----- ............Cemetery Walk: An afternoon of discovery! Every stone has a story. And they are waiting to be told........... -----

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Dead Bodies By Mail


Dead Bodies by Mail

When Cremated They May be Sent for 4 Cents a Pound

Washington, October 2 - Third Assistance Postmaster General Madden today received a request for information as to the postage rates of cremated bodies.

Mr. Madden after due deliberation, prepared a ruling to the effect that cremated bodies should be classed as merchandise and should pay the regular rate of 1 cent for four ounces.

As a result of this decisions four air tight tin canisters, containing the cremated remains of a family shipped from New York to San Francisco were forwarded from Washington post office, where they had been held up pending a determination of the postage rates for the funeral journey.

October 2, 1903 Hutchinson News