Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-26
WAGON LOADS OF PRESENTS,
The Christmas Business OF the Expires,
Companies.
THE TRAFFIC MUCH HEAVIER THAN LAST YEAR-TuE
GREAT VARIETY OF GOODS SENT BY EXPRESS
HUMAN NATURE As SEEN OVER AN EXPRESS OFFICE


I'VE have had tremendous Christmas business
this year. remarked an official of Adams EXPRESS
20. yesterday to a STAR reporter He had lust
rectipted 1or large package intended TO gladden.
me hearts OF somebody's country relatives in Viz
glnia AS he dropped his pen and rested his elbows
on the counter he continued to The STAR man:
| les It's been much heavier even than last year,
ooIh as regards goods shipped from here and those
| received And, too, the packages have been more
valuable than usual. We have our shipments right
up 70 date and the rush that way Is over SATURDAY
hlght there was pressure though. We worked then
shipping Christmas packages until five O'Clock in the
morning, and didn't go TO bed at all For several
| days past we have had 10 employ quite number
OF extra men and wagons too, and everything and
| everybody were kept on the jump. OF course we
| nave delivered great many packages In the city
received rom other places, but that part OF the
Work IS not completed. To-day and tomorrow
and perhaps even the next day we will be kept
9lSy deli' ering goods as fast as received. SLOW
ota our packages range In value! o. from several
Genus 10 several hundred dollars OF course the
aL9st valuable goods were sent through the money
| order branch"
HUMAN NATURE AS OBSERVED BY AN EXPREssMAN
My, my, this Is queer business" continued
The Official. musingly. 'We see so many varieties
| OF human nature. One person comes In and sends
OIL package valued at % cents and he has to pay
over dollar expressage. Then again package
altef package Is brought in marked carefully and
consplcuously glass; handle with care,' or this
SIDE up, as II 1t We're possible to keep bundle or
DoA In any particular position when sent by ex-
press. Then too, just the reverse happens. Time
ana again people bring in packages containing
gttoS ware or some equally fragible goods wrapped
! simply In piece OF paper and tied with a cord
men we explain that such packages can't go in
tnat shape with any chance of safety they eX-
postuate and seem aggrieved that they have to
put them In proper Shape There Is one thing
mat we ship great deal from Washington about
ts llfne OF the year. and that's oysters They bring
them here in little kegs to be sent mostly to
places In the west, where people don't know any
thlng about the luscious bivalve. They find them
mighty good eating, too, I'll bet. Do we lose
many Packages? Wen, 1 should say not
we would OF course If we had no system: but.
you see, we have such complete ARRANGEMENT for
chechng all round that II package does go astray
we can trace 1t right up In less than no tiInen
YES. ma'am; that bundle viii go off tonight,
ana Will he delivered at its destination tomorrow
morning early remarked the official to a lady who
had just stepped up to the counter with package
she had been delayed in preparing.
Not wishing to interrupt longer the duties of the
oNerWorhed man, the reporter strolled into the
weather that the signal Office had not pre(licted
stopping at the Office of
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO EXPRESS
company, he learned that their holiday expert
enceS had been good deal similar to those OF the
Adams company. I've have been kept hard at
work from early morning until midnight for MANY
days past" said the man behind the counter "and
we mad about dozen extra men employed, too, as
We'll as number OF additional wagons The work
viii be considerably lightened after to-day al
though we expect to be kept pretty busy for several
Gays 10 come delivering packages. The business
mas Deen heavier than last year. and 1t WAS more
then than for many years previous All the express
packages to go out or town have been shipped all
right so far. Last Friday night there was a slight
acCluent up near William. The messenger was hurt
q little, cut the goods were not damaged at all
although considerably shaken up, and only a short
del$y was caused suppose we have sent away
ana received every kind OF article Imaginable vary
ing In size from finger ring TO a sleigh. Yes we
have been taxed to the utmost but we can stand il
once year, he added, as the reporter took his