Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-21


DAYS WHEN ONE cARRIKR sxRvrp THE WHOLE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or OLD KNrLoyEs OF THE
CITY rosT-oFrrcR-How PRESIDENT PIERCE wKxT
TO THE OFFICE ron HD own NAIL, ETC
It was about 1880 that the lettsr-carrier system
was established in this city. DIR. VIM Jones was
then the postmaster. and the late James A. Ken
nedy was the pioneer ietter-carrier. washing
ton was indeed, at that time, a city OF magnin.
cent distances The houses for the most part
formed little clusters In many portions Of the
city there were stretches OF nearly half mile OF
open country between these clusters. In some
places old-fashioned rail fences thanked the road
ways that were In summer overgrown with weeds
Mr.. Kennedy was allowed a fee OF two cents for
each letter or parcel delivered. THIS was the ap-
proximate value OF the English penny at the
time, and hencs the title "penny post" was given
to the carrier service. An extra compensation OF
$3.50 per annum was also allowed Tie carrier He
and to facilitate IL he built, With his own hands.
bodt-shaped wagon In which the mail matter was
placed The wagon, which was painted a bright
yellow. was drawn By fast horse Mr.. Kenne-
dy's enterprise proved q success, and as a reward
for his INDUSTRY, he was taken into the Office as
T. Fittings and Geo. venable as penny postmen,
and next by Jonn George Adams and john n.
Trook, who entered the service in 1887.
DIVIDING THE CITY.
The city was at that time divided into two de-
good old age OF eighty-four. seventh street" he
said to a STAR reporter, 'from the Crossed Keys
the Old tavern at the head OF 18th street TO The
river, was the dividing line l had the lower or
Included all the departments. We got out early
In the morning, as soon as the mails We're dis
trfDuted, and We had no such loals as are carried
to-day. small bag carried all the mail for dis
trlct. might say the mails received at the WASH
lngton office then compared 10 that now received
was like a wheelbarrow load beside the load OF q
railroad car. The Capitoi then was In my division
and used TO carry the mail TO numbers or Sena-
lived n ms nsSo s TO t59se who
Benton, Preston, ana other distinguished men Of
that day. Mr.. .lhoun lived in the Old Capitol
coming he would come out and m. ct Inc. II had
lew moments to spare we wou d have pleasant
chat. SO 1t was with Mr.. Benton and Mr.. Preston.
Indeed, In those days There was simplicity about
our great men seldom II ever seen now"
Next the city was divided up into four districts
and the force increased. Messrs Daniel z. Kealy,
Joseph W. Davis and DAM F. Hardness and my,
self were the Carriers When had the eastern
section, as you may well suppose, 1t was an all
but one delivery, I would start out at 8 O'Clock
and return from TO O'Clock In the evening 10
dinner. After serving some time as letter-ear:
rer was taken in on the moor OF the ONCE, and
there served twenty-five years. till Mr.. Lincoln's
administration, when resigned. During my Tim
ner, who served under President Polk; VIM. a.
Bradley, under Presidents Taylor and Fillmore;
Col Berret, under President Pierce. Then DR..
ton"
An oLD-TMB ROUTE AGENT.
MI. F. ]. Bartlett entered the washington post.
ONCE In 1s45 in President Folks time, first run
ming as route agent to Richmond. 1.-THE mail, "
he said to q STAR reporter. "was then carried on
by rail TO richmond It left washington at { a.
m, arriving at Richmond about p. m. Suisse
quently the steamer Powhatan was pla ed on the
route. Inext became letter-carrler, with NJ ssrs.
Trook, kealy, and J. T. C. Clark, and subsequently
obtained position 'on the door that is In the
Lambert Tree, W. Jones, N. P. Callan, Ricaa d
Lay, JAS A. Kennedy, and three or four do not
now remember, were In the ONCE. The work at
that time was very labOriOus, although the mails
were not near so heavy as at present Then there
was but one mail from the South daily, and not
Vincent r. jackson, and Jno. F. Tucker were let
ter-carriers In 1853 and Patrick Ryrne and Patrick
Sweeny were on the floor OF the Office about that
time. l well remember how President Pierc
then the lower floor OF the three old buildings on
9TH street adjoining the General Post-On1ce-the
street was the only part erected at that time Mr.
Pierce was one OF the plainest and most affable
men ever met. lie usually came In the evening,
and would always have some pleasant remark on
the 'wOl kShop OF the Government as he called
the ofice Il declare he would say, here you are
always busy and then add, Il Will take my private
letters II you please The letters in his box
would then be passed him and he would select
such as he desired, after making some comment
when he Identified The chirOgraphy. Sometimes
he would reach the Office after II had
been closed. When the clerks on duty heard
a knock after Office hours. II they were
busy they would call out go round One evening
about 30 gentle tap was heard on the window
and tue attendant sang out as usual go round,
meaning to the back door. The tapping was re-
peated and the attendant sung out rather en-
phaticaly why don't you go round as told you?
The Ia ter, however, being near the door, opened
the upper half when he was struck with ast0niSh-
ment by seeing the President; but recovering his
composure, h. bowed and apoogized and handed
out the M H. For some days. however, the Official
was apprehenS1ve that his command to go round
would cost him his Office"