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Show 1 POST HASTE by J. R. Mills, Postmaster Part of the saga of the West is the story of the Pony Express, that gallant group which carried the mails across western America. The Pony Express, however, was only one of a number of means employed employ-ed to transport mails during the settlement of this area. Not so well known is the story of the "Camel Express" which was tried somewhat less successfully than the better known means. Jefferson Davis, the Secretary of War, was responsible for the "Camel Express." Assuming that American Desert was just like any other desert, the plan was adopted whereby camels were to be used to transport mail to California. However, rough terrain of the Great American Desert was just too much for the camel, so the "Overland Mail" was established in 1861. Postmaster General Arthur E. Somerfield has announced the selection sel-ection of five commemorative stamps to be included in the 1957 stamp program of the Post Office Department. These include 'stamps honoring Alexander Hamilton on the 200th anniversary of his birth; the Coast and Geodetic Survey on the 150th anniversary of its establishment; and Oklahoma on the 50th anniversary anni-versary of its admission to the Union. A commemorative stamp honoring honor-ing the School Teachers of America; Am-erica; and another commemorative stamp in the Wildlife series are also planned. |