Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-06-23
THE AUGUSTA POST OFFICE.
Important Changes to be Made by
Postmaster Marley.
NEW MAILING ROOM.LErrERC CAP
RIERs.-BOXEs FOR LETTERS.
improvements which will be Appreciated

II will be remembered that some two weeks
ago we announced that Postmaster General
James. at the request of Mr.. Manley, our
newly-appointed postmaster, had sent to this
city commission to make thorough inquiries
into needed changes connected with the pos
tai facilities of this city. The commissioners
Mr.. John Jameson, Asst. Supt. R. NJ
Service. Mr.. Timothy Griffith and Mr..
w II. Bigelow, Post Office Inspectors
appointed by the Postmaster-General.w were
here five days, and devoted their entire time
to making a thorough examination of the
work done at this office, and made detailed
report to the department, recommending
every improvement asked for by Mr. Manley.
The amount of mail matter pas sing through
this Office seems almost incredible During
the fiscal year which ends the last day of this
month. over =, 900 tons of mail matter will
have been sent from this Office Augusta
sends out to the world more mail matter than
is sent by any city in the United States. save
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago.
st. Louis and Washington. The gross re-
ceipts of the Office this year. in round num-
bers, will reach 100000. 1t must be re-
membered that the receipts do not represent
the business done; for since fractional cur
rency went out of existence, the great pub
fishing houses of E. c. Allen & Co, and p
o. Vickery & Co. have not purchased of the
office a single three cent stamp receiving
from their subscribers by mail not only all
quantities besides, which they sell from time
to time to various parties. In the money
order department of the office the amount of
money orders issued aggregates about $50
900; while the amount paid on money orders
will aggregate nearly $500, 900. During the
year, nearly 220, 900 registered packages have
been received, and each package often con-
tans two or more letters.
Room FOR THE NEWSPAPER MAIL.
The post Office building is not sufficiently
roomv to enable the officials to comfortably
and expeditiously transact the public business.
1t has often been necessary to pile the bags
of mail matter out upon the side walk. and
20 leave them for hours at the station, wait
ing the arrival of the trains 1t is a great
wonder to everyone how Postmaster Hamlin
got along as well as he has, with the limited
quarters given him. Mr. Manley insisted
that it was necessary in order to properly
transact the public business, to obtain addi-
tional room for the purpose of asserting and
packing the immense newspaper mail which
commissioners agreed with him; and on
Wednesday Mr.. Manley received authority
from the department to lease, for four years,
the block on the east side of Water street
now occupied by PARROT & Chase. The
street floor will be fitted up into one large
mailing room, under the immediate charge of
a Superintendent of Mails. Here the news
paper and circular work of our large pub
fishing houses will be assorted and bagged
1t will be loaded on the mail wagons, in the
rear of the building, and from thence carried
to the trains just before their hours of de-
parture. The room will be fitted up with the
latest improvements used in the large cities
for the distribution of mail matter. 1t is the
intention of the department to require all
clerks employed in this branch of the service
to pass monthly examinations as to their
knowledge of the mail routes of the United
States, so that they may become as expert
and proficient in their business as those en-
ployed in the railway mail service. The
renting of this building is very wise move
on the part of the department. and permits
the present post office building to be used
exclusively as city office. For this purpose
it is admirably situated and adapted.
LETTER CARRIERS.
Mr.. Manlev informs us that he has rec
commended the following persons as letter
carriers, and that they have received from
the Postmaster General their appointment,
Henry A. Hall. Nathan Weston, William II.
williams and j. F. Arnold. They will be
assigned to duty as follows: Mr.. Henry A.
Hail. district No. /. which comprises that
part of the city lying south of Winthrop street
including the south side of the street, en-
tending to the south side of Capital street.
Mr.. Nathan Weston, district No. >, that por-
ton of the west side of the city lying north of
Winthrop. including the north side of Win
ihrop to III, south side of Laurel street. only
running on Water street as far north as the
railroad bridge. William ii. Williams.
district No. 3, east side of the river.
the limits of which have not yet been
definitely fixed District No. 4. ]. F.
Arnold. comprises that portion OF Water
street north of the railroad bridge, and that
portion of the city commencing at the north
side of Laurel street and including J. P.
Wvmans mill and Cushnoc Heights.
The letter carriers are required by law to
give bonds, which they have all done. They
are also required to wear a uniform, which Is
prescribed by the department, which is now
being manufactured by Mr.. c. II. Mason of
this city, so that the carriers will appear in
their new dress on the LIST ofJuly.
Boxes FOR LETTERS.
Letter boxes will be located at the follow
ing points West Side.-One corner Capt.
tai and State, one at Augusta House. one
corner Green and State, one corner VIM
,brop and State. one corner Bridge and State