Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-10

IL Is organized ana maintalned lot tne dement,
Of the people generally, and there are few who
do not, at some time or other, realize this
benefit by the restoration of some misdirected
or unstamped letter or package. The office.
under the direction and control OF its chief,
Major Dallas. as nearly approaches absolute
efficiency in all its details as it Is within the
power of human nature to attain Everything
is done systematically and with the precision of
clockwork.
-FOUR MILLION OF DEAD LETTERS A, YEAR.
The whole number of letters received at the
dead letter office during last year WASH POT 1876,
or an average of 1900 for each working day.
OF these. 3.O49, 952 were sent here because they
were not called for at the post offices to which
they were directed; So 1S9 were returned to
post offices by hotel-,:eepers and thence sent to
the dead letter office. because the departed
guests for whom they were intended failed to
leave a new address,; 275 2f0 were sent here be-
cause they were insuficiently prepaid for mail
Ing; 9o4 because they contained articles forbid
den to be transported in the mails; 274. IT'S
because they were enormously or ilegiDiy ad-
dressed, while 11.711 bore no superscription
whatever. The number of parcels of merchan-
disc, books, clothing. needlewOrk, jewelry, &c,
received during the year was O,476. The total
was $50. 2S7. These are all returned to their re-
spectiye countries Of origin unopened.
VALUABLE CONTENTS OF DEAD LETTERS.
OF the domestic letters opened, 10 9S9 con-
tanned money amounting to 81, 500. Is; "a. SIS
contained drafts. checks. money orders, &C., to
the amount Of 81 ,962. ALB %; So 46S contained
postage stamps; A, 73l contained receipts, paid
notes. and Cancelled obligations OF all Sorts and
80. 242 contained photographs. Every letter
and package is delivered to the owner if posi-
bh. Misdrected letters are sent unopened to
no odd in-ahl 2
19.45O domestic and 7.765 foreign, were so de-
hvered during the past year. Letters and par
Gels which are without address, or for any rea-
son cannot be delivered to the intended de5ti-
nation. are opened and If there is any means of
identifying the senders returned to them
free of charge upon the receipt of return postage,
which the law requires shall be prepaid.
Every opened letter containing an Enclosure of
value Is carefully recorded and those for which
no owner can be found are filed away subject to
reclamation at any time. Letters without re-
mittances of obvious value are not recorded, but
are returned to the writers If practicable; other
wise they are destroyed A large proportion of
the most valuable parcels sent here is addressed
to foreign countries and detained because they
contain dutjabie goods or exceed the limit of
size Or weight. In all such cases. if the name of
the sender does not appear. the addresses are
notified that the package will be forwarded by
express at their expense, or returned to the
sender if they will furnish the proper address in
this country.
DEAD LETTER AUCTION, ETC.
The articles received in parcels which can
neither be delivered to the person addressed nor
returned TO the sender are finally sold at auction
and the proceeds deposited in the U S. Treasury
Letters are only read to ascertain the name
and address of the writer or to see if ANYTHING
which was originally incosed is missing. In
formation obtained from letters in the course OF
their official treatment in the dead letter office
is never diyulred.
Two large storerOOms in the basement of the
Post Office department building are almost
packed full of articles that have come into the
office and remain unclaimed. Every package
and article Is labeled and numbered, and is also
recorded upon a catalogue list that is kept The
articles are filed away systematically. so that
when any particular number is called for it can
De found without any trouble or loss OF time.
THE MUSEUM.
To the general visitor the most interesting
feature of the office is its museum, composed of
an almost endless variety of articles. many of
them rare and curious, that have, under the op-
eratiOns of law, been collected from the mails
and remain unclaimed. These articles are very
tastefuiy arranged in large cabinets, which are
placed around three sides of the reception room
1t is almost incredible that people in this cOun-
Try. where intelligence is the rule, would at
tempt TO employ the mails for transmitting MANY
OF the things in this museum 1t is only to be
accounted for on the theory that with some an
Idea obtains that postage stamp will carry any
package. whether it be a live animal or a letter
In one cabinet. for instance is fine collection
OF fireworks. no doubt intended for some patri-
Otto occasion; a specimen of lava from the Cali
fOrnia lava beds, neatly put up in q small case:
the inside works Of clock, and several varieties
OF pipes, embracing the common cOrn-cOb and
the Indian pipe Of peace. Adjoining the pipes
are tamborines enough to supply the end men
, OF modern minstrel show, and alongside is a
sample card of horn combs Above these
lSa
COMPLETE OUTFIT FOR A CAVALIER
provided he supplies his own horse There Is
saddle. bride, currycomb and brush. fen
ders, riding gloves. saddle blanket, halter. and
even hitcbing-post with set of sleigh-belIs
for good measure. The rig is handsome one
and the party who entrusted it to the mails
probably considers Uncle Sam grossly remiss
In his duty for not having delivered it.
QUEER ODDS AND ENDS.
Many OF the articles were evidently intended
as souvenirs and presents. some of them de-
signed as if for birthday gifts, such as a beauti-
fui tidy of handmade lace a gorgeous table
cover OF varied coOred silk and other articles of
needlewOrk. showing great care and skill on the
part OF those who did it. A pair of Indian moe
casins are next to a carpenters rule. and adj
down at the heel In the collection are dishes
OF different kinds, from q large steak dish
down TO the most diminutive sauce-plate. Sew
eral bats and three or four base-balls were
brought up with short stop in the dead letter
Office, because some persons fOolishIy supposed
that the mails would carry anything for three
cent stamp. variety of pistols, big and little
reyolvers and derringers, one OF which was,
when the package was opened, found to be
loaded, are in the collection. Among the
many other articles taken from the
mails are several old army cartridge boxes. old
and much worn horseshOes, q pair of stirrups.
parlor skates, engraving plates a mask. an in,
Vulnerable variety Of badges, a set of old teeth.
several dental instruments, silver watch
samples OF barbed wire fencing several hand
saws. thermometer. bottles of medicine. a
hatchet, an old faded umbrella, shoe lasts
COOKING utensils, a common old grp-sack. much
the worse for wear; agricultural Implements.
AMONG The MOST CURIOUS ARTICLES
OF the collection. especially when it is remem-
bered that the things were all put In the mails.
are a human skull, seventeen snakes of differ
EFT sizes, now preserved in alcohol, but which
We're alive and wriggling when taken from the
mails; several tarrantula, which were also
mailed living; horned frogs, large collection
Oh butterflies and Insects several alIioafors