Post Office Appropriation Act

United States [1912]

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The Post Office Appropriation Act of 1912 was a piece of United States legislation that provided funding for the Post Office Department. This act was part of a broader trend of expanding postal services in the early 20th century. By 1912, the U.S. postal system had grown significantly since its inception, with a vast network of post offices and evolving delivery services. The act would have supported initiatives like the introduction of parcel post and collect on delivery (COD) services, which were established in 1913, and the expansion of rural free delivery. These developments aimed to improve the accessibility, quality, and range of postal services for the American public.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

road
From local to national funding
…began in 1912 with the Post Office Appropriation Act, and the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 established federal aid for highways as a national policy. The Bureau of Public Roads, established in the Department of Agriculture in 1893 to make “inquiries with regard to road management,” was given responsibility…
Read More
…began in 1912 with the Post Office Appropriation Act, and the Federal Aid Road Act of 1916 established federal aid for highways as a national policy. The Bureau of Public Roads, established in the Department of Agriculture in 1893 to make “inquiries with regard to road management,” was given responsibility…
Read More