New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-11
THE NEW. YORK PoSTOFFTCE.

II was not without full comprehension OF
| the benefits TO be derived from such course
| that the President put an exceptionally sue
cassfnl business man at the head Of the Post
| office Department. There Is no Department
| in which quick business instinct is 40 neceS-
sarv. and in which decided executive ability
can make itself felt so promptly in the daily
life of almost every citizen. MIR. Wanamaker
has achieved a remarkable business success by
virtue Of the very qualities that are most
needed in q Postmaster General, and we are
beginning to see now that President Harrison
exercised wise forethought In choosing him.
One evidence of this is the fact that the Post
master G General has Joined the commission ap-
pointed to consider the needs OF the New ork
Postoffice, and has turned his own shrewd and
practised eye upon every detail Of the inner
workings OF that great institution. This may
seem "A small thing, but 10 Is stated, and we
have no doubt correctly, that Mr.. Wanamaker
Is the only Postmaster General in recent times
who has done this, except Mr.. James, who
graduated from the New-York PostOfice, and
who, II he had been permitted TO remain at the
head of the PoStoffice Department, would have
remedied long years ago the disabilities under
which the Now York POstoffice still suffers.
Most of our PostmasterS-G General, at least Of
late years, have been Western men, and have
seemed to fall under the influence Of the
provincial prejudices against New-York City
which prevail in some sections Of the West
They have been unable TO SEQ that the efficiency
of the New-York Postoffice was Of vast impOr-
tanoe 10 the whole country, not only because II
T., hnt honanaa ia N nna
sense, the heart Of the whole system Of dis
tribution. II is not an eSaggeration to say that
the whole country would. feel the benefit Of such
an Increase In the clerical force Of the New
York Postofflce as Mr.. Pearson vainly pleaded
for, and Mr.. Van Colt has also asked Tho
clogging. up Of the arteries Of distribution here
for the lack Of proper facilities means more or
less delay in q large proportion of the mails
going toevery part OF the country, but for some
reason 10 has not been possible TO convince the
postoffice Department Of this crying need. Mr..
Pearson struggled on as best he could, and Mr..
Van Cott might have had b d. the same II 1t
had not been for the advent Of u practical brs-
ness man at tho head Of the Departmental man
who res Lies the virtue Of organization, prompt
ness and dispatch in conducting large bust
ness, anu VINO KNOWS uhb WntTS UtS pair VI
hands must do the work Of two II will not be
done 30 well or so rapidly as It should be.
But besides these considerations affecting the
efficiency Of the Postofiicc here as q feeder Of
the whole system, there are urgent local needs
which should he supplied. Tie city needs
much larger number of station postoffices There
has been little effort to keep pace with the
growth of the West Side,' and in nearly four
miles of territory In that section now grown
into continuous city there is no station post
Office and residents depend for stamps upon
the favor Of tradesmen. In all parts Of tho
city the number Of these stations is much too
small. An increase in their number would I'M
doubtedly quicken the delivery Of letters by
shortening the circuit they would have TO make.
The problem of mailing newspapers, ETC.. is
difficult one As IL is now, persons who wish TO
mail newspaper either lay It on the top Of q
etter-box at the risk Of having II stolen, and in
the hope that the collector may be obliging
enough TO take il with him, or they must carry
it, miles In some cases, to the nearest station.
However, it will not do to expect too much at
once, and IL the needed increase can be made
in the clerical force of the PoStoffice, and some
addition rendered possible to the number OF
stations, we shall feel that long step has been
made in the right direction.