A Postoffice notice, taken from the Zanesville "Express," August 14, 1817, is as follows :
THE MAILS.-The eastern and western mails are now carried through this State in stage coaches. The eastern mail arrives on Tuesdays,. Thursdays and Saturdays, at I I o'clock a. m. The western mail arrives on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, at I o'clock p. m. Thus far they have performed well,, and there can be no doubt of the practicability of carrying the, mails in this manner, especially if the people on the route will exert themselves to improve the roads.
The Money Order Department : [Page 188, Sec. 958]. Design of Congress in establishing money order system. The following is the construction given by the late Attorney General (Williams) to the Statute creating the money order system.
Congress designed to give money orders in some respects, the character of ordinary negotiable instruments, to the end that they might be received with full credit, and their usefulness, in a business point of view, be promoted.
The Statute does not contemplate that the remitter of the money order shall be at liberty to revoke it and demand back his money against the will of the payee after it comes into the possession of the latter ; to enable the former to obtain a payment of funds deposited, he must produce the money order.
The payee of the money order, upon complying with the requirements of the law and the regulations of the Postoffice, is entitled to payment of the money on demand, and the remitter of the money order cannot, previous to its being paid, by any notice that he may give to the Postoffice at which it is payable, forbid the payment thereof to the payee.-[Postal Laws and Regulations].
"POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT,
MONEY ORDER OFFICE,
WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 1864.
SIR-I have this day sent you by mail, a package containing two books of money order and advice forms, numbered 1 to 500, also blanks for special advices. Please acknowledge the receipt of the same. The amount of money order funds which you will be allowed to retain in your hands as a reserve (see section 49 of the instructions), has been fixed at $300. This sum, you will, immediately upon commencing the money order business, transfer from the "Postage" to the "Money Order" account, and enter in your cash book, as directed in sections 37 and 38 of the instructions, and also in your first weekly statement.
The first of November has been fixed as the date on which the money order system is to be put into operation-simultaneously at all designated offices, and you are required to be in readiness to commence this business at that time.
It is earnestly requested, with a view to expedite business, that the letters "M. 0. B.," should be legibly written on every envelope sent from your office containing money order advices. Respectfully,
C. F. MCDONALD,
Superintendent.
W. C. MOOREHEAD, Esq.
Postmaster, Zanesville, Ohio.
With this addition to the labor and responsibility of the Postmaster at Zanesville, came the requirement of surety for the faithful performance of the duties and trust. [Vide. page 199, section 964]. New bonds required at the Postoffices made money order offices.
Postmasters whose Postoffices are designated as Money Order Postoffices are required, before commencing the money order business, to give a new bond to the Government, with at least two sureties, which is conditioned for the faithful performance of the duties and obligations im-
112 - HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO
posed upon them by the laws relating to postal, as well as to the money order business.
The money order system was inaugurated in the Zanesville Postoffice, November 1, 1864. The following comparative statement 0f the business of the first year, and for 1880, taken from the books kept by the officer in charge, exhibits the growth and importance of this branch of the postal service :
1864.
Amount of orders issued - $ 5,357 46
Fees received therefor - 55 00
Orders paid - 5,562 50
Aggregate - $ 10,974 96
Number of orders issued - 416
Average amount per order $ 12 87
Average amount per month - 446 45
Average amount per month paid - 463 54
1880.
Amount of orders issued - $ 66,378 52
Fees received therefor - 750 30
Orders paid - 72,175 99
Aggregate - .$139,304 81
Number of orders issued - 6,610
Average amount for order - $ 10 84
Average amount for month - 5,531 54
Average amount per month paid - 6,114 66
A statement is rendered to the Department every week.
When orders are presented for payment in excess of amount of cash on hand, the Postmaster is authorized to make a draft on the Postmaster at New York city, where a fund is kept to his credit by orders of the Postmaster General ; and when this fund (of $2,000), is nearly exhausted, the local Postmaster asks the Postmaster General for a new credit to be placed with the Postmasfer at New York city ; and under no circumstances is the Postmaster permitted to use general postal funds for money order purposes and vice versa.
Provision has been made to keep the Government funds in constant use, so that no large balance is idle. A "reserve" of S250 is allowed the Zanesville Postmaster, as the money order business fluctuates. If the amount of cash on hand exceeds the amount of unpaid orders drawn on his office for the two weeks last past, he remits the excess to the Postmaster at Cincinnati, Ohio, when a certificate of deposit is issued in duplicate by the Postmaster at Cincinnati. The original is sent to the Department, at Washington, and the duplicate is sent to this office, where it is retained.
The receipts of the Zanesville postoffice "postal account proper"—including the sale of waste paper, stamps, cards, and envelopes, for the year 1880, amounted to $21,272.66 ; the expenditures, including salaries, $6,556.50. The net income amounted to $4,76.46.
Depository.—Paragraph second, section seventy-six, page 52, Postal Laws and Regulations, defines : Depositing postoffices, such ,as are directed to deposit, at some designated point, their surplus funds, quarterly, or oftener.
Paragraph third - Depository and draft offices: Those which are directed to retain their own funds, the surplus funds of depositing postoffices, and funds received by collection, drafts on hand, to meet drafts drawn by the Third Assistant Postmaster General and countersigned by the Auditor.
This was a slow, and complicated, system ; accordingly, August 3, 1880, the following order was issued, amendatory to the Regulations :"
POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT,
"WASHINGTON, D. C.
[Order No. 33.]
"To secure uniformity of postal revenues, and to enable the Auditor of the Treasury of this Department to promptly settle the accounts of postmasters and contractors, as well as to keep intelligent control of the several annual appropriations, covering the transportation of the mails, a task which, he states, is now practically impossible ; it is—
"Ordered, That the system of collecting quarterly balances in the hands of postmasters, by what are known as collection orders, be discontinued, and the depository system, described in section seventy-six, of Postal Regulations, be substituted. All postmasters, therefore, at what are now known as collection offices, will, hereafter, unless specially instructed otherwise, deposit their surplus postal funds with such depositories, and in such manner as may be directed by the Third Assistant Postmaster General, who will see that this order is carried into effect at once."
In compliance with the foregoing order, the Postoffices in the following counties deposit at the Zanesville Postoffice, viz. : Belmont, Coshocton, Guernsey, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, and Washington. The number of Postoffices thus depositing is 337. The average amount deposited here, is, in round numbers, $11 ,000 per quarter, or $44,000 per year. Each depositor receives an original, and duplicate, certificate of deposit. The original is transmitted to the Department, and the duplicate is retained by the depositor. Under no circumstances is money sent to the Department. Contractors and Postmasters are paid by means of drafts drawn on the Depositary, by the Third Assistant Postmaster General, and verified by the Auditor of the Treasury.
FREE DELIVERY.
The amount of revenue required under section 307, page 94, being "not less than twenty thousand dollars," was not reached until the early part of 1880. June 30th, of that year, .the revenue of the Postoffice of this city exceeded that sum $2,000, whereupon, application having been made, asking for free delivery at Zanesville, the following order was issued
"POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT,
"WASHINGTON, D. C., August 10, 1880.
"Ordered : Discontinuance of the Postoffice at West Zanesville and Putnam, in the city of
Interior of the BOSTON ONE PRICE DRY GOODS AND CLOTHING STORES of
Sturtevant & Martin, Zanesville, Ohio.
THE foregoing carefully prepared engraving affords unmistakable and gratifying evidence of what may be—and has been—accomplished by shrewd business capacity, enterprise and indomitable perseverance. Some four years ago, Mr. H. Sturtevant and Mr. John Martin associated in the retail dry goods business in Zanesville, where they soon won a prosperous business. Nor was their happy conception of introducing the famous " Boston One Price Cash System " of trading by any means a less favorable introduction for them. Equal to any emergency, the then new firm strikingly demonstrated, by timely improvements, extension of premises, and other features of enterprise, that none were better mated (commercially) to keep fully apace with even the most approving smiles of Dame Fortune. From the humble complement of some half a dozen assistants at the outset, to handle a trade of about $50,000 the first year, that force is now quadrupled, and a business done of at least 8150,000 annually.
Down to the present spring they have held a position on the corner of Fourth and Main streets, in the City Hall buildings, but having exhausted every available foot of space therein, they have now also secured the extensive doubt s on the corner of Third and Main streets, in the Star block, being one hundred and twenty-eight feet long by fifty feet wide, and sixteen feet high, with equal basement facilities. Here, as will be seen, the departments are classified—the conveniences for patrons are replete, and system is supreme, even to the adoption of Lampson's ingenious cash system, and other equally commendable acquisitions.
Of this mammoth and replete dry goods establishment this engraving is a faithful representation, and a striking compliment to the trade of the county as found to-day.
In addition to their flourishing dry goods business, something over twelve months ago they opened, as a branch, A FIRST CLASS CLOTHING STORE, for the finest grades of ready-made clothing and gent's furnishing goods, submitting a stock of unsurpassed excellence, quantum and attractiveness, which soon gained equal prestige in public estimation with their familiar dry goods house, This branch of their business is conducted distinct, and has been transferred to their old dry goods stand, giving them a floorage of sixty by forty feet, and presenting a commodious, light and prominent clothing house, without a compeer out side of the largest metropolitan centers.
In view of the foregoing, it is therefore safe to say, that notwithstanding the popular remark that "Zanesville is one of Ohio's old steady-going towns," there are those within her borders at least capable of making business interesting to patrons and decidedly lucrative to themselves.
Messrs. Sturtevant & Martin, by their integrity, efficiency, zeal, and urbanity, have made their mark in the commercial arena, while their frugality and judicious enterprise has justly earned a leading distinction and worthy patronage for the " Boston One-Price Stores" that it is to be hoped will long perpetuate their fair name and fame.
HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 113
Zanesville, Ohio, and established, the Free Delivery System, at Zanesville Postoffice, with two regular carriers, at $850 per annum, each, and two auxiliary carriers, at $400 per annum, each ; allowed, the postmaster $200 per annum, each, for the hire of two horses, to be used by the auxiliary carriers. This order to take effect on the 1st day of October, 1880.
[Signed.]
D. M. KEY.
"Postmaster General."
The number of letter-carriers was found inadequate, and so represented to the Department, and thereupon the following letter was indited :
“POSTOFFICE DEPARTMENT,
"WASHINGTON, D. C., August 14, 1880.
"W. S. Harlan, Postmaster, Zanesville, Ohio:
"SIR : —You are hereby authorized to nominate to this office, for appointment, three, full, letter-carriers, at $850 each, per annum, instead of two ; also, two auxiliaries, as heretofore authorized. The authority to hire two horses, at an expense of $200 each, is hereby revoked.
Very respectfully,
"JAMES H. MARR,
"For First Assistant Postmaster General."
The free delivery was inaugurated October 1880.
The number of pieces of mail matter delivered by the
carriers, during the first three months, was - 186,132
The number of pieces collected from street boxes. - 80,653
The total number of pieces handled - 266,785
The postal business is enormously enlarged by the exchange correspondence with foreign countries.
Page 231, section 1102, of the Laws and Regulations quoted, is as follows : The Convention of Paris, Universal Postal Union, concluded between Germany, the Argentine Republic, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, and the Danish Colonies, Egypt, Spain, and the Spanish Colonies, the United States of North America, France and the French Colonies, Great Britain, and certain British Colonies, British India, Canada, Greece, Italy and Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Montenegro, Norway, the Netherlands and the Netherland Colonies, Peru, Persia, Portugal and the Portuguese Colonies, Roumania, Russia, Servia, Salvator, Switzerland, Turkey.
The plenipotentiaries of the governments of the countries above enumerated, being assembled in Congress at Paris, by virtue of Article XVIII of the Treaty constituting the General Postal Union, concluded at Berne, on the 9th of October, 1874, have, by mutual agreement, and subject to ratification, revised the said Treaty, conformably to the following stipulation :
ARTICLE I. The countries between which the present convention is concludedM as well as those which may join it hereafter, to, under the title of "Universal Postal Union," a single postal territory, for the reciprocal exchange of correspondence between their Postoffices.
The International Bureau of the “Universal Postal Union,” has made many regulations, in order to secure the object desired, and thereby greatly increased the labors of every post official in the countries embraced in the arrangement. Thus, when it is realized that our postal system is extended over such vast territories—its expenditures will dwindle into insignificance—while the labors performed by the employes are increased beyond any other class receiving the same compensation. * * * *
We, the undersigned, having carefully examined the foregoing recital of postal affairs, hereby certify that they are correct.
W. S. HARLAN, Postmaster.
Gus A. WYNAKIN, Assistant Postmaster.
Robert F. Smart succeeded Gus A. Wynakin, as Assistant Postmaster, August 9, 1881.