New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-24
TIE pEApLErTER oFFIcE-ITs CURIOsITIEs.

Perhaps no division of any department under
the Federal Government is engaged in more important
and responsible duties bearing directly upon the interests
Of the public at large than the Dead Letter branch OF the
General PosOhice Department Here are collected al
aristOcrat aud tho humblest and obscure citizen The
man ESD coming under the Jurisdiction Of the Third
Assistant Postmaster General, Gen. William H. H. Ter
rill There are employed IN opening and re.
cordng letters received 30 clerks, male and
female. The large amount OF matter received
daily in this division is immense II is sent to
the upper story upon which floor the Dead Letter Office
Is situated, by means OF a dumb waiter There are
particular business being required TO open from 1000 to
i2OO letters All letters containing yaluables are re-
corded the writers informed that they are held sub
ject TO their disposal To give an estimate
Of the amount OF matter that a Ss,na ties
parnn we extract items OF interest in the last
annual report OF Mr. Lyman Whole number OF letters
received 9965 whole number OF letters and circulars
destroyed $780, total delivered TO owners l56O6 total
money letters received In value 1883 81, Inc promi'
OF the nondeyery OF letters the unmaa-
bile character Of many Of them. The largest receipts
during the war; when thousands OF YET,
were addressed. Many foreign letters are not de-
livered on account OF insufficient addresses, A. me
geographical extent OF the United states ana LEI,
rtoTie being yet unsettled and the constant arrival
OF emigrans IN search OF new homes IA remote TeEos
and the continual changing OF places OF aoO1e IN tn
settled country operate TO increase the dmcuy 10 the
deIVeIy o rd stafs Many are addressed
without any destination beng attached others are not
stamped and great many are stamped with Unted
States internal revenue stamps From PIE OF letters
areselected the following addresses some OF WHICH De
Ignorance, but the MINORITY kLOHS
mister Makart Kare of Mister MuldOon, fornnst the
Protestant Church, New.YOrk" James Prince ESQ.,
California" Harry C. Everzer, treasurer OF the Excel
sor base ball club Illinois," NJ Guillame Fayle kue dc
Fremont Willie de Casiliano, Des Etats Uns Nord Amer
ioue" 'For Bin Clements, at the Cross roads, BurOun
Ronnu Kintuky." Heinrich Won schappen, sitinll
arkpenO "secretary of the Insurance Company, Pna-
delphia." ''Aliku Kelly, hods man, snsiatl' Kew.
EdiYvard Cartwright England" "Mr. Edgar Smith" mo
CITY or state gven) TO the member Of Congress from
ohop Many others might be given but the above are
fair specmens In n small room adjoining the main
office Is contained large collection or valua0ies OF AL
Kinds which have been accommodating Tor some ume.
During tho war large number OF soldiers photographs
were received through the mails all Of which have been
preserved In portfolio form. Among tie large NUMBER
on hand, nearly every day some are reeognIel
and returned 10 those having claims upon
them Among the list of other valunOles is package Oh
cocoons aud raw silk which mailed from san iran
cisco 10 Paris and To the Dead Letter once on ac
count OF nOnpaymeut OF postage, the person 10 wnO
The package Was addressed refusing 10 pay the same
great variety Of other articles are also 10 be seen con
stating of ambrOtypes, pictures, teas conec, soap ap
nnreI Of All kinds dolls iewelry and IN fact almost
everytbing for which the malls are considered safe
means of transmission. Every year or two q sale OF
miscellaneous articles Of value, for which no owner can
lac fonnd As advertised in the public prints, and the an
nouncements invariably attract large thIongs OF pui
chasers some of whom hope 10 make good bargains
wha others desire only To secure curOses Inc prices
received are generally fair and in some instances the
Kidding is brisk on certain articles which are valuable as
cnrioses or relics. Many OF the articles espeelhy ol
clothing stationery, pcrfumery lGwelIy NC are tSniy
valuable and useful. l"ashihGloh ChIohi0io'