Post+Office--Influence+of+Franklin,+Benjamin

=Ben Franklin's Influence on The Colonial Postal System=

=Introduction=

By the time Ben Franklin (1706 - 1790) was appointed Postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737, he had already been integral in developing various organizations that were to better the community. In 1727 at the age of 21 Franklin developed a group in Philadelphia called Junto. This was  a group of "like minded aspiring artisans and tradesmen who hoped to improve themselves while they improved their community." The Junto was a discussion group for issues of the day. In 1731 this group took the idea of Franklin’s “subscription library” and created the Library Company of Philadelphia. In 1736 Franklin organized the Union Fire Company; these along with many other initiatives that Franklin was involved in, such as a Police Department for the city; proved that he was the man for the job of Postmaster of Philadelphia. In fact he was named to three different positions that dealt with Post delivery in the Americas throughout his life. Through these appointments he implemented many changes that shaped the colonial post office into the Postal Service that we know today. = Franklin’s interest in being Postmaster =

As well the obvious draw to improving a public system that Franklin had become so efficient at, Franklin’s printing business could also benefit from his being awarded this position. When he became a printer in 1728 most of his printing was small jobs, He then purchases the //Pennsylvania Gazette// in 1729 which built up to be one of the most successful papers in the colonies. As a Publisher of a newspaper the method of delivery was by post carriers. Prior to Franklin this office was held by another printer of a Philadelphia newspaper the //American Weekly Mercury//; Andrew Bradford. Franklin comments on taking his new office and how it affected Bradford’s paper in his “Autobiography”. "I accepted it readily, and found it of great advantage; for, tho' the salary was small, it facilitated, the correspondence that improved my newspaper...My old competitor's newspaper declined proportionately, and I was satisfy'd without retaliating his refusal, while postmaster, to permit my papers being carried by the riders." =Colonial Mail Delivery=

Mail Delivery in Colonial times was unreliable and un predictable. The main reasons for this were the lack of standardization and a formal system for where mail was to be sent from and to but also the way in which it arrived at these places. The way you would go about sending a letter would be to find a friend or relative that was going in the right direction and have them deliver it to the nearest tavern or coffee house and there it would wait for the receiver to come pick it up. International post was generally entrusted to a ships captain who would also leave it somewhere near the intended final destination. As you can see this type of “system” leaves much to be desired.

=Franklin's Improvements=

Postmaster of Philadelphia - 1737
As stated before letters were left at the post office until its recipient would come looking for it. As you can imagine the amount of un claimed letters started to increase. Franklin true to his nature quickly found a better way of having these letters claimed. Being the printer of a well read newspaper offered the solution. The first of these lists was printed in the March 21, 1738 edition of the //Pennsylvania Gazette. The Gazette// was also used for post offices in the areas surrounding Philadelphia also, such as, Chester, Lancaster, Trenton, New Castle, and Wilmington. Over 27,000 names were printed over the years //The Gazette// was published. He also took this opportunity to create a more standard location for mail delivery and pickup, By using the office as “The Post Office” it was now easier to receive your mail, instead of looking a different locations it might be you only needed to stop by the office of the Pennsylvania Gazette.

Deputy Postmaster General of North America - 1758
In 1758 Franklin and John Foxcroft were appointed joint Deputy Postmaster General of North America. It was after this appointment that many of the most notable changes were implemented. In the summer of 1763 A survey of the postal system was completed.

The beginning of last summer Mr. Franklin and Mr. Foxcroft, Deputy PostMasters General for North-America, undertook a Survey, which was proposed to extend at least, through the whole present Post Roads, in order to examine every where into the state and Management of the several Post Offices; to make such new Regulations as should appear to be necessary; and to observe what Improvements, the Revenue might be capable, of, in the different Colonies; It was after this survey that work began to define and improve the actual routes that were traveled to deliver the mail. These routes were important in the factthat they allowed for a known mileage that the mail was going to travel as well as allow for a known time at which the mail would reach its destination. Mileage Markers were installed and now Rates could be established because of the standard mileages. Rate charts and Instructions were then distributed to all of the offices, adding to the standardization and reliability of what could actually start to be called a system now. A picture of these rate charts is shown below with the instructions from Franklin and Foxcroft. Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft: Tables of Rates of Postage [1763]

North-America, as establish’d by Act of Parliament in the Ninth Year of the Reign of Her late Majesty Queen Anne, Entitled, An Act for Establishing a General Post-Office, for all Her Majesty’s Dominions. Rated in Penny-weights and Grains of Silver, at Three-Pence Sterling for each Penny-weight. [Here follow the tables described in the headnote.] Explanation. Post-Office to another, viz. by the Figure, or Figures, set down at the Angle of Meeting, or in the Square which points to both Places. Example. Look in the Table for New-York, and thence carry your Eye strait down until it comes opposite to Williamsburg, and in that Point of Meeting you’ll find [5] which is Five Penny-weight of Silver, for the Port of a Single Letter between those Two Offices. Double Letters, and trebled for all Treble Letters, and for every Ounce Weight Four times as much must be charged as is here set down. the Rates set down in these Tables, with 16 Grains Weight of Silver, for such as are received from on Board; and with 8 Grains Weight, for such as are directed on Board any Ship or Vessel: And the whole Postage of these last Sort, must be paid down at the Post-Office where such Letters and Packets are delivered in. Road, and for all Expresses sent from any Stage to any Place out of the Post Road, there must be charged and paid One Penny- weight of Silver for every Mile such Express shall be sent. Note, In the above Tables, the several Places are ranged as they lye in the Course or present Route of the Post.

B. Franklin. J. Foxcroft.

Woodbridge: Printed by James Parker, by Order of the Post-Master General: Note, These Tables are to be pasted on a Board, and hung up in open View, in the most convenient Place in each respective Post-Office.

Postmaster General of the Colonies – 1775
Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 of the United States Constitution, known as the Postal Clause or the Postal Power, empowers Congress "To establish Post Offices and post Roads". It was under this Clause that the Second Continental Congress unanimously selected Benjamin Franklin, to hold this new office and see over the new governments Post Office. While in this new Position he appointed his son-in-law, Richard Bache to be his deputy Postmaster. This position was only held by Franklin for a year, because in 1776 Franklin is sent to France to become Commissioner of congress to the French Court; after Franklin’s Departure Bache was promoted to Postmaster-General. This transfer of his position was effectively the end of his involvement with the Postal System.