The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-04-13
CUR NEW YORK LETTER.
(F.ron1 ost1 oscaa Co,1'espondent)
NJ Nnrr Ami, 11fIl 1879

y
these comodit;es for few days, except
ing for The Inconvenience to clerks, but
its seriousness viii Ee realized at once II
one reflects fer a moment On the relation
whic, the Post-ofice bears to the COM
III erce OF New York City, and through 1T
to tha5 Of the whole country. SO per-
fectand regular have become Tie workings
of orr postal system, that cur banks and
merchants have come TO rely as implicit
IL upon the punctual arrival Of their
mail remittances to effect clearances and
meet obligations, as though the cash was
being hurried to them by special mes
senger So true IS this, that the deten-
ton for an hour or two of a European or
other important mail, viii crowd the
Office with anxious business men clam
oring to know the reason OF tie delay,
and imploriEg the utmost despatch pos
sibIe. The largest portion Of the cieri-
cal work, which renders possible this
prompt and efficient service, is done at
night, CT in parts Of the building where
gas is constant necessity. With these
points in mind, one can easily imagine
the CONSERVATION and distress which the
closing OF the post-ofIiee for even one
night would. cause and that if such in
terruptions should be continued fer
single week, numerous failures must re-
suit.
But Just this was what the order from
Washington meant, and IS no disal-
rangement of mails had followed,
your correspondent called at the
Post-ofice to learn how the dill
Guilty had been surmounted. Here in
his elegant Office he found Postmaster
James, strikingly fne-looking man,
with short iron-gray hair, dark eyes and
moustaclle, hearty voice and a cordial
manner, with executive ability written
all over him, and from himself and his
secretary learned ihe following fact, in
the case.
The Postmaster also holds the position
of Custodian of the Building, an Office in
which MS immediate superior is the
Secretary of the Treasury, and which,
while it involves immense additional res
possibility and the giving Of extra bonds
is filled by Postmaster James without
salary. 1t was in this capacity. there
fore. that lie received the above-mention-
ed circular. His reply was prompt, and
TO the effect that as Custodian he should
carry out the orders at once. As Post
master, however, his course was very
different, and consisted simply IN be-
coming personally responsible for the
in &c 5pensable supplies, Of which gas is,
OF course, the main item amounting to
something Ike 5100 per day, and he
remains SO at the present writing. This
prompt action on the part of Mr.. James,
which averted losses and damage to
trade which would have cost Us dear, is
fully appreciated by the business COM
Hunity, ard the Office Is III receipt Of
numerous letters ties tifying its gratitude.
Through the courtesy OF the Postmaster,
your correspondent was also afforded an
opportunity of inspecting the building
from amusement TO cupola, and also
the interior workings Of the different de-
partments. Many of the particular,
when learned, would be Of interest to
your readers, but must be reserved for
another letter.
At the Custom House little trouble
was experienced, there not being the
same necessity there for night work, and
everything there is running as smoothly
as possible, considering the recent cut
ting down Of the force which was rem
dered necessary by the spasmodic econo-
my of the Government. Sixty employees
have been discharged this month, and
the Collector states that, rs a result,
the Government is being cheated of
ten times the saving thus effected,
through the insufficiency of the remain
ing force 20 watch the importing bust
ness.
a very graceful and humane act has
Just been accomplished by the wife of
low. On arecent visit 20 the penitentiary
on Blackwell's Island, she saw among
the female inmates, a young girl, whose
romantic history and apparent slight
insanity, caused by disappointed love,
together with ber seeming truthfulness
in asserting her innocence, awakened
her deepest sympathy. Being u woman
of unusual Independence and energy,
she Immediately assailed Governor
Tilden on the subject Of pardon for
her 2orOtegec. Such documents are not
easy to obtain, but woman's wit viii
surmount almost any obstacle, and thus,
aided BY 1t and the innate saiiantry of
our batchelor Governor, the pardon was
iinIly oEt nned, aud handed by the fair
intercessor herself TO the recipient,
whose blessings upon her benefactress
were brokenly joined by the aged father,
whose grey hairs had been brought
wellniGh to the grave by the mis-
fortunes of his child
From Philadelphia We hear that the
force of workmens on the Centennial
buildings and grounds has been Goub-
led, III order that as many Of the finish
ing touches as possible may be put on
before May 10th, and the exposition
opened in as complete q condition IS
possible. The appearance OF the streets
is already as much European as Ameri-
can. owing to the great number of for
eisnerS composing and connected with
The different commissions. In walking
a single block, one day last week, a
gentleman heard five different languages
II the ordinary conversation around
him. and the Babel Of tongues grow
mere confused every day. About the
Centennial buildings themselves has
sprung up a separate and populous
town; a mushroom growth, to be sure.
bat one that viii be extremely prosper
Gus while its lasts.