The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-08-01
Paul was always a head Quarters for letter

left circles Of relatives and friends in their
former homes, must needs write no few let
tiers relating to their prospects, views of the
country, adventures, &c, say nothing OF husi-
ness letters Thus, from the earliest date of
the Postal History of this place, this branch
of the business was large. We venture to
assert, that could the archives of the Post
Office Department be explored, the records OF
no post office of city the size of st. Paul,
would show in the accounts OF mails sent,
such a heavy footing as do those of tins
office.
But, certain it is, that population had SO
increased, and with it the business OF the
office. that Post Master Bass during this sum-
mer removed the office into the one-story
frame building now occupied by Andrew
lowering, Esq, as Real Estate Office, stu
ated on the north SIDE of Til rd street, be-
tween Roberts and Minnesota. The entire
width of the building was taken up in boxes,
leaving a space in front for customers to
stand. The Office, for the then state OF things
in St. Paul, was fitted up on quite masnii-
cent scale. I'too hMndred and forty glass
bores were made, besides several large lock
boxes for Government officers and the Press
These same boxes were in use in the office
Just vacated and occupied the right hand sec
ton, down to the middle door. Tie office
remained here for more than two years.
The next winter QS5l-2) Wiloughby and
Powers had the contract for ni-areekty
mail, the first which was ever ordered for
winter arrangement. The mails were at that
time conveyed through Wisconsin to Prairie
du CHEN. 1t was not until three winters
atterward that they were taken down Oh the
present winter route, via DEBORAH, &c., 10 Du-
buoue Great arrangement and total failure
of the mails were also complained Of at that
! time.
With the summer of 1852, commenced a
more regular and snrc conveyance OF the
mails. The contract was taken by the GA
LENA AND UNITED STATES PACKET Co." and
tri-weekly mail was ordered from the ID.
P. o. at Gaena for St. Paul.
| At this time we find in the papers the
| first notice of the establishment Of any Post
Office in Minnesota, outside Of Saint Paul
The Little Canada Post Office was estab-
lished and Abraham Lambert appointed
P NJ.
There was business enough in the Post
Office that summer to occupy the time OF the
incumbent, as well as an assistant. H. B.
| Wood now at Superior, we are told, was
| clerk at that time in the office. TWAS Amos
! Ellmaker, We believe, Of Pennsylvania after
wards candidate for Vice Presidency, who.
when on a visit here about those days, used
to say that p. NJ. Bass was the most obging
and best Post Master he had ever seen,
For" said he, I" TO matter how seldom the
mail comes in, if only once 4 week, | lind
something in my box every day 90 there
Could any one see how the Great Eastern
mails are despatched now, in the Post Office,
he would think the days Of g obIigng post
masters had gone by.
During the winter of 1923, the same mail
arrangements as OF the preceding winter were
in operation. But few complaints are MOTTO
ed in the daily press about these times.
With the Spring of 1855, came important
changes. This was the advent of Inc Pierce
administration Prior to the incoming OF
that administration, Post Master Bas; ten
dercd his resignation. 1t was accepted, and
WIN. ii. FORBES, for many years a resident of
Minnesota, and who II ID been an Indian Ira |
der, was appointed in his place. Mr. Forbes
was a very popular man, and during his whole !
term as Post Master, was well liked. lis /
personal attention, however, was not tIe-
quently given to it. lie secured the services, !
shortly after his appointment, OF the present /
Deputy p. NJ, j. c. Terry, whose street !
business habits, and rigid punctuality and cor
rectncss, brought the office under excellent !
management, and for over four years con-
Quoted it in L model manner. One assistant
was required at this time, only. The Office
did not escape censure, though, for we find
in the files of the Minnesotan Of that Gate.
the following
ave have a very tNcien Post Master
now, but unfortunately he visits the Office
but about once week. When he and the
chief clerk are absent, the Office is left in the
greenest kind of hands. and the people have
to go away without their letters, or get them
with the greatest trouble and persuasion.
Just before closing our columns yesterday
we begged for letter which we knew was
in our box, and finally had to go arounl and
take it. We have frequently OF late heard
complaints which justities us in believing
there is something csreiessly Or rottenly
wrong about tho st. Paul Post uRice.''
1t has always been the luck OF Pos Office
clerks to be abused. Even now, under tl+s
model regime Of Our Office, anathenias are
hurled fiercely at the unfortunate at.acAes
within. We deprecate this custom-it is
meauness-and though the I'M
fortunate clerks do all they can to please
the needless fault finding of me
little souled men render it n miserable posi-
lion.
With the incoming of the new adminislla
ton, new p. ". General was appointed.
Being a fogy, and not understanding the GO
ahead Young America nature of the Wcs-
tern country, 'reekly mail from Galtnn was c
Ill that was allowed for the Summer -
This says paragraph in the .hinnesotian t
1t that time, ''puts us back to where we were j
hree years ago." and so stirred up the in Zig s
nation of the inhabitants of st. Paul that j
petitions were rolled in on the Department at
10 slow rate. An aren't was sent out to ex- i
amino into the grievances, @IlO succeeded in I
effecting temporary arrangement with the {
Galena and Minnesota Packet Compass, bv
which We should be supplied with a tri-weck- t
y mail, with promise of additional service. d
But the temporary arrangements of three p
nails per week continued during the VIII DE O
season. $
At this time the Distributing Office was D
hanged from Galena to Dubuque. Great a
omnlaints are found in the paperS Of about b I