Show I Free Delivery of Mail MaH MaHI Was Vas First Tried in 1851 I I During the first halt half of the Nine- Nine Nineteenth i century the United States Stales post office was simply a depot for II incoming and outgoing mail In 1851 an act of congress provided for I free delivery of mail by carriers in i Boston New York Philadelphia I I and New Orleans Later street let let- letter letter letter ter boxes were set up making it il un un- unnecessary unI un- un unnecessary I necessary to go to the post office either to post letters or to inquire I for mail Prior to the inauguration of these I conveniences relates a writer in inthe inthe inthe the Chicago Tribune their need had hadeen been een recognized in many cities and andi i districts and private dispatch and express companies had been or or- organized organized organized to pick up and deliver let let- letters letters letters and parcels Mail Ma l destined with with- within in the range of the express com com- company's company's company's pany's service sence was delivered to the addressee while that consigned elsewhere was delivered to the post In 1860 congress made it illegal to operate a private express service between points served by the United States mail except for the carrying of a f newspapers and periodicals Eventually all of the highways and byways were declared to be post post roads and the private carriers were legislated out of existence |