The post office was important in 1787 to "provide the means of intercourse between the citizens of remote parts of the confederation, on such a regular footing,

The post office was important in 1787 to "provide the means of intercourse between the citizens of remote parts of the confederation, on such a regular footing, as must contribute greatly to the convenience of commerce, and to the free, and frequent communication of facts, and sentiments between individuals." It is totally obsolete for this purpose, having been almost totally supplanted by phone calls, email, text messages, IM, and video calls.