Rhode Island Postal History - Railroad Cancels - 1941 Boston & New York - RPO

Rhode Island Postal History - Railroad Cancels
1941 Boston & New York - RPO
Business Reply Card Colonial Laundries, Inc.
From Mr. Passman in Central Falls, RI

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There were quite a few of these Colonial Laundries Reply Cards and all of them have been Franked with a 2-Cent Due stamp with Providence received cancel. My best guess is that their First Class Permit had expired. Mr. Passman posted the reply card from Central Falls, Rhode Island where it was sorted and canceled aboard the Boston and New York Railroad - Train Nr. 179 and dropped off at the Providence Station. The Postage Due stamp is the 2-cent, dull-carmine issue of 1931, (Scott #J81).

The Boston & New York was actually part of the old New York, Providence & Boston Line. After the completion of the Thames River Bridge, the NY, Providence & Boston became part of the primary New York to Boston route. After 1893, the line was owned by the New Haven Railroad and was its busiest route.
SEE: 1887 Boston, Providence & New York Cover for complete history of this railroad.

The reverse of the reply card contains the various rates, finishes and boxes to check off a selection. Evidently there were a lot of small towns that did not have local laundry services for bachelors, as the several difference Colonial Reply Cards, I have are from various towns scattered throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. In this instance, Mr. Passman is requesting the "Thrifty Wash" at 15 lbs for 98 cents, which states, "Everything washed, flatware ironed, balance damp." (Additional laundry on this plan was 7 cents per pound.)