Background
Prior to 1845, transportation of inland mail, other than by railroad or steamboat, was given to bidders who offered stage or coach service.
This was abolished by act of Congress on March 3, 1845, which provided that the postmaster-general should lease all such contracts to the lowest bidder who tendered sufficient guarantee of faithful performance, without any conditions, except to provide for due celerity, certainty and security of transportation. These bids became known as "celerity, certainty and security bids" and were designated on the route registers by three stars (***), thus becoming known as "star routes."
Read more about this topic: Star Routes
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—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
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—Emma Goldman (1869–1940)