The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-06-16
TIL. Dead Letter Office.

HE DeaO Letter Of1sCc.
One Of the most interesting features Of
the Post Office is the Dead Letter Depart
ment. Days. instead of moments, might be
spent here, il it were advisable and adnis
sible to do so-though not excessively
interesting to the attentive attaches, mo
are engaged in opening letters six hours at
one sitting. This department is very sug
gestive in the interest it awakens IN the
visitors. All letters not delivered
that have been duly advertised and
returned to the Post Office, are here re.
ceived and examined. If practicable, they
are returned to the place where they were
sent. Ifnot, they are thrown into waste.
basket and Sold Five clerks are CONSTANT
)y engaged in opening dead letters, OF
which about twelve thousand are daily r.
celved A vast number Of articles, which
can never reach those for whom thsy were
intended, are sent along with these letters
10 all cases when they can be. they are re
turned. Those that cannot be traced back
to the source whence they came are placed
On file.
Among the wonders thus preserved is a
very singular little object, which our ignor
ance Of the fish world will no, permit US to
name. About three weeks ago it was for
warded from the Texan coast 1t might be
called Liliputian sea horse. and resembles
petritied white bat more than anythin,
else. It is about two and half incheS
long one aud a half wide, and half-incb
in thickness. The back is very much
curved, thin, brittle ridge running along
the spine. Two needle pointed little horns
protrude over the eyes, and two sh lot ou'
behind, like "linked sweetness, long drawn
Out" Two fms are percep'ihle at the sides.
and one above and one below the tail
which projects in a rat.like and most anon
a.ous manner. The underneath portion of
this brilliant child of nature resembles
that of tortoise, aad is labe led in ink
"Iron-clad Blockade Runner" The BODY
Is knit over with a texture which look
like nothing so much as petrified cobweb<.
The individual to whom this interesting
son Of the deep was sent has reason to
lament its non-reeeption.
Aanother article Of interest is a portion Of
splendid scarf, manufactured, probably at
Ispahan, and captured in Tennessee, wh-nce
it was forwarded to the friends of the cap
tor in the North. The colors are Of the
utmost brlllacy. The design is that of
flowers, and the combinations of hue and
shade are effected with lmnirtable yrac,
Photographs from all over t world for,
considerable collection. and are c,ntribu
ted from Maine to Mexico, from Barbary to
Barbados. A large scrap book, inpro
vised from directory, is in process OF con-
pletion, and is already nelry filed with
camp scenes, which the enclosures Of dead
liters have provided We hive not spa.e
at present. however, To dwell upon the ex
ceedingly interesting cn.losities of this de
partment, but anticipate returning to it
when an opportunity presents itself for a
more detailed account
The department devoted to the interests
Of "mal bags, locks and KEYS" requires,
from its very nature, mu,h judgment and
determination thoroughly to supervise.
The professional picker oflocks might learn
a useful lesson here. From this department
an annual supply of five or six thousand
locks issues, and OF seven or eight thousand
keys. Throughout al! the history Of the
Post Office, but few kinds of locks com.
paratiyely, have been provided The la'esi
and most reliable invention the improved
clam shell lock. 1t is Of the very strongest
kind, and will Withstand the rough usage
of the service. The clam shell locks are
made by machinery, and executed with the
most exact and exquisite ,icety. AIRY one
of one hundred thousand keys, manufac.
tured for the purpose, is supposed To answer
for any one OF ore hundre thousand of
these locks. Sosne idea can thus be formed
of the delicacy required in the construction
Of both key and lock, and Of he degree OF
Ingenuity which devised them. All mail
locks are exposed TO the wear AMI tear OF
grit and gravel, and sore OF them are -
as to encourage rather than
throw off the lodging Of dust and dirt.
There il vers little bearing surface IN the
clam smell lock. however. Moreover. it IT,:
self locking. very important AMI almost
advantage in mail locks, and
es degrs. Of strength y secured which IL