St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-25
TO HAPPY HUNDREDS,
The PoStoffice OVepPun With
the Precious Packages Of
Gifts.
Thousands Upon Thousands
Of Parcels in and Out by
Each Post.
Almost a Blockade at Each Of
the City Express Head
quarters.
The Amenities of the Gift
Season Surely Generally
Observed.

The volume of business was so great
in the St.Paul postoffice for the past few
days that every available person was
drawn upon and worked to his full abil-
ity in waiting upon the public. The
cause of this state of affairs is hem
orrhage Of ante Christmas business.
Even the superior officials have vOlnn-
teered to assist in duties usually devOlv-
ing upon the clerk at the windows. For
instance, for several days Supt. of
Mails Negaard has done excel
lent service at receiving win
dow i'll weighing packages. The
volume of business has been some
what larger this year than previously.
The holiday rush began a day or two
earlier this year than formerly. and thus
has given better opportunity to start
the matter to its destination with greater
dispatch. The wrapping of the pack
ages has been much improved. The
poStOtfice officials attribute the mailing
of packages earlier and their wrapping
in better form to the discussion of the
subject by the newspapers. This re-
form, however, has not been universal,
as some packages were brought
in from the stores with ordinary
light paper wrappers, and it
viii NC ny SHCIo luCh ii lHci Stt W tuelI
destination, as the addresses may be
torn off. Some of the packages were
addressed with lead pencil, and are
liable to DE rubbed off. Others still
were deposited i'll the office with no adj
dress, and if not called for will find
their way to the dead letter Office. De-
caSlOnally package is found which is
tied with ordinary sewing thread. As
all packages not bearing letter
postage are subject to inspection,
it is mere chance if many reach
their destination when not done up
with good wrappers and Irvine.
The bundles that have gone from the
st. Paul office during this week amount
TO many wagon loads of extra matter,
and a cOrrespOndingly large amount has
been received for distribution. The
bundles vary in size from finger ring
Enclosure to size that cannot be taken
In at the receiving window. They i'll
clude almost all conceivable articles of
merchandise, except wheelbarrOws and
bicycles, and include even hats and
bonnets. A story is told of one package
containing a letter and finger ring;
the miSsive stated that the sender never
had the courage to propose In person,
but if the recipient would consent to
wear the ring they would consider
themselves engaged.
On Wednesday between zoo and 500
registered packages were sent to Chi
cago alone, besides the great number
sent to other places. This shows an i'm
mense volume of business for one day,
when it is taken into consideration that
not one package in hundred is regis
tered. This plethora of business has
continued several days and will doubt
less extend over several future days.
The registry department yesterday was
filled up with about score of large
mail bags containing registered pack
ages ready for shipment. ------
The mail carriers In the city are having
hard work of it. Every carrier that goes
out is loaded down to the guards.
Packages are strung all over them tied
with Irvine. In one instance yesterday
the mail Gag of a carrier had sidebOards
on it as high as the mans head. He
got piecesgOf cloth and stuck them in
his pouch and then filled in to the top
with packages. In case of many large
packages. the person to whom they are
addressed is notified by card TO cali at
the pOStOffice for his package, as it is
too cumbersome to be delivered by car
rier.
The delivery windows will be open
until 10 o'clock this morning. The car
riers will make one delivery. The
money order and registry departments
will not be open during the day.