The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-09
Bill Nye's Letter Of Resignation.


The following is alleged to be the
only exact copy OF Bill Nye's official
letter in which he resigned the Post
office at Laramie City, Wy. T.:
To THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES: SIR-l beg leave at this time
20 officially tender my resignation as
Postmaster at this place, and in due
form TO deliver the great seal and the
KEY to the front door OF the office. The
safe combination is set on the numbers
SO, &c and 80, though | do not remem-
Der at this moment which comes first or
how many times you reVolve the knob,
or which direction yCu should turn it at
first in order to make it operate
There is some mining stock in my
private drawer in the safe, which have
not yet removed The stock you may
have, If you desire it 1t is luxury,
but you may have it. j have decided
to keep horse instead of this mining
stock. The horse may not be so pretty,
but it will cost less to keep him.
You will find the postal cards that
have not been used under the distribut-
ing table, and the coal down in the Gel
lar. If the stove draws too hard close
the damper in the pipe and shut the gen
eral delivery window.
Looking over my stormy and eVentful
administration as Postmaster here,
find abundant cause for thanksgiving.
At the time | entered upon the duties OF
my office the department was not yet
on paying basis. 1t was not even self
sustaining. Since that time, with the
active cooperation of the Chief Execu-
tive and the heads of the deps! tment,
have been able to make our postal sys-
tenn paying one, and on top of that
am now able to reduce the tariff on
averaged-sized letters from three cents
to two. might add that this is rather
too too, but will not say anything that
might seem undigniiied in an official
resignation which is to become a matter
of history.
Through all the vicissitudes of TEN
pestuous term of office | have safely
passed. l am abls to tu- Il over the Of
flee to-day in highly improved condi-
ton, and to present purified and rem.
ovated institution to my successor.
Acting under the advice of General
Hatton a wear ago, | removed the
feather bed with which my predecessor
Deacon Hayford, had bolstered up his
administration by stutling the window,
and substituted glass. binding nothing
in the book of instructions to postmas-
tiers which made the feather bed part
of my official duties. filed it away in
an obscure place and burned it in effigy
also, in the cleaning. This act mad
dened my predecessor to such a degree
that he then and the c became candi
date for justice of the peace on the Dem
ocratic ticket. The Democratic party
was able, however, with what aid it Sc
cured f.om the Republicans, to pillow the
old man under to a eat degree.
1t was not long after | had taken my
official oath before IN era of unex
ampled prosperity opened for the
American people. The price OF bee
rose to remarkable altitude, and Other
vegetables commanded q good figure
and ready market. We then begar
to make active preparations for the in
PRODUCTION of the strawberry, roam two
cent stamps, and the black-and-tan
postal note.~ One reserms has crowded
upon the heels of another until the
country is to-day upon the foam-cresteC
wave of permanent prosperity.
Mr.. President, l can not close this
letter without thanking yourself and thu
heads of departments at Washington
for your active, CHEEKY aud prompt co
operation in these matters. You car
do as You see fit. of course, about in
cooperating this idea into your Thanks
giving proclamation, but rest assured i
would not be ill-timed or inopportune
1t is not alone credit to myself. tire
fleets credit upon the Administration
also.
I need not say that herewith trans
init my resignation with great sorrow
and genuine regret. Wehaye toiled OF
together month after month asking fol
no reward except the innate conscious
ness OF rectitude and the salary as fixeC
oy law. Now we are to separate. Here
the roads seem to fork, as it We're, anC
you! and | and the Cabinet must leave
each other at this point.
You will find the key under the door
mat, and you had better turn the ca
out at night when yon. close the Office
Hshe does not go readily you can max,
it clearer to her mind by throwing ths
eanceling stamp at her.
If Deacon Hayford does not pay NJ
his box rent, you might as well put hi.
mail in the generalsdelivery. and wher
Bob Head gets, drunk and. insists on &
| letter from one of his wives every day
in the week, you can salute him through