New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-24
LETTERS BY THE MILLION.
THE WORK OF THE BUSIEST POsTOFFICE In
AMERICA.
IMPROVEMENTS WHICH Mr. VAN COLT HAS IN
TRoDuCED-HIs ARMY OF sUBoRDINATEs
THE DUTIES OF THE VARIOUS


TRoDUcED-HIs ARMY OF sUBoRDINATEs
THE DUTIES OF THE VARIOUS
DEPARTMENTS.
Thirty feet under ground and fifty feet above srouna
and on almost every floor between those extemes 81
the great New-York Postoflce building hundreds "
clerks are busy day and night distributing ana us
patching TO all parts of the world messages Oh o'
ness of friendship. of Joy and OF affection outs.u'
seventeen branch stations other clerks are as ous,
cupIed in attending to the needs OF Important Da.
ness or residence centres. Twelve hundred o"'
are collecting from early dawn till late In the eve"
ing the letters deposited at 500 street letter ooAes
In bringing to tho of the ledger in the meAn.9
tenement as well as TO the great business houses ~
trivial or important messages OF correspondents
and far. Money and securities oil great Na'uo
passing through the we'll guarded rooms OF inc re
try department and quarter Of million dollars "oil
are received or paid out in the money orer ucp'
ment One hundred thousand dollars week are u'
posted with the United states sub-Treasury' anu
daily NET revenue of 10000 swes the funds IN INC
National Treasury as the result Of the operations "
the New-York Postofice.
THE PosTMAsTER's HANDSOME ROOM
The head Of this great office sits at desk III 'no
centre Of largo and handsome room in the froht VI
the Postofice building from which high WINDOWS anol
a view of the busy junction of broadway ana r"'"
Row and the lofty high buildings along the lo"o'
part of the clty's great thoroushfare. hu."
larger and finer room than mine at Washington wa
postmaster G eneral Wanamakers exclamation when ~
first saw II. The walls are Handsomely hescoeu' az"
rich carpes and comfortable chairs and lounges acorn
~ D,lt the room IS for rather than ornament a"'
the busy officials who occupies 1t has rarely iels
bour behind the Postmasters desk on r large
SQUARE stand are displayed dozens OF little IVORY ouV
TONS bearing words numbers. designating all tue VI"
partments and bureaus OF the Posofce and inc fos'
master by touching Of these buttons may suml''
bv an ctrc bell the head OF any division OF the ono"
for consultation or instruction. Messengers and cer
arrive constantly with bundles OF documents lor inv
signature Of the Postmaster, and when not other"So
occuried the head OF the Office may be busy III slghe
the thousands of checks required each month TOT 'po
navmsnt of the clerks and other employees. The mum
Der of signatures daily required is enormous ana III
oil the great office only one official is recognized by inc
! covcrnment In the New-Yorf Postofiice as well as
IN the smallest roads office, every paper loh''
order or letter must bear the signature OF lhe Po,
! master although assistants and CLERKS may sign '0
na,,o IN many cases. The whole business of the
oeicc feels the impulse of his personality JUST d o
electric bells i'm every department answer 10 the press
ure Of his fnger on the ivory buttons.
Mr.. VAN CoTr's DAILY ROUND of DUTY
CorneIius Van Colt the present postmaster Is
ueual1v at the desk I'm his office from O'Clock IN c
morning until in the afternoon but his lie Is h''"
more active physically than that OF his preuecesso
pos,raster Pearson never left his desk till late In inc
arernoon even 10 obtain luncheon He attended 10
minnie and troublesome details, never took honnay
wrote figured, thought and studied constantly "ihou
rooari for his health or pleasure died OF over
work az forty-three years. Postmaster van 'ot
leaves much Of the detail work to his trusted sun
ordnatss Postmaster Pearson rarely visited inc
branch stations in the later years OF MS ohcai "oN
vr Van Cott. however makes frequent visits OF in
nd n
of the main postOflce He keeps closely acqua'h'e"
With the work OF his suboriinaes we'll as with the
needs OF the public, and is constantly deVlsng I'M
! rrovcd methods lie has carraneed ana supul'I"''
| anew the work OF the Office lie mas added ne"
branch station has caused the establishing OF scores
- 1891 oh s,atIons for the sale Of stamps and money
1ors has perected plan for the quicker collection
n, the mails. and has spent much
time in devising improvements In the Post
office building by which the clerks may nave moro
| bealthful quarters and the public may more CON
veniently transact business with tho office. In his
habits Mr. Van Colt IS plain. approachable and
business-like He did not like TO be alone in the
large room provided for his accommodation and he
has caused desks be placed in 1t for some OF his
assistants lie has opened the man doors TO the
corridor which remained closed in Mr.. Pearsons time
and visitors ars now introduced Immediately into
! the Postmasters room instead Of into that of the
Assistant Postmaster. He is courteous TO all visitors
and listens patiently TO suggestions and complaints
He consults frequently with the heads of all the i'm
| portant departments.
Mr.. Van Colt IS tall and dignfcd in person He is
not great alker but his conversation is suggestive
and thoughtful IL is popular with his suborlinates
and espcclav attracts the clerks by his plain and
assuming manners. The morning hours at his Office
are usually spent in examining important cor
respondcnce. debating letters and receiving reports
from the heads of departments. Visitors seek him on
! every imaginable Grand. Ons wishes simply to pay
his COMMITMENTS another has complaint to MAXI and
Is referred 10 the head Of the appropriate department
third IS an old political friend, TO whom the greeting
extended f.. hearty. but who finds that oiceeekers
have little room for hope in the narrow list of personal
amendments In the gift Of the Postmaster Every
visitor must expect Interruptions from the messenger
or clerk bearing letters and papers for the signature
of the Postmaster, but Mr. Van Colts pen begins 10
move almost mechanically over the paper, and he
listens 10 tn, talk Of the visitor while he glances
at each new paper and appends his nam. Early IN
the afternoon the Postmaster takes breathing spell
out of doors. glass Of his iaVonp
beverage-milk- affords refreshment occasionally
| in Lusv hours The later hours Of the
afternoon II not occupied at the Office, are spent by
Mr. Van Colt in visiting one of the stations accom-
| panied By superintendent +. NJ. Morgan The Post
master greatly enjoys the brisk walk down and NJ
broadway on the way to and from his office
JAMES GAy1oR. THE VETERAN ASSISTANT.
He has time 10 devote 10 considering plans for tn
improvement Of the service by surrounding himsei
with experienced aids, to whom he can entrust I'M
great mass Of detail incident to the transaction
Posonce affairs. First OF these is James Gaylor
the veteran Assistant Postmaster. lie has held III
present place for nine years and his reappoin'meh
was Mr.. Van Cotts first official act. lie Is I'M
encyclopedias Of the Office He served as postonc
Inspector and in various other capacities before Oh
tanning his present place. and he has at his command
ready knowledge Of the complicated laws and iegn
lations governing the work of the office All TN
contracts with steamships and trans portation line
pass under his observation. To him are referred
questions TO whether certain doubtful articles ar