Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-01-05
LOCAL POSTAL MATTERS.
Explanatory Letter from Postmaster Dunksl-
berger to the Department at Washington.

We below publish a note from
Col. Dunkelberger, and a copy
of a Letter written by him
to the PostofIice Department Az
Washington, which explain the
difficulties under which he lsbors
In the management Of the Post. of
fee with his present inadequate
force. The correspondence and
statements elsewhere will repay
careful perusal.
EDITOR HERALD: Inasmuca as
the public seems to be restless over
not being waited upon at the Los
Angeles Post.Office as promptly rs
heretofore, deem it but just to
myself to invite their attention to
the increased business in the Los
Angeles Postoffice, as given in
my statement, together with
copy OF my letter mailed TO the De-
partment July %, 1881.
L. 4ss ooGNA E1IS EIe0
P.O. Los ANGELES, CAL.
First assistant Postmaster Gen.
erol. Washington, ID. c.:
SIR: On April %, 1881, 1 wrote
you in regard to the rapid increase
of business in the Los Angeles
Post-oilice. Please find copy of
your answer marked ga" On
July 4, 1881, l again wrote you,
asking for new rating Of allow
apees for this office; also that the
sum of 1890 expended for clerk
hire for tbs fiscal year ending June
30. 1851, be allowed me.
To the last letter l received your
answer dated Washington, d. g.,
July II, 1881.
See copy enclosed marked "B."
1t appears from the records of
this Office that paid to the order
Of the Department, for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1881, $l5,-
255 20, being $4,000 in excess of the
net profits of this Office in any pre-
vions year. Nearly the whole of
this increase occurred in the first
aud second quarter, 1881. Gross
income $ll,53l 6S, against $4.-
09l.55 for the two corresponding
quarters, 1880, and $8,557.S9 for
same quarters 1879. 1t was for the
purpose Of meeting this increase in
business that l was compelled to
pay $3.50 for extra clerical help.
The Increase in business brought
a revenue OF over $4,000 into the
treasury, and yet you seem disin-
clined to allow me the 1920 re-
quired to perform this extra labor,
which, as q matter of fact, would
be less than seven per cent. for ex-
pepsesl on the increased busi-
ness. Under such cir
cumstances a heavy increase Of
business would be u financial Ca
lamity to the Postmaster
would also State that there is
every indication that the increase
this year will be much greater
than it was last year. The city is
rapidly improving, and everything
looks more than promising for the
coming winter. There is another
fact to which l would respectfully
draw your attention. There Is "a
larger foreign element in Los An
geles than in any other city OF the
United States of its size. French,
Spanish and English talent is in-
dispensible in this office. We have
English, French, Spanish and Ger
man papers published here for the
accom- mmoduti0n Of the cosmopol-
itan population. La winter time
we have transient population OF
from two to five thousand people.
We have, on an average, a thous.
and names on our forwarding
bo. k :, all Of which RI quirss a large
amount of clerical labor not re-
auired la other offices of this size.
would most respectfully re-
quest that you allow me for the
extra labor performed in this of
flee, in accordance with Sec. l25,
D. 62 Reg. of lS79-S0. In looking
over the Postmaster Generals re-
port, | find that the Oakland office
has 81 per cent of its gross income
for expenses, including free deliv-
cry, 81 per cent. without free deliv-
cry, while the Los Angeles POST
office had only 29 per cent. The
Los Angeles Postotfice turned iuto
the Treasury Sl5, ,265, 40; the Oak.
land office turned iutO the
Treasury Sl3,565 43. with al Office
expense mot including free deliv-
ery) of $l1 1886. 80, against Sc, ,234 SO
expense Of the Los Angeles Post
office. Hoping that you will see
the justice Of nay claim for extra
clerk nire, I have the honor to he,
very respectfully,
I. r. DUNKELBERGER,