Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-09-22
Uncle Sam,s Mail Pouches.

l
riers make their daily rounds and de-
liver to eager persons news from friends
in other parts OF the country. The
precious messages bring tidings of COM
fort and JOY. and likewise tidings OF
misery, sadness, and woe. Sometimes
the gray-coated carrier lingles the bell
| briskly, and an anxious maiden hastens
| with beating heart for letter from an
| absent lover; the loving wife hurries to
the door to learn of the safety of her
husbands arrival at distant point; the
mother with eager footsteps and heart
full OF love, expects a letter from the
beloved son, who has gone out in the
world to battle for independence, fame,
and fortune, against the cruel and
treacherons waves. Sometimes SOM
bre, black-bordered letter announces
the taking off of some dear friend.
Daily the carrier, through sunshine and
rain, makes his round, and many faces
are at the windows looking for his COM
ing. Indeed, he is the most-expected
and looked-for man in this country.
What has this to do with Toledo? A
great deal. Shortly after President
Cleveland took his oath of office and
grasped the reins Of Government con-
tract was awarded to the firm of Quinn
& Co., to furnish to the Govern
ment the mail pouches for the
postoflice department. The con-
tract was for 1900 mail pouches,
and in the city of Toledo are manu-
featured all the mail pouches which
the United States Government needs.
A large brick building stands on Broad
way a few steps beyond the new bridges,
and here will be manufactured all the
new mail pouches which will be used in
the country for a few years to carry the
messages Of love and business on the
swiftly moving mail trains. A reporter
entered the building and was kindly
shown through by one Of the firm, and
given chance to see the United States
mail pouches made. On the first floor
were piles upon piles of finished
pouches ready for delivery to the Gov
facturers. A fight of stairs was
assembled, and rolls of leather were
visible in every corner and all over the
room. Mr.. Quinn led the way up an
other fight of stairs and into large
room where the pouches are made. The
rapid click click! click! which struck
upon the the ears proved to DO num-
Der of young men fastening the pouches
together with rivets of white metal
The leather is first cut by pattern
and then everything but the riveting is
done by machinery. A strip of heavy
leather for the mouth of the bag or
pouch is inserted in piece of ma
chincry, and in an instant the necessary
holes and slots are punctured. The
bottom is made of one piece of pressed
leather; and then begins the process of
putting together. Eleven boys or young
men and three older men are busily en-
gagged making the pouches, the boys
doing all the rivetiug, for this is the
way the pouches are held together.
This is then passed over to young
man, who rivets the bottom of the bag.
There are four sizes Of pouches, and
the largest is put together by GAG rivets.
About six boys are kept busy fastening
the rivets, and they mako about 100
pouches day, which would make "a, 900
rivets put in and hammered in day, or
4. 100 rivets for each lad. 1t is astonish-
ing how rapidly practice has enabled
them to pound those rivets; they ham,
mer like clockwork, moving their punch
from rivet to rivet with precision and
wonderful rapidity, very rarely failing
to place the punch in exactly the right
spot.
Four sizes are made, the smallest
costing the government $3.50 apiece,
the next $500, the next $3.50, and the
largest $3.50. Each year Congress
makes an appropriation for mail
pouches, and this firm began on an
order for 10000 last June; they are
still busily at work on the order, and
expect to have the 1900 completed
and delivered at New York by the
middle Of August. Very few Of the
smaller size are ordered, the largest
number being of the greatest size. An
additional appropriation Of 10 per cent.
was made this year. Toledo Blade.