M'Lean, John. Unproductive Post Routes. Letter from the Postmaster General, transmitting A List of Unproductive Post Routes. January 17, 1826. Washington: Gales & Seaton, 1826. First Edition. [12185]
Removed, no wrapper, 8 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches, 53 pages. Good. Pamphlet.
19th Congress, 1st Session, Doc. No. 19.
This is a very interesting document with a very boring name. At the time this was printed postal routes were a circuit involving several towns and villages, and depending on the village, there might be several routes serving the same village via different routes. This document lists, by state, many routes that were duplicate or not often used, and recommends their discontinuation. This lists the towns of each route, how much was collected in postage and the expense of maintaining the route. These were all costing too much compared to revenue.
What it gives you is the route. So, opening at random to Virginia, route no. 22 consisted of Fishing Creek, Kingwood, Jollifers, and Bartlett's. This circuit took in no proceeds but cost $195 per year to run.
As a source for research, it shows what towns were linked together by mail, and would share news through a common post rider.
