The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-02-14

the frequency OF collections the street letteA
boxes considerable number OF the new appointments
assigned 20 that duty, by which twelve col-
lections per day were rendered possible.
The good effect OF these increased facilities inn
medatey apparent. There longer any necessity
for depostng letter at the general Office a sta
ton in order insure prompt transmission TO des-
tination Placed a street box tue letter soon in
grasp OF the letter collector In whose pouch il ID
Quickly on lis wav TO the station or Post once FOR as
sortment postmarking and despatch TO address But,
although the city delivery was thus improved TO an ex
tent which would scarcely have seemed possible, Mr.
James yet satisfied with the result OF his eli
forts and last year succeeded in obtaining further
addition Of forty1ve to the carrier force, which
enabled him 20 make additional delivery within that
portion OF the city comprised between Canal and Sew
cneth halEpast seven p NJ OF each secular
day arrangement which secures the delivery on the
day Of arrival OF the letters which reach the Fost once
late in the afternoon by the through mails from the
North, East apd other points This has proved OF
speca benefit to the recipients of letters Of social
domestic interest addressed private residences,
and accommodation which the ladies IN particular
have not been slow TO appreciate Previous to the es-
THE EVENING DELIVERY
night collection from street boxes throughout the
Guy, commencing Ut nine 7. NJ had been put IN opera
ton which has not only acted as protection against
Inc danger OF possible depreciation 10 which letters
Iemahing all night in the boxes exposed but has
secured INC earliest possible delivery and despatch OF
letters posted In the evening The night collection in-
ciudes sunday on which day afternoon collection ~
also made, beginning at halfpast two.
shortly after the annexation this city Of that por-
uon OF WESTMINSTER county which included the post
oihces known as Mott Haven, High Bridge Morrlsana,
fremont West Farms Fordham Woodlawn Kings
bridge, Spuyten Duyye and Riverdae, the residents
in these localities, finding themselves made citi-
OF lew York naturally desired TO ho
invested with all ihe rights aud privileges
pertaining to that tte including postal facilities and on
their applying 10 Postmaster james he promptly sub
mitted the matter to the attention Of the department..
On his suggestion the above post Offices with
the exception OF Mott haven ahi High Bridge which
abolished by the Postmaster General and console
dated with Morrsania) were made stations Of the New
York Post once the late Postmaster being appointed
superintendent At Morrisania Six epter carriers
were appointed--two mounted and foul on loot
whose delivery includes Morrisania and tie district
covered by the discontinued post ohces Of
Mott Haven and High Bridge. At The seme
time additional mails between tho new st..
tons and the general Post onico werc established
by means of messengers on the New YORK and Harlem
Railroad and the rarrytown special trains on the Hud
son River road so that the citizens OF the annexed
territory have ample facilities for the conveyance
and delivery of their correspondence. The residents
OF Washington Heights Carmansvile and lnwood nave
also been recently accommodated by the appointment
OF additional carrier for that portion of the CITY and
the establishment Of additional mails between the
lower part city and l52d by the rarrytown
special trains on the Hudson River road.
There other improvements in the City Delivery
service which the Postmaster s anxious 10 INTRODUCES.
Among them early morning delivery at private
residences which would be of special advantage in tho
nature and il be hoped that the Post Office De-
parmen viii not hesitate TO grant the increase OF the
carrier force necessary to the realization OF the Post
masters wishes IN the matter
REPORT
to the Postmaster General OF sMr. K. w Gurey. the
clear annual profit to the department OF more than
$67 coo from local hostages after deductng the salaries
paid to carriers and the other incidental expenses at the
several letter carrier Offices throughout the Union.
What share New York had in contributing this
factory result is shown by the following from
the report Of the letter carrier business OF the oce for
the past year,
Local postage received 1886, 7o7 43
Letter carriers salaries. o64 475 OS
Profit to Department. Se2I, 2s2 IS
After deducting from this amount very liberal
estimate the sum OF $4,000 for the proportion OF
station rent, clerks salaries &C. properly chargea9o
profit OF the Department tue respectable sum OK
$500 600 New York should day be furnished with not
less than 200 letter carriers every one OF whom
would secure TO the Department proht OF at least hy
per cent the salary paid him. Can there be any
why remunerative an investment should not
be made and quicklyY With tho limited facl-
tiles his disposal Postmaster james has already done
wonders Let the government place in his hands such
power rs he seeks and the letter delivery system in
New York will soon be conducted with a promptness
and CELEBRITY which will make its present operations
seem slow by comparison.
TILE THIRD DIVISION,
under the direction OF Mr.. Youman, comprises the
letter paper and foreign departments, also the de-
spatchng OF ali malls destined for domestic and for
eign delivery Prior to the appointment OF the pres
ent Postmaster the present subdivisions were separate
each having superintendent and assistant the
former beng held responsible TO the Postmaster Tor the
correctness OF its work The letter distributing de-
partment OF the most important and systematic
the country, and in which the public especially
the business portion of the community deeply in
erested The number of letters passing through this
department in the New York Office averages $50 900
day. Each letter passes through tho hands OF Jour
clerks before 1t rs placed in the mailbag Great care IS
exercised in asserting the letters for the
bags going to different parts of the country. Let
ter packages intended for distribution by the railway
mail service are .smadc NM as Tine clerke
after looking each letter. required that It
has been properly assorted and TO place on the outside
OF each package a 'lacing slip" which after being
doubled, hall turned over, is about two thirds
the size Of ordinary letter On the face Of that is
written stamped the State, title of route over which
II is go, the name Of the agent by whom is to DO
distributed, the date and hour at which IL ''mado
up with the name OF the clerk performing that duty
II the postal clerk railway agent discovers any
errors of direction they are noted as missent letters
the inside or back Of the Slip The slip is then re-
turned to the New York office and entered in book
opposite the name OF the clerk, SO that all errors
can be traced back As twenty-five mails close
between three A. NJ: and twelve ?. NJ. tho
superintendents of departments are able TO tell
whet time certain letter has been mailed should any
complaint be made of delay in delivery and the send-i
ers can ascertain by the return Of their envelopes if
any has been made by their messengers in de-
posting letters N the lamppost boxes or substatons
instead Of pottng them in the general Post ONCE.
before the present system adopted, but such
vigant examination is made in all cases Of COM
plants that, In nineteen out Of every twenty cases,
the blame has been brought home TO the private mes
sengers who deposited the letters In this division Of
the Post once the employees number 40 that beng
eighteen less than the force employed IN the
former Old Post Once Owing TO this
reduction in the number OF men and tina
continued increase OF work the Postmaster
has been compelled to change tho hours Of
work among the clerks IN order TO obtain the entire
force OF this department twice q day. For instance,
the day clerks commence at A. N. and work until
seven r. NJ. the night clerks commence at Ave 7. NJ.
and work until A. NJ and the morning force works
from A. NJ. I'll ten A. NJ thus covering 1he twenty
four hours and having the double force at fk during
the heaviest hours Of the day those between ave and
seven r. N.
TO illustrate the work done, instance may be
given where a firm In this city mailed during tho
months of November and December last about 900 600
circulars IN daily lnstanents Of twenty TO thirty
sacks This addition to the usual work was disposed
OF In about after It's reception, without any
interference with the regular routine OF business SO
prompt and safe has become the mailing and trans
mission circulars that the large mercantile cstab-
lishments who formerly paid Letter TO secure
quick mails forward their circulars unseaed.
DEPARTMENT
Of the first that received the attention OF the
present Postmaster. Entering the Old Nassau street
Post Office night Immediately aler his appointments
he found forts redonbts and batteries all tho
floor OF bags OF newspapers pamphlets and merchan-
disc some OF which had been awaiting transmission
several weeks. The Superintendent and his assistant
who should have despatched them days before were
absent Colonel Jameg took command OF the force
and before morning every paper It's way to