The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-29
OUR POSTOFFICE.
Changes and improvements Made
Therein.
Postmaster Bentons Report to Marshall Cush
ing on the Condition of His Depart
ment at the Latter's Request.

Not long ago Marshal Gushing, Postmas-
ter-General Wanamaker's private secre-
tary, addressed a letter to Postmaster Ben
ton, making the following request:
Be good enough TO write me at your earliest
convenience statement, clear, complete and
detailed, and not too modest, of your successes
since you have been poslm ster WHAT have
you done? What caused you TO do it? How
did you do 1t: What have been tue beneficial
effects OF your having done il, and what does
your having done it suggest: My idea is to
give others the advantage. as much as possible,
OF your originality and enterprise.
MARSHALL CUSHING.
In response Mr. Benton sent the follow
ing letter, which has been returned TO him
by Mr.. Gushing with a hearty endorsement,
and with the suggestion tina 1t be published
On being officially advised Of my appointment
as postmaster at This city l invited the en-
ployees of the postoffce, with my worthy assist
ant 10 my home for the purpose Of discuss ng
the workings Of the office how the same could
be improved and the public given number one
service.
After three of these meetings. an giving the
employees to understand that they were pfoni-
nent factors in the situation, and that l had
their best interests at heart we started to
gether July l. 1891, to make model office.
My first step was to appoint head to each
department, give him entire charge and hold
him re sonally responsible for anything that
went wronE.
to be di courteous or curse the men under them,
but TO the contrary encouraged them to always
be cheerful, pleasant, and do their share Of tie
work. in fact. lead them.
The confidence thus imposed in nv men gave
them new zeal. and they found their work more
a pleasure than a burden.
My next move was to set into new quarters,
and urged the depa tment to make the selec-
ion of sites so that the new office could be COM
leted by winter.
Mr.. Dooly, the owner OF the building and fix.
lures. kindly gave me the drawing and selecting
of the plans and materials, and without f1aLtery
to myself, think have one OF the best CON
structed, planned, lighted, and most convenient
Offices in the United States.
| The lock boxes in the old office numbered SEQ:
my new office contains !, 500.
Instead of one carriers window 1 have six in
my new office.
The prices of boxes IN old office were So for
| large and SL50 for small per quarter, or S. and
| s. per year.
Regardless of my own financial welfare have
had reduction caused in box rents of new
Office commencing July |, 1891, to 81 per year for
large boxes. and So per year for small boxes
My carriers force has been increased by four
new carriers, my district being enlarged both
north, 81 h. east and west. Number of new
boxes put up. fifteen.
| My clerical force has been increased four men.
MY revenue for the year end No March II,
1891, exceeded the previous year by S2l,9i4, and
my revenue for the quarter ending June 30
1891, exceeded the quarter for $50, 81, 200.
| 1t has always been my aim TO solicit com
plants and so rectify them.
In my meeting business men always ask
| them If they are perfectly satisfied with the
service. If not am oDen TO suggestions The
reply invariably is Gould not BETTER it. We
are having the best service given us for twenty
years.
If necessary we can relieve any man in the
Office, and have the work go along smoothly,
! If every postmaster would take a personal
| interest in his men, treat them as his eoual
give them words Of cheer and encourage ment
have good order and discipline, give them all 10
understand If they cannot perform their work
cheerfully. and without grumbling or Sinking,
you will find men to take their places, 1 will
wager any amount that the postal service of
this country cannot be excelled.
! a postmaster should have a nice ADVERTISING
| case showing all styles of envelopes, CIRCULAR
stamps, etc., with prices thereon; this would
be Of great help and swell the revenues /
made an application for one, but have no reply
! to same.
Ny office is like my men-cheerful and lizlt
and all Of my men are sober, Industrious, hon.
est and temperate men. / C aim for my office
that it cannot be excelled i'll anything.
your kind words have very much encouraged
me in my new field of labor, and desire to ex.
press TO you my sincere thanks for same.
RYCAPITULATIoN.
What have you done?''
l have secured the best once in the west
Have re rganized this office aud am now Civ
ing .he best of service. Have enlarged the
carriers districts; have additional carriers
| thereby giving great satisfaction TO the people.
| What caused you to do it;''
personal desire TO make success for my
self and bring credit upon this administration
How did you do itf'
BY hard, earnest work and close application
to business.
what have been the beneficial effects OF
your having done it!'
Good service. few complaints respect of the
public, personal satisfaction and the know
! edge that the public are convinced that Hon
John Wanan.aker is determined to have a
model department. Very respectfully,
IRVING A. BENTON, z. NJ