Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-02
RAPID TRANSIT MAILS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES SPECIAL
DELIVERY SYSTEM.

Three Messengers Deliver a Letter
Apiece the First Day it Goes into
Eaect in savannah--NOt a Very Lively
Rush at the Outset-soenes I'm the Post
ofiice Corridor-Some Objections to
the System.
Promptly at Z o'clock yesterday morn
ing three OF the special letter delivery
boys reported at the post office for duty.
They all wore shoes newly hali-soled in
anticipation Of great deal OF walking.
After waiting ten minutes without re-
ceiSing any letters to rush OF WITH, they
began to get uneasy. After waiting half
an hour one Of tue trio suggested game
of marbles, but the superintendent OBJ
iected. so long as it rained the boys did
not grumble about staying in the room in
which they were penned. There was not
muca 10 amusa them after they had
watched the carriers for awhile, so they
got to firing apple chores at one another
on tue sly. Then they wanted to 90 out
in Bay street lane and play ball or num-
biepee. out they were refused permission
It was very mOnot0nous when the sun
came out, and the messengers sighed for
some one TO drop letter bearing the
special stamp in the office.
3 3
down, along came a letter. None of the
boys was very anxious to 90 out in the
shower and they were willing to wait until
the rain should ceasesA The letter had TO
go. though, and was handed TO one Of the
boys. The other two got lonesome while
the third one was gone, aud wanted TO
get of and 20 fishing, or resign.
During the day the boys delivered let
ter apiece. They were glad when O'Clock
M m At
they could CO. Each messenger mad
earned the magnificent sum Of ; cents.
One letter was received from Ohio and the
other two were drop letters. Three boys
went on duty at p. m. and remained I'M
til midnight.
The first day's'business was very small.
but it is hoped that when the advantages
of the system are understood the boys will
have more to do.
1t ought to become popular with the
young men. Perhaps it has not not oc
Cured to them that the pOstOfice depart
ment has placed at their service system
which will supply long felt want.
1t often happens that young clerk de-
cides late in the day that he would like to
take his best girl TO the theatre in the
evening. He is pretty sure that she will
be ready If he can let her know IN time.
Now all that the young man has got to do
is to write note, inclose 1t in an en-
velOpe, and send it to the post office by the
FIRMS office boy when he goes for the
mail. The message will be immediately
delivered at a cost of only 12c.-10c. for
the special stamp and &c. for the regular
stamp.
While not quite so rapid as the service
OF the American District Telegraph Com.
pany in other cities, the special letter de-
livery service can be made to supply the
place OF the former system in Savannah.
The special stamps are not good for pos
tage, aud the regular postage stamps can
not be used Tor special delivery.
In speaking Of the system an ex-post
office official pointed out what he consia-
cred some of its impracticable and ridicu-
lous features: at provides that If the
sender OF letter attaches to the envelope
a special 10 cent stamp, the postmaster al
the office Of delivery must send it imme-
dlately to the person to whom 1t is adj
dressed, by messenger. 1t also provides
that the special delivery Office must be
kept open until y O'Clock each night, NOT
Tor the accommodation of the public, but
for the possible accommodation of persons
10 whom letters bearing delivery stamps
may be sent Imagine a boy starting out
at the hour of midnight with a
letter addressed to a person living in re-
mote part of the city. Ii may be pouring
down rain just as ID is to-day, he must 90
and find that man. Having arrived at
his residence, he rings a bell or knock
on the door. Everybody about the prem
lses is in belfast asleep. Awakened
By the noise, the man jumps out of bed
hunts up his revolver, steals cautiously
10 the door, and, unlocking it, peeps out
and seeing the midnight messenger, mis-
takes him for a burglar and blows the top
OF his head off at the first roundl 1t may
be days, or even weeks, that no letter be
longing to the special delivery service il
received, and yet the postmaster must
keep his messengers in the office until u
impracticable and absurd, and Congress
must either modify it or repeal it alto.
gether."