The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-03-19
The Dead Letter ONCE.

Washington Correspondence Boston Tran
script.
Among the many places of interest
to be visited in Washington, perhaps
there is no other that is so absorbing
ly interesting to the great mass of
visitors as the Dead Letter Office and
the museum connected whit. There
Is nothing to be seen here, but every
one is capable of understanding and
approaching. Just inside the large
hall a space is rallied of, where visitors
may stand and observe at their leisure
the work that is going on SO busily.
Over $4,000 letters q day to be ex-
amined, assorted and disposed of!
What a large corps of clerks is needed
Tor the work, and how quickly, skill
fully and mechanically it goes on! In
the first room the letters are opened
and assorted those containing money or
articles of value going one way and the
others going another. Asimple motion
Sits open an envelope with ~unerring
precision. The letter is withdrawn,
unfolded, folded, replaced. The next
letter the same. How fast the heaps
of the examined letters grow, but the
work does not end, for the supply is
never exhausted, but is constantly re-
plenished as the letters are passed on.
Here, as in many other departments,
the work is several days or weeks be-
hind time, and fresh appropriations
are needed for more workers.
~ I'M l1AA-.~ .o- -.
closures of value are restored to the
senders when practicable, otherwise
they are recorded and filed away, and
may be reclaimed at any time. Other
letters are not recorded. They are re-
turned to the writers, If possible, and
when the writer's cannot be found, the
letters are destroyed. In the year
1884, more than 1900 letters con-
tanned money, amounting to nearly
$34 1000. Some 10000 letters con
tanned drafts, checks, money orders,
ETC., to the value of more than ST.
SOC, 900. Some idea of the growth of
the postal service ofthe United States
for q century may be formed, when we
consider in this connection the state
ment, quoted from a postal report in
1888, that 1865 valuable letters have
accumulated in the department since
1777." Many thousand letters are re-
ceived annually containing photo
graphs, postage stamps and articles
of merchandise. Thousands of letters
are deposited yearly In the Post Of
fee bearing no superscription what
ever, and all such of course are for
warded to the Dead Letter Office for
examination. Easter cards and
Christmas cards are received by the
gross. These are distributed once a
month among the children in hospi.
tails. All reading matter received, pa
pers and magazines are distributed
among adults in hospitals.
Interesting as is the work that is be-
ing carried on in the Dead Letter Office,
the mt of articles collected there
is infinitely more so. An inconceiya-
bic variety OF interesting objects,
beautiful, horrible, attractive, dis
gusting, amusing, pathetic, valua BILE
and worthless, are arranged In the glass
cases. Some nice jewelry is displayed,
brooches, lockets, a watch and chain,
the latest addition being a fine gold
headed cane, brought in the very day
of Jul visit. There are a number oil
pretty rings, slender and dainty cir
clcts! How many an unwritten rom
ance may they not have represented
We're they betr othal rings, long looked
for with vain expectancy and hope de-
ferred? Did the senders wait for Il
response, till the ardor that prompted
tha off grew cold? Who can tell?