The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-10
ONE GR0WLER ANSWERED
THE ARRhNG EMENTs TOR NIGHT TN
the VIEW POST OFFICE.


why Oniy tho seutbern Door h Open-why
the Long Walk from the Northern End TO
the southern and Back TO the Northern.
To TUE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: We
are al of course proud Of our new Post once.
sim there lie room for Improvement, and to this
ct all those who are forced to mail letters after
seven O'Clock In the evening will testify. per-
son who Waits the place after that hour will
lose, as have found by actual experience, from
I'VE 10 hfteen minutes, or on an average the in
tetvgl Of time between one ferry boat and
nnothcr, II ne II OBLIGED to cross either OF the
river IN going home My recent experience will
illustrate:
The other evening went to the Post once
with n handful Of letters, approaching on the
broadway side. Here found every door closed.
"within the lights shone warm and bright :"
but was obliged to pursue my weary way down
the whole length OF the great building until
found an entrance bv the extreme southern door.
Thence ] was forced to tread my way north
again through a labyrinth Of columns gas jets,
and posters. until reached a succession OF bavs
aud promontories, dotted with letter holes,
marked in tail, ndistinct letter, with the
mes of the States and Territories; and 40
obscured.bv the aforesaid bays and prom M cries
that could not run my eye along them all and
To give each hole 10y individual attention. |
wanted Arizona and after an exciting hunt
found u In the extreme northern end OF
the building. wasn't so fortunate In
regard to other letters, and so | drop
ped them into the Arizona hole, trusting
that kind fate would Guide them to their
propcr destination. lhey NAV have gone To
Arizona. though. for all know. sti had some
letters for Shanghai, and knowing that the FOR
eign letter drop was ON the eastern side of the
building, naturally sought TO go around ~ thc
northern end. But that was all closed; 50 was
forced to traverse the long corridor from the
north TO the south, then perform Virginia reel
among the pillars and gas jets. and thence work
my way north again until / reached the Asia
letter drop, which Is In the extreme north end.
on the east side. was now re adv to 20 home,
and wished to 20 out ON the east side to go to
an Cast river ferry. Every door was closed and
frcked. and was about 60 retraco my steps to
the southern door, when an open window
offered me the means " egress the doors
denied, aud vsulted through to the Sidewalk,
as 0urel might have done.
Now what the public wanl9 f'r it, accommo-
dalton. Is an arrangement Of domestic and for
eign boxes, not more than about twelve, all
together at the southern corner, and close to the
street; asnilar arrangement at the northeastern
corner, and another at the northwestern, with
door opposite To each always open. Ley onIy
rough gener sorting bo expected OF the pub
lie, who are as rule not VOL up In geography.
write this for what tunk Is the public good.
l am not chronic grdmoIeri ~ e,-
Postmaster James sat In hs private room YES
terdaY, snecIinE WITH hay fever. aud suffering
from his lame foot.
Yes. we shut all the doors at o'clock, ex-
cept the southern said he. " and we do II to
protect the public-to protect tue boxes, You
remember the trouble at the Office last winter
think II was. Letters were missed. We set de-
tectives at work, and It ws found that man
came m. opened his own box, thrust through
his hand and stole the letters he could reach.
lie - on bail awaiting trial Now II we left the
doors open on Park row and Broadway, there
would he danger Of letters being stolen In this
and other ways. Now we have officers stationed
at the southern entrance whose duty u u to
watch every person that enters the building.
In THIS way only are we safe. THIS Is particu-
lazy necessary now, while the office is such a
curiosity 70 the public"
as to the present arrange men,s Of the letter
droys, the Postmaster continued, II - for the
convenience " the public. As II is now. we
can mold our mails AN hour longer than under
the old plan. OF course II would be easier for
some men to send their malls 10y a boy and let
him throw tue letters all INTO one drop. They'd
be satisfied. for they wouldn't know whether
they laid over or went on. | have been 50
cooped up, said the Colonel. snec1ing and rub
bing his leg, with this foot aud the hay fever
that have not been able 10 give the DEPART
meDt down stairs the attention | would like 10,
but we VIII try To have everything TO the salts
faction aud Lest good Of the public"