·
Prior to
development of cheap postage sending and receiving mail was delayed by economic
factors, distance, and environmental factors
o
The cost of
postage was determined by how many sheets of paper one used, the weight of the
letter, and the distance. Over time those expenses could add up, especially
during an age where telecommunication and speedy travel did not exist.
o
A person’s
proximity to the nearest post office may also delay their ability to actually
receive a letter. In the reading the author mentioned a man who had received a
letter from his brother at a post office 10 miles away. He had bargained with a
few people in his town to go pick up the letter, but by the time one of his
neighbors had agreed to retrieve the letter, his son had picked up the letter.
The letter then stayed at his son’s house for a number of days before he was
able to make the journey to his father’s house. In the end it took about 2
months for the man to receive the letter.
o
The weather
and lack of paved roads also contributed to the delay of mail in the 1800’s
·
When the US
Post Office began it was primarily used as a way to inform people about what
was going on in politics. The rest of the country used postal services for
special occasions or when there was no other means to send a letter.
·
The decrease
in cost of postage increased business for the US Postal Service. Prior to the
development of cheap postage everyday people would go to get lengths to avoid
the postal service, including developing their own currier service, angling
their text to save paper, and visiting loved ones in person to relay
information.
Comments: I find it interesting that letter writing
had once been so expensive, because today I use letter writing as a primary way
to communicate with my friends and relatives overseas since sending a letter is
cheaper than paying for long distance phone calls, and they are not always able
to get to a computer.
Question: Do you think that letter culture still exists
in the USA, or has the invention of the internet put an end to letter writing?
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