The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1880-05-18
SEDALIA'S POSTOFFICE.
The Ins and Outs of a Model
Institution Of the
Kind.
Something About the Way the
Business 10 Conducted in
! this CITY.

Everybody can read and write,
nowadays. Everybody sends mail and
receives it. Everybody knows all
ab,ut the exterior of the postofiice,
which brings and takes those various
messages of joy and sorrow. hope and
despair, gratitude and bsseness. ig.
norance and scholarship. which daily
burden its facilities.
But it is only the outside Of this
messenger Of good and evil with which
the public is acquainted. Knowing
that an introduction would be =
pleasure. the BAzoo yesterday called
upon Postmaster Parker and ex-
pressed a desire to view the interior
workings of the establishment of
which be is the head. The request
was granted with the uniform court.
esy which may be met when any one
applies to Mr.. Parker, and the ne.
porter was initiated into the mysteries
Of the postofice /; ushered behind that
closed door which jealously forbids en-
trance to the everyday visitor.
The first feature which was shown
was the careful manner in which the
books and money accounts Of the
po-,ofice are kept. Every cent
which comes in is deposited in bank
to the credit Of the postmaster as
such. and nothing whatever is paid
out except upon q check issued by the
postmaster himself. This provides
the most perfect system Of checking
receipts and expenditures, and as the
moneys received are deposited to a
cent,
THERE Is SELDOM FOUND
an error of even q tri6e.
Exactness in the smallest affairs of the
Office, and system in everything. has
been made q rule here, and it ex-
tends from matters of the least import
to theGreatest. At the end of each
quarter a balance is struck and it
rarely varies q cent.
The stamps. when delivered, are
charged up to the one receiving them.
and every Monday q credit is made Of
the cash and stamps on hand. Since
the second quarter Of 1877 q separate
book has been kept for the box rent
receipts. It is alphabetically arranged
and SO ruled as to show 1t an instant's
glance what delinquents there may be
on the list.
The amount of business is constant
ly growing and the constant drain of
purchases BY the public render it nee.
essary to make a requisitioU upon the
department at the FIRST of each quar-.
ter for stamps of various denomina.
tons. postal cards, stamped special
request envelopes and the other needs
of the Office. The amount o. this
requisition of course varies. but it runs
between $4,000 and S, 900, and it
frequently happens that before the
expiration of the quarter there 10 . ne
cessity for a supplementary call upon
the department for supplies.
The money order business is
kept entirely distinct from
that of the remainder of the postofice.
A daily balance is struck, and
THE UTMOST CARE
is used in observing that same strict
accuracy which prevails elsewhere.
When q money order is drawn, there
are two blanks to be filed out, both
of which are printed upon one sheet Of
paper having q double numbering.
One Of these i gwen to the pure laser
of the order and the mailed upon the
next train to it, destination. The
Office here is held responsible for oil
issuing numbers, and Of course mis-.
takes must be made of as rare occur
renee Is care and skill can effect.
Some times it happens that the amount
of money. drawn for, upon Sedalia.
from offices elsewhere exceeds the
amount on hand here to credit of the
money order fund. In that case the
postmaster is authorized TO draw
eight drafts on the United States sub
treasurer at New York for any amount
not exceeding 81, 900. 1t hes fre-
quently occurred. however, that IN
cverdraft Of $500 to 81 900 has been.
met by Postmaster Parker himself BY
draft upon biz individual account.
1t takes the unremittipg labor
Of Eve efficient men. excloding Post
master Parker himself, % care for