New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-18
NEW- YORK'S LETTER CARRIER SERVICE.
POSTMASTER VAN CoTT's EXPLANATION OF WHY
IT IS NO DETER THAN IT Is.

IT is NO BETTER THAI IT Is.
Postmaster Van Colts attention having been called
TO certain criticisms, recently published. OF the letter
carrier service, more particularly in the more remote
suburban districts, he made the statement following TO
a Tribune reporter:
No one appreciates better than I the fact that, so far Is
some PORTIONS Of the city arc concerned, the delivery and
collection service is not as satisfactory as it should be.
nor as efficient as our citizens have O right 10 demandi
but nevertheless It Is as good rs the means at our com
mand will permit us to furnish. There IS a specific aDpro-
peiation made annually by Congress TO pay the cost OF
Free Delivery Serv1ce"' at the 454 postOficss where that
service is established. and the Post~master-Geners may
not. under penalty, expend moro than the amount so appro-
pria:ed. He must divide the sum placed az MS oisoosaa
among those Offices according to his best Judgment ana 50
~ 20 meet. as far as possible, tho reduirepents oil eaea
office: but though he may be satisfied that New'forN or
onv o,her large city. Is fairly entitled 10 a larger ntlnOer
OF carriers than be Is able TO allow, he cannot dlsreesfa
the claims Of other offices, nor give to any more han VI
equitable proportion Of the appropriation. Congress S'
dom. II ever. is willing TO grant the amount asked for by
the Postmaster. General for this purpose. ana INC conse-
mence L. that not only New-York. but other large eiues'
are left without the equipment necessary 70 o r~hy
efficient carrier service. But the fact remains tnat New
York has for q long time enjoyed br oeIeF NV !"
this direction than any other city In the Uhi*u s"tes'
AZ no other onice are the deliveries and collections 81 io
auent as In tho business districts and all the more thicAy
populated portions Of the city. VI course
compelled, in detailing 70 duty in the different paris VI
the city the force OF carriers We aC 0"t
ploy, to assign larger numbers 70 the business ana moss
ropulous districts than we do 20 the suburban dstrcs'
No other system would secure, with our Limited meMs'
1.-THE greatest good to the greatest NUMBER ana uOusA
l recognize the desirability Of giving a better service III
the outlying districts than we are at present a@e 70
furnish, l connot DO so at the expense OF a reducuou VI
the force-and q consequent dlninutiOn Of seFvice-in o'hef
parts Of Che city.
u is greatly 10 be desired that Congress shan
exercise the utmost hoerality IN inc m"u
90, foo daifNpry service, %
thai the Postmaster General may be enabled 70
make such allowances TO the larSr cities as Will permit
OF an efficient free delivery In all Oh theh' 10y inc IA'
annual report Of the Postmaster-''enefa IL is SHOWN NAV
the receipts from 'locaI postage Il. O., postage on matter
uosted in cities for delivery within their own naii'l eN
cecded by more than &, 100000 the cost Of maintaining
the service. This profit, Of course, accrue from ne
strictly local service at the larger cities, whore The hsi'
dsnts have frequent occasion to communicate WIN GAG"
other by means OF the local post; and experience mas
shown that for every additional carrier appointed az such
Office the additional local postase has been more tah
sufficient to cover the cost OF his Emporium"
Why Congress should hesitate 70 provide Ho'I'
ally. as an Investment. for a branch Of the service "hle'
PRODUCES such enormous profits, l cannot und'tsSnt-
especially when It is remembered that the dement's u
GOOD delivery service are not confined 20 the locality "h''
10 + established, but extend throughout the. entire county,
for IL 10 manifest that II a letter posted In Ne"-l"A
Philadelphia or Boston, and addressed 70 a remote N1
obscure village, must lie for hours In a street letter uN"
lack OF a sufficient force OF lcttrr.carrler, TO make mqvm
collections-or il a letter posted at the village ia que'"D'
and addressed 10 a large city fails OF ptonpt DEW " "
Its arrival .becanse the scanty force OF carriers vi" Nv
permit Of deliveries being made with sufficient hoql1nP-
the sufferer Is Quite as likely % be The reriden: q No
remote village as Is the Resident OF New-fork " Bo'"H
% or BY whom the letter Is sent.
Our carrier force is disposed OF according y our o~'
judgment and experience. II L Is not and &c cf""y /.
nosl sufficient 70 enable us 20 do ali that we know shouu %
done. and which We would be glad to DO, IL Is not o"
fault. There is, unfortunately, no hope for any ih'''o
In our force during the current fiscal year; and | can onv
hope that Congress may hereafter take alch q Vie" Oh w,
subject as will result in action that will do away WIN ."
reasonable ground Of complaint a. TO the carrier S"'"'
here and elsewhere.