Early Post Office

Language is incapable of expressing the thrill of feeling which passes through the mind, when, from the outer telegraph station at Point Lobos, a telegram announces in San Francisco that "the mail steamer—is in sight,—miles outside the heads." To almost all "expectation is on tip-toe," and the welcome intelligence is rapidly passed from lip to lip, and recorded on the various bulletin boards of the city, that the "—steamer is telegraphed." After an hour or more of suspense, the loud boom-oom-oom-o-o-o-o-o-m of the steamer's gun reverberates through the city, and announces that she is passing between Alcatraz Island and Telegraph Hill, and will soon be at her berth alongside the wharf.

Almost simultaneously with the sound of the steamer's gun, the newsboys are shouting the "arrival of the steamer," and the "New York Herald," "New York Tribune," "Fourteen days later news from the Eastern States." Meanwhile, all the news depots are crowded with eager applicants for the latest news; and, in order to obtain it as early as possible, small boats have been in waiting off Meiggs' Wharf, to receive the bundles of "express" newspapers thrown them from the steamer as she passed, and the moment these boats reach the dock, fast horses, which have also been kept in waiting, speedily carry the bundles to the city.

Carriages and other vehicles now begin to rumble and clatter through the streets, in the direction of the steamer's wharf; men commence walking towards the post office, or gather in groups upon the sidewalks, to learn or discuss the latest news. Interest and excitement seem to become general.

On the dock, awaiting the delivery of the mail-bags, mail wagons and drays are standing; and as fast as the mail matter is taken from the vessel, it is removed to the post office.

While the loaded wagons and drays, with mail matter, are hastening to the general delivery, and the passengers who have just arrived are seeking the various hotels, in carriages or on foot, after hiring a porter to carry their baggage, or becoming their own for the time being; let us, while all this is going on, make our way to the post office, there to see what we can.

Men we find are hurrying to and fro, and gathering in front of their letterboxes; some, with the doors open, are waiting to see when the first letter finds its way there, that they may not lose one moment before the contents are enjoyed.

At the various windows—alphabetically arranged, with about as many letters to each window as, in all probability will make the number of applicants at each about equal—men are congregating in single file, forming long and crooked lines, and patiently awaiting the time when the little window will be opened, from which the treasured letter from some dear and absent one is expected. Who can tell the hope and fear, the joy and sorrow, the love and (perhaps) hate, the good and evil, that occupy the minds of those who thus stand watching and waiting for the little missives.

Further on, too, at the end of the building, and apart from the rest, is the ladies' window; and here stand a row of ladies and gentlemen, waiting as patiently as at the others. The gentlemen, who form part of the line, do so to obtain letters for their wife, or sister, or perhaps sweetheart, or other lady friend; and, if they are there first, they invariably give precedence to the ladies, no matter how many may come, or how long they may be thus detained.

At the centre of the building, mail-bags are being carried in from the mail wagons and drays, one after the other, to the number of from two to three hundred and upwards; we wonder how, out of that mass of apparent confusion, order will be restored; or how, in the course of a few hours, thirty-five thousand letters and newspapers will be properly arranged for distribution to the various boxes and delivery windows. Have patience, and we shall see.

Before entering the post office with the reader, we wish most sincerely to express our thanks to Mr. Charles L. Weller, the Postmaster, Mr. John Ferguson, his assistant, and the other gentlemen belonging to this department, for the courtesy and promptness with which they placed the various and interesting particulars concerning this important branch of the public service, at our command. While the mail-bags are being examined, to ascertain their contents, whether letters or papers, for San Francisco or the interior cities, let us read over the rules of the office, for our especial entertainment:

RULES AND REGULATIONS.

I.—General office hours from 8 A. M. to 5 P. M., Sunday excepted, on which day the office will be kept open from 9 to 10 A. M.
II.—The mailing clerks will be at their posts at 6 A. M., the box clerk at 6½ A. M., and all other clerks and employés at 7½ A. M.
III.—No clerk will absent himself from the office during office hours, without the knowledge and consent of the Postmaster, or, in his absence, the Assistant Postmaster.
IV.—Courtesy and forbearance, and a spirit of accommodation, being requisite to efficient services, they should be extended to everybody with whom clerks may have business intercourse.
V.—Memory must not be trusted to, but when an applicant presents himself for a letter or paper, thorough search must be made in the appropriate place, and care will be taken to let the applicant see the search made.
VI.—When an applicant shall Exhibit a disposition to aggravate, or insult, or even abuse, he should be met with forbearance and gentlemanly conduct, recollecting that the contact is of a business nature only, and that personalities should be adjourned to outside the office entirely. If a clerk fails to satisfy an applicant, let him be referred to the Postmaster,
VII.—Angry or excited discussions upon any subject must not be indulged in during office hours.
VIII.—Clerks will not carry from the office, letters for their outside friends and acquaintances, nor receive letters from such out of the office for mailing.
IX.—Each clerk will confine his delivery of letters to his own alcove, except when he may be acting as a relief for the time being.
X.—None other than delivery clerks will disarrange, handle, or deliver letters, at any alcove, at any time.
XI.—If application be made for letters inside the office, when deliveries are not open, the applicant will in all cases be referred to the Postmaster or his assistant.
XII.—No person except sworn clerks and employés must be permitted to handle mail matter, or come within reach thereof.
XIII.—During any absence of the Postmaster, his whole authority over the the internal affairs of the office rests with his assistant, and that officer will be respected accordingly.

Now the scene around us is becoming interesting. The bustle and exciting life that first presented itself on the outside, by the arrival of the mail-bags, seems to have extended within; for on all sides great activity—systematic activity—is the order of the time. It appears that the Postmaster, on the arrival of each steamer, engages a corps of from fifteen to twenty-five extra assistant clerks, in order to facilitate more rapidly the distribution of the mail; aud these, with the regular force, are all busy in the departments assigned them.

While all this is going on in one department, the mail-bags containing packages of newspapers for the different newspaper firms in the city, are being opened, checked, and removed, in another. Every part of the office is literally alive with active business; slow coaches would be at an immense discount here at all times, especially when the mail has just arrived, and when it is about to depart.

The bags containing the letter mail for distribution in San Francisco, are rapidly selected from the others, and passed to the "examining table," where they are opened, and the contents compared with the "post bill" which accompanies them; after which they are deposited in "alphabetical cases" in the following manner: A letter, for instance, addressed "John Adams," is placed under the division A; those addressed "Timothy Brown," under division B; and so forth, to the end of the alphabet. From thence they are taken to the different alcoves, to which they belong alphabetically, and where each delivery clerk has cards placed, upon which is written the name of every box-holder, commencing with letters belonging to his alcove, with the number of the box; and, as each letter is examined, it is marked with the box number to which it belongs; it is then sent out to be placed in a case, and distributed according to number, thus: Letters from 1 to 100 are placed in one division; from 100 to 200 in another; and so on, to the highest corresponding number of the box; and from this case they are taken by clerks to the boxes of the parties to whom they are addressed. If it is not a box letter, it is put up in its proper place in the alcove for general delivery, which is generally opened immediately the whole of the letters are assorted and arranged.

This being a distributing post office, and the only one on the Pacific coast, a great amount of mail matter is sent here for distribution to other points. Newspapers for the interior, and for Oregon and Washington Territories, are taken to the newspaper distributing table, rapidly to be distributed in accordance with their address. Bags of newspaper matter are made up for Sacramento, Marysville, Benicia, Shasta, Stockton, Columbia, Martinez, Petaluma, and other places; and all newspapers addressed to points in these respective districts, are placed in those bags.

At the same time, another division of the forces is engaged in assorting the letters addressed to offices on this coast other than San Francisco. To facilitate this, a letter-case, with apartments for all the offices in this State and Oregon and Washington Territories, respectively labelled, is used, in which are placed all letters for those points, and mailed as usual.

The following Table will give the name, day of arrival, and number of days out from New York to San Francisco, of each Steamer, from August 31st, 1854, to December 16th, 1857; also, the number of bags of mail matter brought to the San Francisco Post Office:

Name of Steamer.	Date of Arrival.	Time From N.Y.	Number of Mail Bags.		Name of Steamer.	Date of Arrival.	Time From N.Y.	Number of Mail Bags.
Sonora	Aug. 21, 1854	26	315		Golden Gate	April 13, 1856	24	339
California	Sep. 19, 1854	29	323		J. L. Stephens	May 1, 1856	27	348
J. L. Stephens	Oct. 2, 1854	27	293		Golden Age	May 22, 1856	31	329
Golden Age	Oct. 16, 1854	26	303		Sonora	June 1, 1856	26	298
Sonora	Nov. 1, 1854	27	291		Golden Gate	June 15, 1856	25	354
Golden Gate	Nov. 13, 1854	24	292		J. L. Stephens	July 1, 1856	26	336
J. L.  Stephens	Dec. 1, 1854	25	317		Golden Age	July 14, 1856	25	331
Golden Age	Dec. 14, 1854	24	296		Sonora	July 29, 1856	24	318
Sonora	Dec. 30, 1854	25	268		J. L. Stephens	Aug. 14, 1856	24	313
J. L. Stephens	Jan. 13, 1855	24	249		Golden Age	Aug. 28, 1856	23	337
Golden Age	Jan. 29, 1855	24	277		Sonora	Sep. 16, 1856	27	359
Golden Gate	Feb. 17, 1855	28	317		J. L. Stephens	Sep. 29, 1856	24	309
Sonora	Mar. 2, 1855	25	286		Golden Age	Oct. 14, 1856	24	299
J. L. Stephens	Mar. 17, 1855	25	266		Sonora	Nov. 1, 1856	26	296
Golden Age	Mar. 28, 1855	23	295		Golden Gate	Nov. 14, 1856	24	277
Golden Gate	April 12, 1855	23	317		Golden Age	Dec. 1, 1856	26	321
Sonora	May 1, 1855	26	333		Sonora	Dec. 16, 1856	26	302
J. L. Stephens	May 16, 1855	26	300		J. L. Stephens	Dec. 30, 1856	25	290
Golden Gate	May 30, 1855	25	274		Golden Gate	Jan. 15, 1857	26	307
Sonora	June 16, 1855	26	306		Sonora	Jan. 30, 1857	25	286
Golden Age	June 30, 1855	25	242		J. L. Stephens	Feb. 14, 1857	25	267
J. L. Stephens	July 13, 1855	23	268		Golden Gate	March 2, 1857	25	342
Golden Gate	July 28, 1855	23	303		Sonora	March 17, 1857	25	295
Sonora	Aug. 18, 1855	29	326		J. L. Stephens	March 29, 1857	24	282
J. L. Stephens	Sep. 1, 1855	26	294		Golden Age	April 12, 1857	23	327
Golden Age	Sep. 12, 1855	23	314		Golden Gate	April 29, 1857	23	357
Panama	Oct. 2, 1855	26	257		J. L. Stephens	May 15, 1857	25	310
Golden Gate	Oct. 16, 1855	26	234		Golden Age	May 29, 1857	24	318
Sonora	Oct. 29, 1855	24	279		Golden Gate	June 15, 1857	26	316
J. L. Stephens	Nov. 14, 1855	25	323		Sonora	June 30, 1857	25	319
Golden Age	Nov. 29, 1855	24	291		J. L. Stephens	July 15, 1857	25	295
Sonora	Dec. 15, 1855	25	316		Golden Age	July 31, 1857	25	294
J. L. Stephens	Jan. 1, 1856	27	322		Sonora	Aug. 14, 1857	25	295
Oregon	Jan. 12, 1856	*	37		J. L. Stephens	Aug. 30, 1857	25	295
Golden Age	Jan. 15, 1856	26	289		Golden Age	Sep. 14, 1857	25	306
Sonora	Jan. 30, 1856	25	274		Sonora	Oct. 1, 1857	26	318
Golden Gate	Feb. 14, 1856	24	301		Panama	Oct. 22, 1857	31	294
J. L. Stephens	March 1, 1856	24	295		J. L. Stephens	Nov. 2, 1857	26	290
Golden Age	March 14, 1856	23	278		Golden Age	Nov. 17, 1857	28	315
Sonora	March 28, 1856	23	322		Sonora	Nov. 30, 1857	25	276
Oregon	April 12, 1856	*	22		Golden Gate	Dec. 16, 1857	26	344
	* Only from Panama.

Now, hoping that the reader has received very interesting correspondence from his friends, and digested the contents, let us see what is done with those large piles of bags that are as yet unopened. Some we see are marked "Sacramento Dis.," others "Stockton Dis.," others Marysville, Placerville, Nevada, Sonora, or some other "Dis." in the interior; and are placed upon the mail wagons, conveyed to the steamboats plying nearest to those places, and sent away as speedily as it is possible for them to be. No unnecessary delay is allowed to detain them, nor are they in the general bustle, by any means lost sight of. One would suppose that Argus, with his hundred eyes, would find opportunity fully to employ them all, were he postmaster at such a time as this. Every part is worked by system which experience has so far perfected; and this is the secret why so much is accomplished in so short a time. Those who ever feel desirous of complaining of delay, might do well to remember how matters went some four or six years ago.

Supposing that the mail which has arrived is all distributed, we should like the reader's company to see how the letter and newspaper mails are made up for Eastern conveyance and distribution.

Of course we take it for granted that you have written your letter; and which, being prepaid in stamps if it is for any portion of our Union, and in money if for foreign distribution, has found its way into the "drop basket" within the office. From this they are first taken to the "facing up table," that they may all be "faced" with the address before you: they are then conveyed to the "sorting case," for the purpose of weighing and ascertaining that the full amount of postage due on each letter is paid: after this is satisfactorily settled, they are passed to the "stamping-block," that the office-stamp, with the date of mailing, may be imprinted upon them: they are then placed in the "distributing case," that they may receive proper distribution according to their address. The letters are now ready to be entered upon the "post-bill"—similar to the one received with the lettermail on the arrival of the steamer at this port—which is done in this wise: say, for instance, the mail is now made up for "New York Distribution," which includes all letters addressed to the following places: New York State, Rhode Island, Connecticut, eastern and northern counties of New Jersey, northern counties of Pennsylvania and Ohio, Michigan, and Lower Canada. Letters thus addressed are laid upon the "mailing table," when all letters of the same rate of postage are placed together, and their number and rate of postage is entered on the "post-bill." After this is done, they are put up in convenient-sized packages (generally about eighty letters in one package) and stamped "New York Dis." They are then put in a mail-bag labeled "N. Y. Dis.," and are then ready to be dispatched over their route of destination. The same process is adopted in the making up of all the mails to every portion of the Union; and all this is done with the view of securing dispatch, and avoiding unnecessary labor and consequent delay.

Register of Departure of the Mails for the Atlantic States, via Panama, &c.; names of the Steamers, date of sailing, and number of bags of mail matter:

Name of Steamer.	Date of Departure.	No. Bags Mail Matter.		Name of Steamer.	Date of Departure.	No. Bags Mail Matter
John L. Stephens	Sep. 1, 1854	108		John L. Stephens	May 21, 1856	129
Panama	Sep. 16, 1854	89		Golden Age	June 5, 1856	149
Sonora	Sep. 30, 1854	101		Sonora	June 20, 1856	150
Golden Gate	Oct. 16, 1854	116		John L. Stephens	July 5, 1856	142
John L. Stephens	Nov. 1, 1854	100		Golden Age	July 21, 1856	147
Golden Age	Nov. 16, 1854	114		Sonora	Aug. 5, 1856	121
Sonora	Dec. 1, 1854	91		John L. Stephens	Aug. 20, 1856	141
John L. Stephens	Dec. 16, 1854	93		Golden Age	Sep. 5, 1856	140
Golden Age	Jan. 1, 1855	107		Sonora	Sep. 20, 1856	114
Sonora	Jan. 16, 1855	98		Golden Gate	Oct. 6, 1856	129
John L. Stephens	Feb. 1, 1855	108		Golden Age	Oct. 20, 1856	113
Golden Age	Feb. 16, 1855	99		Sonora	Nov. 5, 1856	115
Golden Gate	March 1, 1855	102		John L. Stephens	Nov. 20, 1856	122
Sonora	March 16, 1855	85		Golden Gate	Dec. 5, 1856	99
John L. Stephens	March 31, 1855	95		Sonora	Dec. 20, 1856	112
Golden Age	April 17, 1855	103		John L. Stephens	Jan. 5, 1857	120
Golden Gate	May 1, 1855	89		Golden Gate	Jan. 20, 1857	96
Sonora	May 16, 1855	80		Sonora	Feb. 5, 1857	121
John L. Stephens	June 1, 1855	100		John L. Stephens	Feb. 20, 1857	119
Golden Gate	June 16, 1855	102		Golden Age	March 5, 1857	103
Sonora	June 30, 1855	92		Golden Gate	March 20, 1857	119
John L. Stephens	July 16, 1855	97		Golden Gate	March 23, 1857	6
Golden Age	Aug. 1, 1855	95		John L. Stephens	April 6, 1857	115
Golden Gate	Aug. 18, 1855	94		Golden Age	April 20, 1857	102
Oregon	Sep. 5, 1855	93		Golden Gate	May 5, 1857	122
Sonora	Sep. 20, 1855	96		John L. Stephens	June 1, 1857	116
John L. Stephens	Oct. 5, 1855	82		Sonora	May 20, 1857	104
Golden Age	Oct. 20, 1855	95		Golden Age	June 20, 1857	96
Sonora	Nov. 5, 1855	93		Sonora	July 4, 1857	109
John L. Stephens	Nov. 20, 1855	96		John L. Stephens	July 20, 1857	108
Golden Age	Dec. 5, 1855	101		Golden Age	Aug. 5, 1857	121
Sonora	Dec. 20, 1855	113		Sonora	Aug. 20, 1857	102
Golden Gate	Jan. 5, 1856	89		California	Sep. 5, 1857	112
John L. Stephens	Jan. 21, 1856	125		John L. Stephens	Sep. 21, 1857	109
Golden Age	Feb. 5, 1856	101		Golden Gate	Oct. 5, 1857	91
Sonora	Feb. 20, 1856	106		Golden Age	Oct. 11, 1857	23
Golden Gate	March 5, 1856	95		Sonora	Oct. 20, 1857	96
John L. Stephens	March 20, 1856	107		Golden Gate	Nov. 5, 1857	125
Golden Age	April 5, 1856	126		John L. Stephens	Nov. 20, 1857	110
Sonora	April 21, 1856	116		Golden Age	Dec. 5, 1857	110
Golden Gate	May 5, 1856	92		Golden Gate	Dec. 21, 1857	94

RATES OF FOREIGN POSTAGE ON LETTERS.
(PER ½ OUNCE.)
South Pacific.—Eucador, Bolivia, and Chili, 34 cents; Peru, 22; Panama, 20 cents; and Mexico, 10 cents. Spain, 78 cents; West Indies (not British), Cuba excepted, 44 cents; Cuba, 20 cents; West Indies (British), 20 cents. Payment required for all the above.

Great Britain, 29 cents; Canada and Provinces, 15 cents; France, 15 cents per quarter oz.; Germany, 30 cents; Russia, 37 cents; Norway, 46 cents; Sweden, 42 cents; Italy, 33 cents; Switzerland, 35 cents; Holland, 26 cents; Austria 30 cents; and Prussia, 30 cents. For the above, prepayment is optional.

All ship letters, prepaid, are one cent.

The number of stamps and envelops sold monthly at the San Francisco Post Office will about average—of one cent stamps, 45,000; three cents, 27,000; ten cents, 32,000; twelve cents, 500. Of stamped envelops, three cents, 120,000, (of which Wells, Fargo & Co. use nearly 100,000 per month); six cents, 500; ten cents, 12,000. This statement, it should be remembered, is principally for the city of San Francisco alone; inasmuch as the principal interior offices obtain their supplies of stamps and envelops direct from the General Post Office, Washington.

The U. S. postage on letters for each half ounce is, if under three thousand miles, three cents; over three thousand miles, ten cents. For newspapers the postage is one cent to any part of the U.S. Magazines not exceeding one and a half ounces one half cent; not exceeding three ounces, one cent; over three ounces, one and a half cent.

On newspapers sent to foreign places, the following are the rates of postage: To the West Indies, 6 cents; South Pacific Coast, 6; German States, Denmark, Holland, Prussia, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and Italy, 6 cents; Great Britain and France, 2 cents; British North American Provinces, 1 cent.

SCHEDULE OF MAIL DEPARTURES PROM SAN FRANCISCO POST OFFICE.
Atlantic States, via Panama, 5th and 20th of every month.
San Diego and Salt Lake, 3d and 18th of every month.
Oregon and Washington Territories, taking mails also for the Northern Coast, 1st and 21st of every month.
San Jose, 8 A. M. every day.
Northern Mail via Sacramento, 4 P. M. every day, Sundays excepted.
Southern and Eastern Mail via Stockton, 4 P. M. every day, Sundays excepted.

Mails are kept open until ten minutes before the hour of departure, except for the Atlantic, in which case thirty minutes for closing the mails; though it would be better for the convenience of the Post Office, as well as for the safety of the correspondence, if letters were mailed during the night previous.

Ship Mails are despatched by every opportunity for the Sandwich Islands, Society Islands, Australia, and China. Postage on letters to all parts of the Pacific, by ship, to be prepaid.

DEAD LETTERS.—Letters technically termed "dead," are such as have been advertised, and have remained on hand three months; including letters refused; letters for foreign countries which cannot be forwarded without pre-payment of postage; letters not addressed, or so badly directed that their destinations cannot be ascertained; and letters addressed to places which are not Post Offices. All the dead letters are returned to San Francisco at the middle or end of each Post Office quarter, which is on the last day of March, June, September, and December. Refused and dropped letters are not advertised. Every dead letter, before its return to San Francisco, is stamped or postmarked on the sealed side, with the name of the office and the date of its return.