The New York herald., 1873-09-15
FEDERAL OFFICE AFFAIRS.

Custom HOuse-The Immense Business
Done at the Post Omcc-Inadcquacy OF
the Help to Perform the WOrk-Thc
Pension Office.
Very little excitement, II any, existed in the
various Offices OF the general government during
the past week. At the Custom House the number
OF Withdrawals was somewhat larger than the
week previous, which may be accounted for from
the fact Of the lower gold premium prevailing.
The various civil service examinations held for
the purpose Of filing vacancies and the three
newly authorized Deputy Collectors, were duly
chrOnicled in the HERALD at the time OF occur
renee.
POSTAL MATTERS.
Daily and hourly improvements in the delivery
and reception of mails are made and considered.
Postmaster James devotes day and night to his
duties. On Saturday night after the closing of the
Office, battalion of mechanics invaded the old
Dutch church, and, ripping out the old window,
filed the crevice with row Of the newly adopted
patent letter boxes. This the last ins,almen and
at present the front Cedar street, which is de-
voted exclusively to delivery OF letters from boxes,
| presents unique as well as finished appearance.
| In the foreign department change has recently
| been effected and the same re0rganiZed. Mr. Levi
Blakesley has been appointed superintendent, in
the place OF Mr.. George Riblet, resigned In regard
ns ma made, made
ington, it is alleged that The fault rests
with the management OF the Philadelphia, Will
mington and Baltimore Railroad Company. re-
porter Of the HERALD called upon Mr.. T. W0lcOtt
Jackson, Superintendent Of the Pennsylvania Gen.
tral Railroad on the New Jersey division, and from
him it was cleaned that not only are the South
mails despatched at the announced time, but the
postal car is reg uary in Its place. and that no one
ployes have any access thereto, nor can any one
else pass through. The mail car is .'sandwicned"
dephia, If such is the case as reported. Mr. G. B.
Thurston, secretary OF this company, makes sim
liar statement This negligence on the part Of the
Philadelphia Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad,
as also the Baltimore and Washington branches
taking the mails further South from Baltimore,
will doubtless be investigated by Congressional
committee on the reassembling Of the national
Legislature.
ENORMOUS BUSINESS OF THE OFFICE
The enormous business transactions OF the Post
ONCE In the way Of the collecting and delivery Of
letters s one OF the most astounding nature. Con.
here s Il is really wonderful how 90 much work can
be accomplished with 80 little help. Millions upon
millions OF letters are collected from the stations
and lamppost boxes, taken in ut the general once
and forwarded to their respective destinations.
The following figures, obtained from Mr. John @
Tully, Assistant Superintendent Of Carriers Carriers. WI M
delivery Of letters in this city have attained:-
Mail letters delivered from July 1872, to June
CITY letters delivered from Jay iss to june
NSmber OF papers delivered Ssis ss6
Number Of letters collected from iamppost .. 70, ,,o
Number of mail letters received at stations H063 92S
Number Of drop letters received at stations and 10 40, ~,
Number Of papers dropped at stations 7ssS7so
The above is exclusive Of the many letters posted
at the general Office, Of which no account Is Kept
and 1t Is safe to say that 150 900 letters and
newspapers are handled annually at the New YORK
Post ONCE, and when 1t Is taken into consideration
that the collections and deliveries are made by an
average force Of only $50 carriers, any ar1thme-
tician may readily ascertain how much hard labor
these 0vertaxed officials are compened to per-
form. IL Is not asking TOO much OF postmaster
General Creswel to authorize the appointment Of
at least 100 additional carriers for the city, which
| lively demands. The recent increase In the car
riers' department Of slxtyfOur additional men was
| only q small matter These men were appointed
Code, Cd and u the result was that Mr.. James
| possible Political preferences in this in
stance were ignored the Postmaster having
secure the best men for trusty positions. The let
ter carriers are paid the beggary sum Of $500 per
annum, and are required to be at their post early
and late. Their pay should be no less than 81. ZOO
| which is even small enough for the amount OF
! labor performed by them IL Is expected that
| Postmaster General John A. j. Creswel will visit
| the New York Post once about the end Of this
month, when all these matters, with others, VIII
be LAID before him for his action, and, judging
from the ready acquiescence granted to Mr.. James
plans for progressive Improvements, IT Is safe to
assume that he will not stop short OF erecting
complete revolution in helping the New YORK Post
TIE PENSION OFFICE.
At the Pension once the payments under Pen
sion Agent s. B. butcher are progressing slowly.
Thus far he has distributed about $l60,O00 The
medical examinations comprise about 100 per day.
Among the latest pensioners was Mrs. Matilda
Foot, vile Of the Cattle Inspector Of the Conti-
mental Army OF the Revolution. She lives at Vine.
land, N. j., and draws an allowance OF $50 per
month bv act oil Congress-.