Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-11

THE DoGs-wHr CARRIERS ARE SURE FOOTED on
SLIPPERY PAYMENTS.
Down long and dark passages, stumbling in the
dim light over obstacles or all kinds ana qualities
bumped into, Josted and hustled by men rushing
backward and forward, appearing and disappear
ing like spectres In the gloom. STAR reporter
penetrated the mysterious recesses Of the city post
Office building In search OF Information about that
admirable Invention OF modern timeS-the person
In gray uniform who carries ut his side or his
back well filled pouch. and has access to the pal
ace or the howell alike. The reporter passed
through several rooms filled with long desks,
piled up high with letters papers and bundles I'm,
apparently, almost hopeless confusion, and being
Tossed nitner and thither by the hands Of many
DuStling young men in uniforms and caps; but
here all things have their place.
SORTING THE LETTERS.
At this long and high table facing the window
and looking out into street stand the young
men whose duty it is to open the bundles Of letters
delivered from the railway mail service cars,
try, and see that all contained therein are ad-
dressed to washington, d. G." II they ind some
with another address they quietly bundle them
error, and 1t is returned to the railway mail SER
vice clerk through whom 1t was received. and
From this table or desk the letters are handed to
two young men seated at low desks with letters
piled regularly up In front OF them. These young
blocks, and with almost lightning rapidity they
stamp tne letters passing under their hand with
frs washington ar hgP os6marS From them the let
rows OF men standing in front OF cases, contain
ing almost numberless pigeon holes, each labelled
ton or district in the city, and with q peculiar
swaying motion on the part Of the men. which Is
populariy supposed to aid In obtaining q high
degree OF speed, the letters tossed into their
respective places as fast as an ordinary person
can count. Great care is necessary on the part Of
astray. and they must be thoroughly posted as to
sne carriers routes, must be acquainted with the
names OF all box-holders and the addresses OF the
various members OF Congress-
FILING FOR DELIVERY
The letters are taken ont OF these cases and
AFTER being again stamped this time with the car.
rier's hour of delivery, they are counted Out and
ned ~ the carriers, in numerical ORDER ready "a
0e taken out by them on the next delivery. This
system OF filing has been siinplincd by the
neWly-invented cases that stranger could do the
work accurately, provided each letter is addressed
Win the proper street and number. In this ser.
VICE men having speed and accuracy are most In
requirement, and those who have not these cd.
| santages are very soon told that their "services
II Is really wonderful that few letters are ever
iosI While passing from one place TO another, OF
through the local post office; but it is fact ina,
not one letter out OF hundred thousand or more
= loSt. IhlS Is due to the precautiop taken by
Inc department Not pound OF paper leaves the
building until 1t has been thoroughly examined Il
see II any letters could have fallen into an o,toi
the-way place and from there swept up by broom
into the waste pile.
| WHY cARRIERs ARE SURE FOOTED
why Is 1t that carriers never Slip down when the
SIDEWALKS are covered with ice in winter? This
question has been asked again and again b,,
never until to-day answered in a logical manner
a great many people fOOlishly believe the reason
tnat carrier Is seldom seen to slip down is tina,
.hey aaopt peculiar manner or walking: with
their feet at opposite angles spay.fCoted in fact
thus making ii almost impossible for the foot "a
james oh one on he u tTY Of
| denied. he says ''You have noticed that letter.
carrier In winter time very generally carries his
etter-bag on his back and to do this leans slightly
| forward. That explains why he never has q fai
on the ice 1t is well known that the majority OF
| fect,y erect manner!"
several years ago quite an ado was made over
lne iact that carriers were not permitted by the
@ TO wear overcoatS in winter time, Mr.
ben saiu 'Ihe carriers could not wear oyercoats
even II they were allowed You see an oyernoat
would impede the performance OF their work, but
instead underneath the gray coat they wear those
| heavy wooien jackets which have been made so
popular by butchers and grecer's clerks"
THE DOGS.
The greatest bane OF the carriers existence are
the dogs that live along his route, and who often
evince desire to tast the quality and texture of
the seat OF his trousers The Post Office da,,art
nlent In It's rules, however, affords the c;rriar
ample protection in this event. and doe. not obye
HIN to deliver mail where he knows bad dog to
exist. ~
THE CARRIERS CHRISTIAN
Many OF the faithful carriers are Substa ntially
remembered on Christmas day. MIR Bell SAYS:
''some Of our most popular letter-carriers make
two OF three hundred dollars at that time in gifts
1ron the people on their route. Many times a lew
days before Xmas, some benevolent person goes
around among his neighbOrs and asks subscrip-
lions for purse to be given TO the faithful letter.
carrier" Some people, Mr. Bell said, never can
ana never Will understand the duties a Carrier ia
required to perform, but imagine he must .ct as a
sort OF post Office, and call at their house every
there may be none to deliver This is wrong. as
the rules and regulations which guide the car.
r1erS conduct do not require him to do this.