The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-09

ter, II will be most happy to furnish you ell
the information you desire. Jns a,T YAK AROUND
The searcher after statistical figures did as
requested. and was ushered, so to speak, be-
hind the scenes and In the midst OF distrlbu-
ting boxes, stamping tables, piles OF mail
bags, etc, protesting amazement at the stu
neniU1s bile OF material that met his gaze.
Now, where shall we begin2" queried Mr..
well, hardly know where to begin In this
nile" answered the inquisitor. "but suppose
from the train or boat. What Is the first
modsls operdndiY
Mr. Mt Is first put from the train or the
boat into the mail wagon, which Is employed
under contract and the driver thereof being
sworn, and after emptying his car the mail
agent
and comes with his mail here to the office
where he delivers II, and each bag being tag.
ued. is entered on the books with the time Of
Rep-Tnen how Is 1t distributed here in
the Office? 49,.
Mr.. M.-The chief distributing clerk then
takes the bags and empties them on That
long table you sea there tDointing TO q long
tablet and the letters and papers are assort-
ed: that Ia. those for the city, the through
mail going to the distributing case, where
nroper Is then given to the box clerks and
carriers The box clerks select ana deposit
An the boxes all that belonging to those own
ipu boxes, and the carriers for each distrlct
take that addressed to street and number In
their respective districts and assert 1t accord
Ing to the location, on their routes. oil those
to whom the mater Is addressed.
Rep. Does not this occupy some vime
Mr.. M.-No, sir; it requires but little time
You see the carrier FOR each DISTRICT gets ms
fast as it is distributed, and having his route
thoroughly located In his memory he can
arrange it with such precision that ne can
deliver from door to door, seldom IL ever
by this means the delivery mail for the city
is ready to 90 out almost rs soon as 1t Is dis
tributed.
Rep.-And how many carriers have you
omployed2
Rep-What becomes of those letters ad-
dressed to parties whom they do not find.
Mr.. M They are each returned to the office,
and an entry Of each is made upon books kept
Rep-And the letters that come through
the mails that are not addressed to street or
number, what becomes OF themt
Mr.. M.-They go direct from the distribut-
inR clerk to the general delivery.
kep.-How long do you keep letters that
are not called for, or those addressed to par
ties who cannot be found?
Mr.. None month, and then they go to
the dead letter office.
Rep.-How many deliveries and collections
are made by the carriers2
Mr.. M.-They make collections and de-
Hveries In the business part OF the city, say
from st. Ann to Delord streets, and from the
river to Rampant street, four times daily,
leaving the postoffice at a. m, 10 80 a. M,
II 80 q. m. and 2:3O p. M, and besides this
night collection from the lamp-post boxes
at 80. m. Two collections and deliveries are
made daily In other portions Of the city, say
at a. m. and 1 p. M, and on Sundays one
collection Is made In the territory bounded by
Esplanade, Thalia, Basin and the river at
q. M
Rep-Have you any data by which you can
give me the number Of letters that are
handled yearly or monthly at this Office?
Mr.. M can give you the exact number
handled by the carriers, including papers,
postal cards, etc. Say we take it for two
years, 1876 and 1877.
Rep.-Very well.
Mr.. Mcguire then, turning to a bookcase,
took therefrom huge book, and running
over the various pages, handed our reporter
the following statement, remarking that
these were the number collected and delivered
during the two years named by the carriers
and did not include the distributed matter
going to the general delivery, or that which
comes here for distribution and then transfer
to other points. The statement is as fol.
lows: