New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18
Mry VINO NrMoElzE on 4 LArGE ScI1I
THE BIG BURDEN CARRIED By R,ILwN'
NAH. SERVICE CLERKS MIND

THE BIG BURDEN CARRIED BY \ RAILWAY
MAIL SERVICE CLERKS MIND
81 suppo~c that The clerk, in The Railway Mall
service lay. - exercise their mcu-iics moro than
any other cla,, Of persons" said victor j. Bradley
assistant superintendent u IN" Second sion of the
Railway Mail service. recently "F,r Instance. some
u the men of experience are expected f. haze the
situation Of 1000 or 10000 po-toncc, in h- country
fixed IN their minds When nan cutcr- the employ
Of h, branch of the Postal Department Of the Govern
ncnf he Is pat on probation for time lie {, a,
,igncd 10 hA in h- mind certain number Of postlf
within given time. and II he doe, tn, sat factorily
and 4, capable In other respects. he receives pcrma
ncnt appointment.
In the first six months II III, service lc Is bound
TO learn where about 900 places are situated. OF
course hcsin him that section ~ the country
IN which ne il, at work. 80 that h. Z, aided in hi,
mcmorizins by hi experience IN, next siA months
he expected 10 learn even greater number of Offices
and in four years In certain tn~c- must have at his
tongues end where between l. soc and 10000 post
Offices are aud be- able TO tell how 10 send mail mat
ter to them. Of course the viii forget some ont
Of this number but the percentage Is small
otherwise the clerk, could not keep their places.
The trouble about the whole Thing Is that the
cmployc, must be- examined periodically. no matter
how long They have been in the service. that wc
make they have not ceased reviewing tcr lessons
\ man might have al hl> Office committed to memory
aud yet forget many of them ia or two. II hr
did not keep mp his studying. Nv the time men learn
the la,t Of their $1,000 names they have forgotten
Of The hr, ones, their task is an endlc-s
The mere committing 10 memory Of the best way
10 send letter to it, addrcs, not all iha is Npcccd
If our men. They must also know something Of the
les advantageous routes and the time, at who
train, which carry the mail, reach Intermediate points
IL sometimes happen, thai the train on which the
clerk J., work meets with DELAY. and he cannot
,,i.a tb.. Ip
"a e. he must have clear idea Of how he can send
the pouches other route. that they Will
reach their destinations with as little loss time a,
possible. Ofteniim"s tins will compel him 10 re
assOrt III, mall that he can send part OF II
and part another. Again, he may have unusually
large amount of mail matter 10 handle. that. in
,plie q the utmost diligence he cannot have the
letters, packages. new spaper~ etc. properly assorted
when the train reaches station WHERE some of tue
pouches 10 be thrown Oh. in such he must
Change the scheme OF su:tment. getting ready a
much mail ~ lie cnn, aud sending tie rest back a.
soon A. possible. \ must have clear, cool
head on his shoulders, and be able 10 plan long
rampaig of railroad connections and routes In his
mind.
" In spite Of the qualifications and study needed %
make satisfactory railway mail service clerk the
nav of tue j. poor, promotions are slow and the
tenure IL oihcc hy no means 10 dependent on good
behavior ~ Il might be-. The highest annual salary
eight or nine years u reach that grade. No. a place
i'm th. service j, not tine most desirable one IN the
world a, mot of the 5000 men who in 10 Will