The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-17
QUE CITY POST OFFICE.

OUR CITY POST OFFICE.
csrr.sPc.dssss q M.yes ws:a. e,ss.::ssr
MAYORS OFPICE,
NEW YORK, Jan 81, 1866.
To THE HONORABLE THE BOARD OF ALDxsNH:-
GENTLEMEN-Pursuant to resolution OF the
Board Of Aldermen, passed December Gath, 1866,
calling upon me for copies OF any correspondence
that may have taken place between the Postmaster
General and myself relating to the establishment Of
up town Post Office in this city, have the honor
to present the inclosed, which would have been
muncated earlier, but for unusual press Of public
business In this Office. FERNANDO WoOD, Mayor.
MAYORS OFFICE,
New YORK, Nov. 80. 1855.
DEAR SIR-Pursuant to joint resolution Of the
Common Council Of this city, / have the honor to
address you in behalf Of the establishment here of
ted in the vicinity of the juncture Of Broadway and
the Sixth avenue.
The reasons for this request are so obvious that
there is but one opinion among our citizens a. to
its necessity The difficulties in the way of proper
mail accommodation to a very large proportion of
our inhabitants may be easily understood, when the
physical formation of this island, and the present
location Of the Post Office are remembered
You viii recollect that this city is situated on
narrow neck Of land, thirteen miles in length, with
an average width Of only about three quarters of
miie and that all the government buildings, nclu-
ding the Post Office, are located at the extreme
southern point whilst the population intended to be
accommodated are, IN the main, residing Of from
Unlike most other cities, with capacity for spread
ing growth in every direction, the narrow confines
OF New York preclude any extension, except from
EOuth to north in direction. Thus, as the popu-
lation increases, the city is pressed upward in that
direction the more rapidly in consequence of the
peculiar formation of the narrow limits Of its site.
When the Postofce was originally established In its
present position vicinity the New York ofthat day
did not comprehend quarter mile square, and the
population surrounded it, It is yet retained there
Enough few habtations are found within mile, and
no buildings contiguous except those used as ware
houses and places devoted exclusively to business
purposes.
Thirty years ago, the northern boundary of New
York did not extend mile from its extreme
southern limit on the Bay but now, we have dense
mass of occupied dwellings six miles beyond. We
have quadruped our population since the year 1880,
and this population, with but trifing exceptions is
to be found two to five miles from the location Of our
only Post Office. Now sir, it is evident that public
departments to which all classes resort, should be.
as near as practicable centrally located They should
be equally accessible to ALL No class should be
cIusivey accommodated at The expense of all others.
am aware that it is said in reply, to sustain the
present location, that the wholesale merchants in
the vicinity furnish very large majority of the
business of the Office In my opinion, this reason is
entitled TO little consideration The theory of our
government is the greatest good to the greatest nnm
ber and that class is entitled to especial privi
ieges. 1.-THE blessings OF government, like the dews
of heaven" should be dispensed upon all alike. II
the wholesale merchant furnishes the greater pro-
gotten that this correspondence ia but an element Of
his business, for which he provides by clerks and
charges.
Not so with the up town residents and traders, the
denizens of the factories and workshops the poor
tisan, and the SONS of toll, to whom Communication
with distant friends is equally important. The six
pence for omnibus fare, and the half days loss of
xime to be sacrificed before he repair there (or
il may lie four five miles distanD for his letters,
is to him a far greater burden, and more severe
exaction than an incopvenient distance can be to
no Whilst the hankar can pet hia letter
from st. Louis for three cents, and in few hours
after it is written, resident of one of our up town
wards has to pay at least shilling travelling ex.
penses, and lose what to him may be five dollars
worth of time in going to and from the office. at
which he can only procure it. | know it will be
said that carriers are provided by government to
convey the up town correspondence; but all expe-
rence shows that far as the poor are concerned,
this accommodation, if it can be 80 called, is ex-
tremey precarious and dilatory, and never unaccom
panied BY the imperous demand Of the carrier for
his fee.
1t is mistake therefore, to suppose that there is
any equality in the present location 1t is all one
sided, and as wrong in principle as it is unjust and
oppressive in operation.
But we do not seek to deprive the merchants Of
any advantage they now possess by the situation OF
the Post Office in their midst We 90 net ask that
the regular office shall be disturbed at all. We ask,
simply, that that portion of its receipts which be.
long to distant population be transferred by gov
eminent to convenient point equally accessible to
all by the establishing of another Office. AS Maho-
met is getting tired Of going to the mountain, we de
sire the mountain to 20 to Mahomet. We believe
that our ancient mother at Washington does not
wish to prosecute US; that she has not forgotten
that when as an independent people, we voluntarily
repquished to her all jurisdiction over the public
mails, we at the same time retained the right to
terminate and protest, which we now DO, against
the hardships to which continually subjected
in this matter.
Our up town people ask that, inasmuch as they
are deprived of the legal right to transport their
own mails, they may have such facilities as are
afforded to all Others They ask that Post office
be established up town, and that suitable
person be appointed as postmaster thereof
If the expense of such an Office offers any obsfa-
Gle to compliance with this request, they are viii
ling that any cost attached to 1t shall be collected
from those who participate In its advantages; for It
is quite impossible that the taxation whatever 1t
may be- can at all approach the present severe ex-
actions by loss Of time and actual expenses.
Permit me, therefore, TO- express the hope that
your attention will be speedily given to this subject,
and that the reasonable request Of the Common
Council viii be granted am, very truly yours,
FERNANDO WooD, Mayor.
To the Hon. JAMES CAMPBELL, Postmaster Gene
raj, Washington.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Dec. %, 1855.
Sm-I had the honor on the Sd instant, to re-
ceive your communicate Of the 30th ult, made in
pursuance of joint resolution OF the Common Coun-
Gil Of your city, urging the necessity and proprety
of establishing in said city Post office, or branch
Office, Gin the vicinity OF the juncture OF Broadway
and the Sixth avenue"
Before taking action on the subject Of that COM
munication / deemed it proper to submit it to the
Postmaster at New York. whose views in relation to
the mater have this day been received, and copy
OF them herewith transmitted.
am sir very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMss CAMPBELL.
Hon. FERNANDO Woop, Mayor, New York.
PosT OFFICE, NEW YORK, Dec. %, 1855.
Hon. JAMES CAMPBELL, POSTMASTER GENERAL: =
SIR-I herewith return the memorial Of the Mayor
of this city, asking on behalf of the Common
Council the establishment of an up town Post
Office to be situated in the vicinity Of the juncture
of Broadway and Sixth avenue" which was inclo4ed
to me by the First Assistant Postmaster General,
with q request that would communicate my views
upon the subject TO the Department.
This matter has been pressed with great per-
finacity. little over year since, when
proposals were united Of sites for build