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submitted 2 weeks ago by PugJesus@piefed.social to c/historymemes@piefed.social

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[-] PugJesus@piefed.social 60 points 2 weeks ago

Explanation:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brief-history-children-sent-through-mail-180959372/

One of the most overlooked, yet most significant innovations of the early 20th century might be the Post Office’s decision to start shipping large parcels and packages through the mail. While private delivery companies flourished during the 19th century, the Parcel Post dramatically expanded the reach of mail-order companies to America’s many rural communities, as well as the demand for their products. When the Post Office’s Parcel Post officially began on January 1, 1913, the new service suddenly allowed millions of Americans great access to all kinds of goods and services. But almost immediately, it had some unintended consequences as some parents tried to send their children through the mail.

“Postage was cheaper than a train ticket,” Lynch says.

Finally, on June 14, 1913, several newspapers including the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times all ran stories stating the the postmaster had officially decreed that children could no longer be sent through the mail.

[-] bluesheep@sh.itjust.works 21 points 2 weeks ago

I was full on expecting a baby to have ended up in one of those modern automated processing machines but this make a bit more sense I suppose

[-] Fizz@lemmy.nz 9 points 2 weeks ago

I dont know what's worse a parent losing their kid down the automatic mail belt or choosing to send their kid via mail to save a few pennies

[-] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 10 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

save a few pennies

Parcels tend to be an order of magnitude cheaper than transporting a person via trains, car/carriage etc. If you were poor, sending the kid via parcel might have been the only option to get them to a place. Though obviously it's a piss-poor option, great way to kill, cripple or traumatize your child for life. Travelling via parcel might be doable for the 2-3 days a parcel might take today, but in those days parcels weren't delivered that fast. Imagine being stuck in a dark, small box for 2 weeks.

[-] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 9 points 2 weeks ago

To be fair, pennies were worth a lot more in 1913.

In 1913, 1 penny was worth 0.01 1913 dollars.

Today, 1 penny is only worth 0.01 2026 dollars, so you can see it's quite a difference.

[-] bluesheep@sh.itjust.works 4 points 2 weeks ago

Good God I didn't even realize that it would've easily taken more than a day to ship the child, that's horrifying

[-] Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

I don't understand. That seems impossible. The kid is shipped with several liters of water inside the box? And they just poop and pee in there?? And what kid would agree to that? It makes no sense. I feel like there must be more to this story.