Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-02-22
THE NEW POST OFFICE.
Opening of the Building TO-day---A Com
plete Affair.

After much delay and many notices
the new P~OstOfice will be opened 10 Ia,
public TO day, and business will be trans
ferred to it from the old building on t4,
corner Of Third and Jefferson streets
Owing to some misunderstanding 0ur re-
porter was not notified Of the proposed
transfer and opening until after dark las.
evening, and consequently we cannot
give so accurate and extended a report o.
the interior arrangements as we could
wish.
The location is too well known 10 need
description, being the northeast corner o
the Greenlaw Opera House building. on
the corner OF UniOn and Second streets
occupying the entire depth Of the build-
ing, and extending from the corner TO tn
second doors beyond the stairs Of the
Memphis Club.
There are four public entrances 10 the
Office, which may be designated as fol-
lows; The ladies' entrance, the general
delivery, the money order entrance and
the entrance 10 the Assistant Postmaster
office. There is also, Of course. a roar en-
trance for the use Of the habitues and en-
ployees Of the office, and for the deliver
ance Of the mails.
The first thing that strikes
one is the money order de-
partment, which is in the corner
OF the building, openiDgon Second and on
Union streets, occupying two doors on
Second and Il OF Union street. The
opening IS about thirty by twenty feet,
the Hoor being Of iron tiles, and the par
titlons consisting of sashes placed above a
row OF desks. Inside this Office the desks
are divided into neat drawers and com
partments, containing every description
of blanks required in this department of
the business, with closets underneath for
books, packages, surplus blanks, etc.
Contiguous to this department, and
forming AMI to it is the Registry de-
partment, with its multifariOus desks.
closets, drawers, etc. Here are the most
convenient and complicated desks, closets
and presses" for the slowing away and
preserving all manner of blanks, etc. for
this branch of the service, including cases
for stamped envelopes, official en-
velOpes, etc.
Opening into these Offices is a neatly
carpeted little room, some fifteen feet
square, with frosted windows. and 50 far
as granting a view Of the inside workings
of the general office a completely isolated
part OF the building, is the assistant post
private office. The street en-
trance to this is from Union street. and it
IS intended as a sort Of general business
office, where all visits to the postmaster
and employees are to be paid. This obVi-
a rule OF the P~ostOffice Department
which fOrbids any clerk to receive visitors
IN the pOstofiee-indeed, fOrbids any per
not connected with the Office to come
into it. Thesashes formingthe partitions
are in this instance, as in all the others.
movable, and can be opened or shu at
pleasure.
Passing hence into the main body ofthe
building we find a multiplicity Of desks
and tables, all with their peculiar charac-
te~risties and arrangements, and each in
for some peculiar postal service
he one for the distribution or reception
Of "Ietters-another for papers,, etc, etc.
In the rear, and looking like the turret Of
a monitor, while we were paying our can
visit, the general newspaper dis
5rlbuting department was receiving its
finishing touches.
On the inner side, with the entrance
from Second street, below the stairs of
Memphis Club, are the lOck-boxes. Of
.hese there are two hundred in all, each
a small circular glass front, showing
contents Of the box, and tine back of
entire row Of boxes Is protected by
sashes, with locks, opeuable only
the clerk in charge Of the department.
This arrangement preclUdes the pOssiblli-
Of unauthorized persons obtaining
nail matter not intended for them. If a
Jerk 'fOrgets" his key he will not get
lis mail. While this may be unpleasant
sometimes, it VIII prevent much rascality.
But We are striuging out this notice
b we intended, and must bring
{ TO a summary close by saying that
here is no Office in the United States
more perfect and complete in all its APP
continents than our new one.
The entire inside finishing is Of yellow
)ine and black walnut, rubbed smooth
oiled. The drawers are all furnished
With patent combination locks, and all the
work done by skilIful mechanics.
The arrangement of the departments was
made by a master hand, and one who not
thoroughly understands his pro-
e%ssion, but has a keen eye to the saving
# time, labor and trouble in the arrange
uent of the " tools " with,which his work
ssto be done. Ehe best proof of this fact
; the " copying stand " and the general
etter box" both of which are models
WHICH might well be studied by any lover
f system and simplicity. Colonel
knowltOn, 10 whom we are indebted for
model Office, really deserves the
hanks Of the community for the zeal and
ingenuity that he has employed in de-
Using and carrying out his plans. We
will give in a day or two a full list Of the
Jerks, carriers, etc, employed in the
flee, along with some details that we
ave been compelled to omit from this