The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-04
The New York city Post ONCE.

AcA~N ssAb1
desire to call your attention to the revenue derived
by the Fest Office department from the rent Of the boxes
at our City Post Office.
Prior to the first Of January, there were 3,549 boxes,
which, at a rent of 81 each, yielded the sum of S14, 1876
Per annum. In consequence Of numerous complaints Of
our citizens about the inefficient management ut the of.
fee, in consequence OF q want Of force to attend to its
duties, we are told that the department cannot afford
more clerks, nor to increase the scanty pay o. those al
ready engaged, unless an increased rent Is charged 70
the merchants for the boxes appropriated for their use,
and that, forsooth, as the merchants are so greatly Obliged
by the condescension of the department, in allowing the
merchants to have boxes at all, by which they are so
greatly benefited, they must submit to pay for
instead Of four; out Of which increased reye.
nue. to the Office they will be enabled to hire
more clerks TO attend to the legitimate business Of
the office, and p~roperlya Compensate those already en-.
gagged. The number of boxes have been increased to
424e, which, at six dollars per annum, amounts to the
snug sum OF $25,4I6, being an increase of SlI. $50 to
the revenue from this source last year. | contend that
this is all wrong, and the only excuse offered by the de.
partment Is, that for such greatly increased facilities the
merchants must pay, in order to meet the increased or.
pen,e, This argument l. entirely fallacious, as can be
If no boxes were provided whatever. all the ,stters
would require to be assorted alphabetically which would
require Almost as much time as to place IL EN- In the
boxes Of the merchants, II not quite as long, as the
clerks by practice, can and do, distribute the letters 10
the boxes with great facility.
In such a case no one would know whether he had a
'NfNNf W ~ 1855 etNs NsIhhy 3 ~ " ~ examination vi
perhaps one hundred or three hundred letters MANY
merchants DO not every day receive letters, and the
great majority receive both by the morning ard after.
noon mails, and sometimes only by one, 5, that this
creates an army Of persons who are expecting letters, and
who have none at various tines, when they enquire
daily, but whose enquiries consume as much time as is
required 10 find the letters OF those Who have.
Now, Mr, Editor, ! leave II TO your judgment whether
under a system OF delivering letters alphabetically, or by
the aid OF boxes, the department Is not a gamer pecunf.
arily by the present use of boxes, for ] think II will MT
be disputed that at least three times as many clerks
would be required fn the alphabetical systcmI, 10 at.
tend TO the same amount or business in the same time
ss is now done by the use Of boxes. II, therefore, we
COW require not more than one third Of the clerks than
would De required on the old fosy system, there Is a large
gain 10 the department in the expense Of this office; but
the merchants Of New York are called upon TO contri.
butte the sum OF $25,476 per aunum towards its support.
The department Is under obligation 10 afford the mer.
chants every facility In the early transmission ana deli
very Of letters committed TO lis care, aud as the chief
portion Of the revenue Is derived from the mercantile
portion OF the community, IL ia the height Of injustice
to saddle them with q tax TO pay the expense Of proper.
ly conducting the Affairs OF the department. II il more
II 10 contemplate. AN OLD BOX OWNER.