New-York tribune., 1891-12-25

proportion were simply not known to the clerk and
only a small number comparatively were placed In
the wrong boxes
As consequence of the frequent examinations
and the constant attention to duty the clerks become
remarkably proficient in handling letters. 1t is an in
ercsting sight to watch the letters and papers fly
from the quick fingers OF the distributing clerks while
the train which bears them Is rushing on at speed
Of forty fifty miles hour. Each letter Is thrown
sometimes from considerable distance, into the con-
rect pige0n-hOe, and it rarely happens That even
the poor writing Of address causes the clerk long
to delay his decision the proper place to which
it should go.
The clerks many years ago adopted the habit Of
calling letters and other mail matter not addressed
to any postoice ilegibly incorrectly addressed
Mixes The Department has now adopted the wOru
and the official reports contain statement OF nike
matter handled by the cl'rks. over 210,Ooo pieces
of mail matter thus insuffcently addressed or on
which the postage has not been paid were sent by
The clerks last year 10 various designated post
Offices Nearly 100000 Of these letters were either
corrected and forwarded or were returned 10 inc
sender, and over 100000 were sent 10 tne n De.u
made by the clerks themselves Is also kept and II
appears that two or three times a. many ANY car errSS h e
handle them. Correspondents may therefore conclnde
when they find that their letters delayed In trans
mission that the chances are more than two to one
that the delay is due TO some mistake OF thclr own
The method BY a wch S5 te nOeF eD ol eces soe%ha
peculiar. Each package of letters received frOm the
front what is called facing sp"-a small piece Of
paper containing certain information "a to the letters.
connfed ON each trip. There Is an understanding,
founded on long experience that each slip shall count
rs forty letters because the most experienced clerks
decided that forty was the average number OF letters
in "a package At meetings of the railway mail clerks
and orclas, the question has sometimes arisen
been in use for many years, t,, ,,., S',ai mn
average number of pieces in package Is more than
forty, but change would Isder 1t lniGtible posi- Ito 70
which have passed, effort has been MADE 10 atef
the system OF counting. II is also agreed that 100
papers shall be counted the contents Of newspaper
sark because that number is about the average shown
from opening and counting many SACKS. 10y these
June 30. nearly 1000 100000 letters aud over 3,74o'
900 newspapers and pieces OF merchnGe % p %sre
of nearly 10 per cent the record OF the preceding
wear although the number of clerks only slightly
Ths % branch of the fosoiice Department is largely
Differed by Of long experience IN te postal ser
vice General superintendent James f. White has a been
He was brave soldier in the time OF Inc w war % ana
service most Of the time since the war and for nine
years was official Of the service at chicago. VII, -
second DIVISION is likewise veteran in the service.
and is known to most New;York business men; lie Is
mova by President Cleveland In TIE latter part OF III,
Presidential term severely criticised as an ACT 9
partisanshp. One of the first acts of the new Ad-
mnistraon was TO restore Mr. Jackson to the place he
had so long held Ills reappointment urged by
large number of the most widely known business men
of the city. lie OF the first TO introduce lhe
system Of examinations TO test the proficiency OF sp
pIicants for appointment and he has been consistent
pholder of the Civil service system since he hrst treo
some considerations make service In the railway
mail posofices desirable, In spite OF the hard work.
small pay and great danger. The officials holding
higher places in the service are usually sympathetic
and desrous 10 assist the clerks in any possible way
There is none OF the careessness Of the comfort and
well being Of their subordnates which makes clerical
sery1s la some departments unpleasant orenniLi-
n. Apr assisted the chief clerks aud superlrtcndents
are called into frequent conference . discuss methods
Of improving the service the PostmasteI-tcDeral him.
sef has pride In the record OF the servce BY
giving medals TO those clerks who pass the best ex
aminations the general superintendent repeatedly
urges upon Congress increased salaries and better
equipments for the clerks, and there is feeling Of