Book Inspiration: Paper Trails: The US Post and the Making of the American West by Cameron Blevins

"There were five times as many post offices in the United States in 1899 than there are McDonald's restaurants today. During an era of supposedly limited federal government, the United States operated the most expansive national postal system in the world."

Cameron Blevins' Paper Trails explores how the 19th-century U.S. Post Office created a vast communication network that reshaped the country. Unlike today’s stable, centralized postal system, the Old West’s post office was a decentralized, rapidly shifting operation. There was no in-person delivery, and every new presidential administration reshuffled postmasters, making local offices politically fluid.

Yet, despite this instability, the post office was a tremendous federal investment in connectivity. It funneled money into remote areas, ensuring that Americans—no matter how far from urban centers—had access to goods, services, and especially financial tools like money orders and banking networks. In many ways, its role in expanding economic access and linking distant communities has parallels to the rise of the internet.

Although the institutions of the past may seem quaint compared to modern corporations and bureaucracies, their impact was profound. The more early American history I read, the clearer it becomes that public and private enterprises have always played interlocking roles—just hidden in different forms. If this fascinates you, I highly recommend reading Paper Trails to learn more.