Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-24
EXPRESSMEN BUSY.
Forwarding and Checking Christmas
Packages.

AN INCREASE OVER LAST YEARS BUSINESS
sit may astonish you to hear 1t, but we have sent
OF more packages for Christmas this year than
ever before" And Mr.. Morse, the express manager
settled himself down In his private Office back OF
the immense pile of boxes and away from the
pressing crowd, TO explain to Scar reporter the
part Adams Express company takes as an agent
for Santa Claus
eyes" he continued, sour business yesterday and
day before, the field days tor Christmas packages,
was just 80 per cent greater than last year. then
you will remember, it was phenomenal we had
anticipated that the uncertainty in the minds OF
the clerks in the departments on account OF the
change or administration would effect business
some; that there would not be as many presents
sent away But Just the reverse has been the case
and as general thing the packages have been more
"How do you account for it?" asked THE STAR re-
porter.
1.-THE only reason can give for it is the growth
OF the city In wealth and population. Why, we
are doing an Immense business, both in bringing
PRESENTS into the city and taking them out. We
the city yesterday. We have forty-eight horses
and twenty-five wagons Of our own, and have had
70 hire fve extra teams to get cur goods delivered
We shall deliver all day tomorrow, so that all
packages received will get to their destination
promptly, and no one win be disappointed through
our fault"
FIRING OFF QUESTIONS AT THE EXPRESS MAN.
1.-THE experiences OF an express man must be
varied in these hurried times?"
"They are. The Offices are crowded with people
sending on presents They ask a thousand ques-
tons, and come back to know If the things are
really going and Will get to aunt-this-one and
cousin-thatone in time. Theladies, too frequently
tell us what are IN the packages and who they are
Chicago this is for my brotherinlaw in Baltimore.
and this for my sister in New York. Will they ali
get there safer In that way they go over the
packages"
SIT must be very annoying" suggested THE STAR
man, when you are In such hurry"
The clerks can't stop to listen. They make out the
get used to it, and il don't take much time to be
one thing Adams Express company insists on in
their clerks and empleyes-that they shall be po-
lite to everybody and under all circumstances"
TRIALS OF THE DELIVERY MEN.
''There are no set OF men In the world more tried
than those who go around with the wagons, de-
livering the goods about the city. Some of Our
men were out till twelve o'clock last night You
can imagine how cold and still they get sometimes
One OF the men was telling me last night OF place
he had to deliver very heavy box. The servant
who came to the door would not think of helping
him, though his fingers were SO cold he could
hardly clasp the box, and as he entered the door
his foot slipped and he knocked on one OF the silver
hinges OF the front door. He told the gentleman OF
the house he would have 1t fixed in the morning.
asked the gentleman. 'The charges on this pack.
age are S.; keep said the driver turning away.
Inc gentleman was SO struck With his prompt
honesty that he would not keep the collateral
but the door was mended at expense OF 81 to the
driver. The company Will reimburse him.
"Does the company have much to pay for DAM
ages and losSes?"
1--WE lose very few packages but when we DO
lose we settle for them at once. The other day
got dispatch from the management saying that
certain cargo had been lost and to settle ali claims
at once. Last year we paid one OF the stenogra-
pliers at the Capitol $1,000 for violin we lost.
The average value OF packages sent this season is
from IS to siC0, but many packages are worth $500
and some 60 over 81 ,O0O."