Under the Presidential Advisory Board for the Post Office Department, the development of a coding system for the United States was pursued. Postmaster General John A. Gronouski announced that the ZIP Code would begin on July 1, 1963. Transportation was one contributing factor that allowed the coding process to develop as well as it did. It was only years after the coding was implemented that it was mandated for mailers to use the coding system. Zip Codes allow for a faster and more efficient mailing process. Without this kind of organization the United States would never get their bills paid on time and communication would still be as slow as it was…
Jeeze, I couldn't imagine trying to be a post-officer back in the 30s. I would go absolutely insane trying to sort mail from all over the country with no real means of actually, well, sorting it! I can definitely understand how slow it must of been to get a piece of mail if you were expecting it from family far away. It makes us today seem awfully impatient to having to wait 'a whole 3-4 business days' to get something from California. Our zip codes are easy and efficient. The Canadians' zips really confuse me.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% zip code is such a useful tool. Like mentioned previously it does make the time to send something a lot quicker, but I was thinking, nowadays everything is done by zip code. When you want to know your weather online you need you zip. And in a large perspective it is very interesting how by a 5 digit number you can pin point a location anywhere in the United States.
ReplyDeleteCould you imagine not having a zip code? I mean now you just give the post master your zip code and your city pops up right away. It was definitly a great idea for them to do this. Maybe thats where they get the saying "i'm gonna go postal" haha, they were probably going crazy not knowing what to do with all the mail!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize zip codes started this early. I can't imagine not having one prior to the invention of the computer. However, in today's world, I don't think they are so necessary. Everything is done over the Internet, even paying bills, (if you aren't over-concerned about security).
ReplyDeleteThe zip code was a great innovation for its time. A lot of mail gets lost already. Imagine how much more mail would be lost without this. In this country, there are a number of cities that share the same name. Before e-mail and online payment were invented, this was the only way to send important information that a telephone call could not, such as a bank statement or a bill. It still remains the only way to send physical packages, so it is still needed. Then again, soon, to cut costs, the U.S. Postal Service will only deliver five days.
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