The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-25
A PRIVATE POSTOFF|cE.
Mr.. Wanamaker Will Soon Be Able
to Furnish You One
for $40.
New Plan OF House-to- House Col.
lection to Be Inau9urated
Next Year. ".
A Marvellous Mechanical Contrivance, Ona
Among 1900 queer Specimens
Offered by Inventors.

Among 1900 Queer Specimens
offered by Inventors.
WASHINGTON, Oct 4.-When the house
TO- house method of delivering mails was
adopted, a few years ago. everybody thought
ii the ultimate achievement OF a perfected
postal system. Postmaster-General Wan
amaker is about to take step beyond in
the establishment of scheme for collect
ing letters, papers, and packages from
dwelling to dwelling and from shop to shop.
SO that no orc need never be obliged to go
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 tho coming year.
Last October a circular was issued by the
department. asking the inventors Of the
country to exercise their wits in devising a
suitable letter box for attaching to each
citizens door in every town and city in the
union. 1t was explained that the object
was to save the postrnan's time IN
waiting for an answer to the bell, and to
render the delivery of mail as conven-
lent to the recipient as possible. Require
ment was made that the receptacle should
be cheap neat in appearance, simple OF
operation, secure against thieves; and SO
constructed that its contents should be
protected against rain, sleet, snow and dust.
Furthermore, the mail was not to be access
ible at the same time to the postman and
the recipient.
In response to this advertisement 400
models were submitted, but none OF them
was deemed satisfactory, and go a second
circular to similar effect was sent out. Ten
hundred and thirty-fve models rewarded
this second appeal, and among the num-
ber several designs were thought deserving
of commendation by the commission ap-
pointed to judge the competition. Only
one, however, was actually recommended,
and this pattern will undoubtedly receive
the official approval Of the postmaster gem
eral some time within the next few days.
II is mechanical marvel, at once beauti-
full in its simplicity and admirable in its
effectiveness for the purpose contemplated.
The contrivance looks somewhat like an
ordinary lamp-post letter box on small
scale. II is attached to the front door, and
| ia rather decorativs than otherwise. The
postnnan comes along with mail matter to
deliver. He thrusts the letters into the
box from beneath, and they are retained in
such a manner that it 10 impossible to with
draw them. They can only be taken out
from above by the householder, who has a
key for that purpose. 1t is not necessary,
however, for the latter to open the recep-
tacle every time that he wishes to ascertain
if it contains ANYTHING. There is spring
4 at the bottom which yields readily to the
| touch if the box is empty; otherwise, sup
posing that even q postal card 10 inside. II
| is immovable. Supposing that the intended
recipient is inside the door, he is no.
OBLIGED to 20 outside in order to investi
gate, for little knob projects through thu
door panel which he has merely to pull il
or der to inform himself on the point. II i
fails to yield, there is letter; otherwis
the re is none. In a word, the owner upol
reaching home, or at any time while in
DOORS can learn by simply touching but
ton whether there is mail for him.
But this wonderful box is not only re
ceptncle for mail; it also delivers letters t.
the carrier for posting. II the owner ha
any missives to send he drops them il
through a slot at the top of the box. ii
can only do this after first lifting into view
little target bearing red disk two inche
in diameter, and the target cannot be shn
down again 80 long as anything remains II
that compartment. The postman can se
the exposed red disk very easily from
scross the street. 1t says: Here is mai
to Collect He opens side door and take
out the letters. A spring attachment serve
to hold newspapers. The whole device
costs $1.1O.
Several other kinds of boxes are com
mended, One looks from the street like
door plate with slit in it. Letters droppe'
through the slit fall into receptacle in
side. second receptacle holds mail IN
tended for collection. and the putting OF !
i'll lifts sign which Is visible from wan wan
out. The postman puts his key into lock
turns it, swings the whole door plate oper
and takes out whatever has been left fol
him. Another box is attached to the jan
, of the front door, by the shutting an.
opening of which it is locked and unlocked
Still another is Intended nana. 70 70 .,a .
It cannot be stolen. Yet another Yer
highly approved. has an electric attach
ment. When the postman drops mail be-
is set ringing. Furthermore, II an occu
pant of the sixth STORY wants TO know
there is letter in the receptacle, he ca
. touch a bell at his elbow and find out.
will not ring unless there is something |
! the box. This device can be liked with :,
simple slot in tho door, SO as to give notiti
cation of the arrival of mail.
II is not surprising that among the l,5c
!. and odd boxes submitted many Shout
q have been utterly nonsenslcal. owing
the INCb VuUL llOuoo lCphSt oO~SS -
K vertised for, thirteen different eontestan,
o sent in models made in the shape OF houses
. One of these is small cettage, the chin
8 ney of which can be lifted on hinge :
= receive letters, which tall 80 AZ to DO see
= through window of the miniature edihc'
Y Another curiosity is Il complicated arrange
: meut of machinery including putleys
= chains. weights and bells. The commi
. sion has sought in vain to discover ita pun
nose. Still another contrivance is i'll I'll
shape of IL book, hollow inside, and labeile
"Holy Bible" for attachment outside II
front door. Yet another is III the form {
], the American eagle painted IN nrlSI
: colors. An eccentrcity worth mentlonln
: ia a tin box painted black and as big MS a
Z ordinary bathtub.
I Reports thus far circulated respsctin
o these new boxes Of Mr.. Wanamaket's seel
: to have conveyed to the public the impres
: sion that the postoilice department. wlll pa
8 for them On tho contrary, each househo
o der will be expected to buy his own. 4
i present there is no law by which IN lnu
. yidual can DO compelled TO adopt such q II
j. ceptacle and attach 1T to his front 400
= but it has been suggested that conRre'
NAV decree that any one who refuses sha
bs Obliged to 90 to the general deliver
window for his mail. Another question
whether il will be demanded that any give
~ style OF receptacle shall be used. On 81
= whole il may be taken for granted that u
10 citizen will be- permitted to use box {
IA not aa he pleases. and that he will buy VI
~ kind which suits him best, There will be
i. IN udraa patterns on the market RA soon