New-York tribune., 1873-03-11

distance between them IN the densely populated parts OF
ry brief visit, got at the details OF the force em
poyed, their compensation, hours OF duty, and reeula
permens PERU repostsds cd w in posting letters to different
parts of London at certain times and for certain pur
did mol succeed. noticed inside the pillar boxes,
watched tho Postpan empying them register r. On ma
his collection with his name. The use,
more general than in New-York, Of letterooxes
IN dwellings, for the reception Of letters facilitates the
work Of the carriers Ny attention was attracted to the
seemed 10 place in the trustworthness sYi certain
rapdity Of the post Should this conhderce once be
s SS e 10 IN s SS st
tional revenues derived would far more shan oompen
confidence as whole with the public as the rapidty
AS this arises solely from the want OF men ana means
with us, it can be easily remedied.
THE "TooLATE' PRIVILEGE.
Upon most Of the pillarboxe of London acertain
porcelain tablet announces the hours at which the
boxes empted of their contents. repeatedly
watched the receptacle near my hotel and never found
failure, and seldom departure exceeding five min
utes from the time specified The postman often came
in cab for the "Ooate mail, but be pever failed to
The "toOate" privilege Is that of depositing
after the regular time for closing the mails and
having them go forward by the use OF an
extra stamp This service Yields very con, o.
NewSYork in London would amply pay for an extra
X.
be used for "toolae letters contain announcements
20 that effect. Letters deposited in them without the
additional stamps sent forward In regular course by
the next mail The amount Of revenue derived In Lon.
our money one-fourth Of that sum would compensate
for the extra service In NewYork and is only far 10
estimate that similar results would follow ite introduc
tiOn. The increase Of employees in the London postal
establishment under the head OF sorters
or nearly double the number of employees in that
Of the New-York PostOice. or this increase great
part consisted Of boys OF the employment OF whom the
Postmaster General speaks very highly.
DEFECTS OF THE CITY PosT-oFFICE.
Since my return to New-York have made an exam
inaon Of the local postal system in this city, to ascer-
TAIN OF my own knowledge, whether the existing ar
for the service OF such nature not
TO suffer by comparison with what had witnessed in
London and Paris offered every facility for this
examination by Gen. p. H. Jones OF the New-York Post
Office and have been furnished with full and detailed
information and valuable report Dy saGei rHc sa Ths
Of these Investigations convinces me OF existing
DEFICIENCIES IN tne service eet~eea ore S anu and nd
means for the service at York. ana the arrange
TO be free from changes In employees, for political
and the entire arrangement OF the force upon he
general principle for the Improvement OF the
civil service. 1t may at the first glance Ian ex-
ravagan and unwarranted expenditure TO introduce at
high cost, perhaps compared with wages In London, a
metropotan system as complete ana perfect US thes
First The expense be considerably modified from
the prices paid 10 the present employees by using In the
second In London it pays and 1t s not fair to presume
that would not pay here would be TO line that
there exists intelligence and enterprise in
muny TO take advantage Of such facilities than in Lon
don
To these may be added the established custom Of
postal system TO furnish all the facilities required 10 any
vided an equivalent is rendered the public Should
the experiment after fair and thorough trial. prove
could be discontinued. The universal experience OF our
country in matters OF business especially OF those CON
neced with OF merchan-
disc, has shown how readily all new facilities are taken
advantage Of and how soon they become absolute necess
ties That this will be the result OF the establishment OF
thorough complete and absolutely certain n its regu-
ary and rapdtyl metropolitan system OF postal & %ork
beyond question. The necessity OF certainty In the
perfection by the system OF checks and reports used TO
insure 1t.
A METROPOLITAN SYSTEM OUTLINED.
My idea OF a proper metropolitan system Is that 1t
should include Astoria Brooklyn Bergen, Bergen Point,
East New-York Greenpoint, Greenville Hudson City,
Hoboken Jersey City, Long Island City, Morrisana,
Mott Haven, wilnamsburgh, WeehawReD, West Ho-
bOken. IL should be managed that letter requiring
answer mailed from any part OF such district before
10 a. m could be delivered answered. and the
delivered by post before the deliveries cease on the
same day. That this be done firmly believe pos
Bay Ridge YOnkers, KiDgsbrdgevIlle, Fort Hamilton,
Ravenswood and all of Staten Island.
Treated a whole the district is vast community,
ceuters separated partially from the residential dis
trets constantly growing and increasing IN population
and business and in which the postal service
look forward 10 increased and constantly increasing
penditures TO meet its requirements These will in turn
be followed by increased revenue, and the service will
sooner or later be one Of great profit TO the Postal De
partment.
Like causes generally produce like results 1t be
with us scarcely otherwise than repetition of the
experience in London and its suburbs The full and
thorough trial here OF the London system will solve the
question to its adoption III other large and growing
cities throughout the country Where the largest pOpu
latOn and business exist, the experiment would
naturally be the most successful Should 1t fail here
which do not apprehend, there would be some justih
cation in holding to less rapid and less expensive
system Of facilities elsewhere.
One feature l consider positively essential 10 the
thoroughly successful management and administration
OF metropolitan disrict-tnat is, the employees must
be liable to removal with every political change.
They must feel that they have certain and positive
tenure Of their positions long their service s faith
full and effective, and provision should be made for
system OF retiring pensions after service covering the
period of efficiency am, very respectfully, your obe
dent servant, DANIEL BUTTERFIELD.
lThe letter is accompanied by documents and maps IT,
ustratng thoroughly the postal service Of Paris and
LOndOul