The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-11-22 00:00:00

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THE NEW POST-CTFICE.

On Wednesday the officials of the poet and telegraph
menthol took posseelion of the new Poet-office, which
presents such • reteiectable appearance in St. Thomas-
street. Mr. S. Jackson and Mr. Bartlett have done
themselves credit as regards the look and rtructure of
the building, which has • handsome front of brick
an' freestone well arranged to appear both substantial
and light, while the windows above have some archi-
tectural merit frost the well-turned arches and
pillarets, with carved capitals. But of course suitable-
ness for the work to be done within is the main object
tea building of that kind, and the new Poet-office is a
vast improvement on its predlcesser at the side, which,
by the way, is to be absorbed into Meese.. Eliot'a
bank. It is very satisfactory to find our large estab-
lislim 'zits are so increasing in business as to require
such improvement, and must teed to re-assure the
general body of our tradesmen, when they see the
practical aid substantial proofs of Weymouth's advance
In value and impotence.
The new Poet-office, while extending from St.
Thomas-street quite back into St. Nichotaa-street, has
more than double the frontage of the present one, ane
is coesiderably higher. But it is in the internal
arrangements that the contrast strikes you as fereibly
as in the eize and external appearance. Entering by
handsome glass doors, the passage is laid with orna-
mental tiles, and a broad staircase, balustered with
pitchpine and mahogany, lies before you. But we
turn to the right into the public room, and here is an
office for money orders, savings bank, telegraphic meg-
sages, and the usual business of the modern Post-office,
about twice as large as the old one. At the left are mix
compartments, carefully separated from each other by
ground glass, for the senders to write their telegraphic
messages', thus leaving the whole of the room at the
substantial and handsome counter for other business.
Drawers, racks, pigeon-bolee. tcc., are, of nurse, all
ready to the hands of the officials, but all fresh and
geocelooking. At the extreme left of the counter, and
not visible to the public, is a bellows connected with
• tube, which is continued into • room above. This is
for the telegrams, which are placed in cartridges about
four times as large as those used by the Rifle Volun-
teers, the cartridges put into an open part of the tube,
then • part is turned round so as to close it, and a
stroke or tweet the bellows sends it flying upwares, to
drop on the table in the telegraph-room above. In the
rear of the public room is the postmaster's office, a
neatly and well-furnished place, quite too utter a
contrast with the dingy, barn-like affair occupied
before, with cupboards enough for • small company of
mysteries; the present is neat, compact, pleresant, and
commanding, for it is situated between the public
room and the sorters' room, and Mr. Kedgell's presence
can be made available immediately where the post-
master may be required. Another contrast with the
old place is very striking in the sorter's room ; instead
of the dingy, shabbily fitted place, with its V glass
roof, apex downward, and leaking sometimes like a
sieve, the rooms a-e of ample height, the glass roof A
form, as one would expect, and instead ot make-shift
arrangements, the different branches are divided so
widely and housed so commodiously that each pert of
the work can be performed in comfort, and one weuld
suppose—with more exactness. The sorters' room has
a group of six sorting benches, with two others to
spare; and all are neatly divided by brass work and
wire netting, while moveable seats are attached, so
that the sorters Cal either sit at work, or swing the
seat under out of the way. That torment of the Post-
office, the registered letter business, which has so
vastly increased of late, is provided for in a sort of
counting house at the side, and it may be a sign of the
increase expected that already the new Weymouth
registered-letter room is larger than that provided for
Bristol. A large double stamping bench will accom-
modate two or three 'tampers. and the inch-or-more
thick slate is covered with india-rubber sheets; at the
back is a bag-sealing counter with cupboard for sealing
apparatus. Behind this is the letter-carrier.' sitting-
room, with 16 sorting benches. Thew rooms are all
amply lighted and ventilated. Still farther back is a
wasting-room, where the men can have refreshments,
while expecting the mails, which will come in at the
back door from St. Nicholaseereet close by. Lavatory
and offices complete the arrangements on the ground
flee. Passing up the staircase, we first note the
battery-room, a small one, which is being fitted by the
Royal Engineers, who indeed have the superintend-
ence of the wires and apparatus outside the office.
Next to the battery-room is the ample instrument
room, about the same sise as the public room im-
mediately below. In the middle is the table at
which the message-bearing cartridges arrive, each
with • smart thump, through the pneumatic tube,
and hence they are taken to one or other of the instru-
ments, of which there are five, one for messages direct
to London or Bristol, another for Southampton, •
third for R idport and Dorchester; besides there is
one for communieatine with the railway station and
the quay, and she fifth is for the terminal station,
Reiland. Facing the door is an apparatus, which
seems to consist of our rows of beau k tioba with screws,
ten in • row, and one row ,d fewer brasses; this is the
test box, for discovering whereabouts are any faults in
the wires. At the side ef the room is • table for
messengers, for whom there is al.o provided a room at
the end. Living rear tments are abeve. The whole
of the arrangements appear to he coturnelloue, and the
Government has certainly prov Heil for the hsalth of
the employe, by abend nt ai eerier e while the lighting
by day and by night is tirseelse.. The Postmaster
employs about three clerks awl a .upernumt ray, three
sorters in the letter department, with seven postmen
and three country messengers; while in the tele:mph
department are four messengers and three clerks, eiel
we may certainly c ,ngratulate the deparenent, not
only on the handsome appearance of its hones, but on
the respectability and intelligence of ite staff.