Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-17
FRONT DOOR POST OFFICES.
Every Citisen Soon 70 Mail His Lseters on
HE Own Doorstep.

WHEN THE HOUSE HOUSE METHOD
w Of delivering mails was adopted = few
years ago everybody thought it the ultimate
achievement of Q perfected postal system.
Postmaster General wanamaker is about to
take step beyond. in the establishment Of .
| scheme for collecting letters, papers and pack
ages from dwelling 10 dwelling and from shop
to shop, 90 TINT no one need ever be obliged to
60 outside Of his domicile for the purpose Of
sending such matter in Uncle Sans care. The
new plan will be put into operation early in the
coming year.
Last October . circular was Issued by the
department asking the inventors of the country
to exercise their wits in devising . suitable
letter box for attaching to each citizens door
in every town and city in the Union. Il was
explained that the object was to save the
postmans time in waiting for an answer to
the bell and to render the delivery of mail as
convenient to the recipient as possible. Re-
quirement was made that the receptacle should
be cheap, neat in appearance, simple OF opera
that it's contents should be protected against
rain, sleet, snow and dust. Furthermore, the
mail was not to be accessible at the same time
to the postman and the recipient.
In response to this advertisement 400 models
we're submitted, but none of them was deemed
satisfactory, and 30 second circular to similar
effect was sent out. Ten hundred and thirty
five models rewarded this second appeal and
among the number several designs were
thought deserving Of commentator by the
commission appointed for judging the competi-
ton. Only one, however, was actually recon-
mended, and this pattern will undoubtedly re-
ceive the ofncial approval of the Postmaster
General some time within the next few days. 1t
is q mechanical marvel, at once beautiful in its
simplicity and admirable in its effectiveness
for the purpose contemplated.
TIE MODEL RECOMMENDED.
The continuance looks somewhat like an
ordinary lamp post letter box on a small SCALE
1t is attached to the front door and is rather
decorative than otherwise. The postman comes
along with mail matter to deliver. He thrusts
the letters into the box from beneath, and
they are retained in such manner that it is
impossible to withdraw them. They can only
be taken out from above by the householder,
who has key for that purpose. However. it
is not necessary for the latter to open the re-
ceptacle every time that he wishes to ascer-
tain If 1t contains anything. There is q
spring Ut the bottom which yields, rapidly
TO touch If the box is empty;
otherwise. supposing that even postal card is
inside, 1t is immovable. Surprising that the in
tended recipient is inside the door. he is not
obliged to go outside in order to investigate,
for little knob projects through the door
panel. which he has merely to pull in order to
yield there is a letter, otherwise there is none.
In other words, the owner upon reaching
home, or at any time while indoors. can learn
by simply touching button whether there is
mail for him.
But this wonderful box is not only a recep-
tac!e for mail, it also delivers letters to the
rler Tor posting. If the owner has any mis-
slves to send he drops them in through slot
at the top of the box. He can only do this
after first lifting into view little target bearing
rod dlsL fOn nnha in sar al
cannot be shut down again so long as anything
remains in that compartment The postman
can see the exposed red disk very easily from
across the street. 1t says: ''Here is mail to
collect" He opens side door and takes out
the letters A spring attachment serves to
hold newspapers. The whole device only costs
S1.10.
OTHER MODELS COMMENDED.
Several other kinds Of boxes are COM
mended. One looks from the street like a
door plate with a slit in it. hetters dropped
through the slit fall into a receptacle inside. A
second receptacle holds mail intended for col
lection. and the putting Of it in lifts sign
which is visible from without. The postman
puts his key into a lock, turns it. swings the
whole door plate open, and takes out whatever
has been left for him. Another box is attached
to the jamb Of the front door, by the shutting
and opening Of which it is locked and un-
locked. Still another is intended to be built
lHtO tu6 wall Oh mousse, SO tlat
it cannot be stolen. Yet another, very
highly approved, has an electric attachment.
When the postman drops mail a bell is set
ringing. Furthermore, If an occupant of the
sixth story wants to know if there is a letter in
the receptacle he can touch a bell at his elbow
and find out. 1t will not ring unless there is
something in the box. This device can be
fixed in connection with a simple slot In the
door SO as to give notification of the arrival Of
mail.
4. Il. . .x. Z
odd boxes submitted many should have been
utterly nonsensical. Owing to the fact that
house letter boxes" were advertised for, thr-
teen different contestants sent in models made
in the shape of houses. One of these is a small
cottage, the chimney of which can be lifted on
hinge to receive letters, which fall 50 as to be
seen through window OF. the miniature
edifice. Another curiosity Is compli-
Gated arrangement Of machinery, in
cluding pulleys, chains, weights and bells.
its purpose. Still another contrivance is in
the shape Of book, hollow inside and labeled
holy Bible" for attachment outside the front
door. Yet another is in the form Of the Ameri-
can eagle, painted n bright colors. An eccen-
tricity worth mentioning 10 q tin box painted
black and as big as an ordinary bath tub.
THE CITIZENS MUST PAY FOB THEM.
Reports thus far circulated respecting those
new boxes Of Mr.. wanamaker's seem to have
conveyed to the public the impression that the
Post Office Department will pay for them. On
the contrary each householder will be expected
to buy his own. At present there is no law by
which IN individual can be compelled to adopt
such q receptacle and attach 1t to his front
door; but 1t has been suggested that Congress
may decree that any one who refuses shall be
obliged to 60 to the general delivery
window for his mail. Another question
is whether it will be demanded that
any given style OF receptacle shall be
used. On the whole it may be taken
for granted that the citizens will be permitted
to use a box or not, as he pleases, and that he
will buy the kind which suits him best. There
will be a hundred patterns on the market as
soon as the new arrangement has gone into
effect, and he can suit himself as to price, from
Is cents upward. No prize was offered in that
competition save the glory Of approval by the
department. which would necessarily be o big
advertisement. Manufacturers will presume
bly, do the repairing at cheap rate One re-
suit Of the novel departure Is likely to be q
cutting down Of the force of letter carriers in
every city, it being estimated that one-half the
present number could do the work il everybody
adopted the system.
cRANKs BORE THE DEPARTMENT.
Speaking Of cranks, tho Post Office Depart
ment is necessarily besieged by lunatics Of all
sorts. Some Of them want letters hunted M
that were missed as far back as the beginning
Of the century. Heirs to imaginary property