The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-10

The PosT OFFIcE.-The new post office vas
thrown open to public inspection yesterday af-
ternoon, and hundreds visited it 10 see the ar-
rangements made for the internal working
the establishment and know how the public
were to be served. The public can find no
fault with their part of the premises certainly.
for they have 1858 patent lock boxes at their
disposal and 21O large drawers-quite enough
for Portland certainly. under the present sys
tenn of doing business, as the carrier system
obviates the necessity of very large class
holding boxes, or indeed of visiting the post
Office at all. On the Middle and Exc hange
street sides are broad corridors laid with mar.
BILE slabs and lighted at night by large chande-
Tiers. These command the boxes and general
deliveries. At the rear end is the registered
letter, money order and cashiers windows,
while ON the Market street side is an elegant
private office for the postmaster. The work.
ing room is extensively fitted up with black
walnut furniture, and it was Intended by the
architect to introduce every appliance to facili-
tate the work of the clerks, but the room is too
small. 1t is not overnight, and the clerks will
find less elbow room than they have in the
present temporary structure. The letter car
riers' department has been removed to the base
ment, and in the same story are sinks and a
well arranged system of Sebago water The
workmanship displayed in all parts of the
building is unexceptionable From the lowest
foundation stones to the knobs on the closet
doors no pains or expense have been spared to
reach perfection. The doors, window castings
and all the wood work is of black walnut, stuff
fed and polished as nicely piano forte case,
and is subject of admiration. Mr.. Ambrose
Giddings was the contractor for the painting,
and he has shown himself complete master
of his business, and he may well be proud of
it, Mr.. Cochran, the Superintendent, has done
his duty to governme Mt with the strictest fidel-
ity, SO far as the construction of the building
shows. 1t is expected that the work Of remov-
al to the new quarters will begin early next
week.
A number of amusing incidents took place
yesterday in consequence of people not read
ing the newspapers correctly. Some thought
the Office was open for business instead of pub
lie inspection, and pumped their correspon-
dence into the apertures in the iron columns,
and others came to inquire for letters, and were
directed by good-natured visitors TO the old
stand on the other corner. One buxom lass
came to the registered letter window, and
drawing very Old-fashioned purse from her
under-skirt desired to know the expense of
sending SS20 order to Boston. A visitor who
CHANGED to be standing at the inside of the
window blandy informed her that the office
was not open for business yet, and that she
could get the desired information at the build
ing opposite Loring's soda fountain, where he
gives long drinks, full glasses and the best
syrups; and with charming blush at her own
innocence she dropped the purse into Der petit
pocket, and tripped up Exchange street under
a pink-ined parasol, which heightened the
beautiful roses on her cheeks.