Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-24
Word for the Letter Carriers.

Word for the Letter Carriers.
Said Colonel MARYLAND. an old ard experienced
ex-onicial Of the Post-Ornce Department, speaking
to-day OF the service rendered BY the letter car
riers during the recent blizzard: "The weather
was very hard for them, worse than midw1nter.
The strong, biting wind. the sidewalks covered
with solid Ice made rough oy pedestrians during
the nrst evening OF the stotm, when there were
dif1cult for them TO make their rounds. The
storm came so sudden and was so furious that no
the sdeMslks Of the snow, and the next morning.
1t was solid ice that could mol be gotten on. But
speaking Of the letter carriers, do the members
OF Congress ever think OF their duties7 Do they
ever see them when loaded up like pack mules
with letters. papers PACKAGES and bundles as they
mn ahe %gapd Steps the eS Tine rcHi1
stairways OF. the poor, down Into the base
ments and out again to deliver the business
the letter that brings glad tidings the letter that
tells Of sorrow, sickness and death, and the news
papers that give the news OF the world7 II the
members Of Congress ever do see them on their
rounds Of duty and think OF them they must be
smitten with shame to think how lilly paid are
ton that the letter carriers in the commercial and
business cities Of the United states should be SO
shabbily p!id- They belong to class OF humble
loiter or nag; the eyes OF the public are on the
lookout for the letter carrier. The one who never
gets letter is as much interested in his prompt
putting in an appearance on his rounds as the one
who never fails to get letter. II the carrier be
little late his round the question runs all along
the street, Where is the carrier? II ne doesn't
come promptly you complain, / complain,
everybody complains His task Is not an
easy one, nor is II pleasant one. He invades the
houses where contagious diseases are before the
doctor gives warning, for the poor do not call in
the doctor until the disease has baffied their home
treatment. He comes in contact with il-grained
people to whom he must be polite. Yes sir; the
letter carriers are faithful servants OF the people,
they should OF all public servants be well paid and
every one should have pleasant word for them.
nave been out OF the pOSt-office service nearly
fourteen years, and yet never see letter carrier
on his rounds in any city that may happen to be
In that do not at once recognize him as friend
sam COxS bill for their benert should become
law without d-lay. While on this subject OF letter
carriers will say that the Washington city
p0St-0n1ce building Is a disgrace TO the age In
which we live, a d. grace TO civilization in any
age. 1t Is death trapin every conceivable form
fire, disease, peStilence, and death stare its en-
ployeS in the face every moment they work
within It's walls. wonder that the letter-carrierS
who work in that Office building have animation
enough in them to get around in such dishearten-
ing weather as Washington has had OF late. 1t
would be far better II the Government would set
up hospital tents In some OF the public parks Of
the city In which to carry on the postal service
rather than occupy that building another week.
The Army mail service was carried on In hospital
tents after the battle OF Shiloh, because the build
ing at Ptttsburg Landing, In which 1t had been
carried on previous to the battle was rendered
inhabitable by reason OF its occupation as an am
putatng hospital.-CYereiand Leader, March
~, 1888.