Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-17
POSTOFFICE CURIOSITIES.
Funny Names for OfilceS-"Our Carter "
Houored,
Ist. Louis Post-Dlspatch.l

lgts beuo
The forthcoming report OF the Post
master General will show that this great
country has now over $4,000 post-oilices
for its over $4,000, 900 people. or about one
for each 1000 persons. There are some
curious facts connected with the admins
traton OF so large an institution ~ this.
Tie employees OF the department number
over a hundred thousand. OF course the
sum required to run so large an establish
mcnt is something enormous. The salaries
Of postmasters alone amount to nearly SlO,-
600, 600, and the sum pad for transportation
OF mails S2j, 900. The number OF post
Offices IS increasing steadily as the rate OF
over 1900 year. The task OF the Fellow
who fixes names for sli these il pretty Sc
rious one. OF course the people Of the
section where the offices are 10 be located
are allowed to fix name so far as possible.
but in many cases they select name
already given to some Office IN the State,
and OF course II cannot be used. Then
they are permitted TO make some other Sc
lection. and so on almost indefinitely. it
often happens, however, that the post
office officials arc compelled to finally
select, or that in their despair the cltl-
yens who have the selecting OF the name.
by having frequently some name al
ready in use in the State, Jump at some
ridiculous name altogether unheard OF be-
fore, or select one suggested by some pc
culiar surroundings. Some OF the old
names are az follows: Dismal. Thump,
Daybook, Bad AK. Calico, Rocks, Wind
fall, Rara Avis. Seven Stars, Leap Year,
Haphazard. Boy, Odd, Rawhide, Difficult,
Baby Mine, Bean Blossom, Yankee, Pay Up,
Hard Money, Happy Home. Wide Awake,
Alligator, Needy, Moon, Paddock, Gnat-
Vile, Blowborn, Lubbub, ClOudlsnd, But-
teifly, lib, Quidnunc, Rainbow, Scrub, Ty
Ty, Fucker, Bush, Soonover, Bundle Bee,
Zula, sopchoppy, Zero, Jamboree, Marrow
bone, Slickawsy, Negro Foot, Jump, You
Bet, Greenborn. TendeIfOOt, Sunshine,
Muck, Shoofy, Kumtax, Oil-Trough, Nine
Times, Blowout, Gunpowder. Patagum.
pus, Last Chance. Clear Grit, Greasy
Talla-Ho. Mary Esther, Why Not. Samper,
Veto, Round Bottom, King Of Russia, Gi.
Joy, Hsyfork, Picnic. Land Of Promise,
Squak, Snaillopc, Mouse Tail, Pocket Port
Wine. Side View, Good Luck, Bug Hill,
Worms. Due West, Fair Play, Coin. Coal
Fire, Sodoin, Hurt, Sleepy Eye, Dr0ne,
Bird Song, Black Bear, Piuaiore, Butter
cup. Unique, Sunflower, NORWOOD. The
south and West have the much greater num-
Der Of unique names, although many may
be found in New England and the Middle
States. In Texas is an Office named -.
Bob" the familiar cognomen OF citizen
in the community. Bald Hornet" an Of
flee IN Tennessee, is the suggestive nick
name Of gentleman residing in the coun-
try. Chiesgo's Mayor, Hon. Carter Harri-
son, Is bonored in Kansas with an ofllce
called "Our Carter" Best" " Cloudy"
"Cutlips," Dull" and "Toadrint are
other Offices bearing names of indIyid-
uals. Initial letters sometimes form the
name Of an Office. like that OF at. b."
in Maryland. When the first house in the
place was erected these initials were found
en- a stone near by, and were, probably,
those OF very early settler and owner.
80. d." In Colorado, is taken from a
brand used for marking cattle, aud 30.
H." In South Carolina, from the humor-
Gus suggestions Of an interested gentle
man. The people OF Sugar Grove, IN Tca-
nessee, refused to suggest other names
after their own had been rejected. and tn,
department established the Office under
the initials "a. b. c." There Is
"Buss" In Michigan u match "Sweet
Lips" in Tennessee, but there 10 q
"Maiden In North Carolina, "Bache-
ioT III Ml>sissippi, Auu WiuoWs" may
be found in Alabama. There IL "Com.
fort" in North Carolina, and also In Texas,
and Tribulation" in Tennessee. The
Libulation was Ia selecting a name
acceptable 10 the department, and
they ended their tribulation by making
it "Tribulation." "Charityn Is found
In North Carolina and Tennessee, and
" Hope" exists in fourteen beside
that Of "Adyersity." There are "wells"
In several States, but only one "Cistern."
In Texas. They have "Concert" In
Iowa, and Louisiana contributes "vio.
lin." Minnesota q "Cornet." Iowa
"Horp," Pennsylvania "Diums," and
Ohio and Virginia "Fifes.D There II
"Drrk Corner" in Georgia. but dawn"
appears in Michigan and Ohio, followed by
"Day" In Michigan and New York.