New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-04
STEEL LETTERBOXES SUGGESTED.
THOSE NOW IN USE TOO EASILY BROKEN BY
ROBBERS.

ROBBERS.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The breaking Of lamppost letter-bcx, which
was struck by heavy express truck and Knocked from
It's fastenings, illustrates to great extent the aosud
Of attempting TO make anything like safe letterbox
from cast-iron. And it would seem that While orr
engineers and builders long ago recognized the many
defects In castiron and the Importance OF dispensing
with It's use in all places where wrought-ron or steel
could he substituted our Postoffce authorities have
like Rip Van Wrinkle, been asleep in the woods. Not
many years ago all vessels were constructed Oh
wood with iron and copper fastenings. Today they
arc constructed entirely Of STEEL and you have only TO
compare the two to realize how absurd 1t would be to
continue the use Of the former 1t is equally as true
of our railroads. that formerly constructed with
wooden bridges and iron rails. they are now laid with
steel rails and equipped with steel and woughtir0n
bridges There Is castron used to-day In structures
where formerly thousands Of tons were used and why
Simply because it is considered unsafe its brittle nature
making 1t liable to break at the least blow or Shock
Even the contraction expansion under varying tenn
pcratures will thin castlron TO crack. and the
crack is not noticed until the metal is put In service
This was particularly the with carwheels, which
were formerly made of castiron. but which are now
made OF separate centres and rolled steel tires
No doubt. much praise is due POstmaster-Gencral
wanamaker for his endeavor to provide safe lamppost
boxes and his contemplated ontdoor boxes, that Will
Il
But the fact nevertheless remains that in the way Of
street etterboxes practical improvement has been
made for many years 1t is true that Mr.. Wanamsker
or his predecessor made an attempt to improve the
security Of the lamp-post boxes Dy providing box
with drop cover, which The Tribune most appro-
pratey termed the "Pgs-lnclover puzzle leterbox,"
as II required the knowledge of the Inventor and two
hands to deposit letter. Only last week, in rain
Storm saw gentleman endcavorEg to deposit a
letter In one Of these boxes with one hand, while lie
held the lid open and umbrella over his head at
the same time with the other. sudden gust Of wind
blew the umbrella out of his hand, and in his effort
70 catch tho umbrella he dropped the letter in the
street. and am sure that Mr. Wanamaker would not
care to hear that gentlcnan's language I'm expressing
his views Of that lcerbox presented to his Sunday
school class in Philadelphia. have since thought
how innocenty Mr.. Wanamaker has provided with
profanity cultvatlng device.
Aside from this, however, Mr. wanamaker must con-
slider this question: Is 1t possible to make safe
etterbox out Of castronl 1t is not necessary to ask
this question OF an expert. for who has had
ttc experience with cast-ron and a slight knowledge
of mathematics safely answer 1t with a big No
and whyi because any desiring to steal the mail
can hit the side front Of the box with lead or
copper hammer with sufficient force to smash In tho
side. and make very little noise In doing so and, even
II this should make too much noise in thickly settled
dist,cts, screw-clanp could he employed. and the
sides of the box forced broken in. without making
sufficient noise to be heard ten feet from the spot.
This being the case. what good fopdown lids or
Yale locks as applied to castiron boxes, Steel boxes
can be made burglar proof they can be made lighter
and no amount OF pounding knocking about would
break them. Thus great saving would be had to the
Government and better security to the public. etc.
] should think there ample opportunity for Mr..
Wannamaher to make some substantial improvements
in this direction. and to leave behind him something
his administration.
NcwYork, Get. %, 1901. "PROGRESS.n