The record-union., 1891-11-19
MAIL THEM At HOME.
A Free Mail Collecting System VIII
Soon Be in Vogue.
Postal Facilities Being Worked Down
to a Fine Point-A Talk with
Postmaster Coleman.

when the free mail delivery system
was first adopted few years ago, people
thought that the very acme of perfection
IN postal manipulation had been reached, y
said Postmaster J. o. Coleman yesterday
20 RECoRD-UNIoN reporter.
and 1 guess they were about right,
too," rejoined the reporter.
''Of course they were-to certain ex-
cent" said Mr.. Coleman. "But," he con-
tinued, eff am informed correctly, and
Postmaster General Wanamaker sue
ceeds in little scheme he has in hand
now, the people will change their minds,
and conclude that the free-delivery idea
was only half-perfecting the system. His
plan now is to add the
FREE COLLECTING
Of letters-that is a house-to-house col
lection, you know-to the system. What
do you think Of that? His scheme is to
establish in every free-delivery town and
city force of collectors, who viii collect
letters, papers, packages and other mail
matter from dwellings and stores, so that
no one need ever be obliged to go outside
Of his domicile for the purpose of sending
mail matter. 1t is likely that the new
plan viii be put into operation early next
year-within few months in fact"
Mr.. Coleman then proceeded to give
the reporter some details regarding the
new scheme. The plans had been kept
quiet at Washington, he said, for some
Iime, until the POstmaSter-G General and
his advisers were satisfied that the scheme
was feasible.
1t appears that the idea was hit upon
accidentally
Nearly a year ago the department sent
out circular directed to inventors ask
ing them TO exercise their wits in devils
ing a suitable letter-box to be attached to
citizens doors in every free-delivery
town and city in the United States.
Nothing was thought Of a free collecting
scheme at that time. The circular sim
ply explained that a box was needed
which would save the postman's time IN
waiting for an answer to the door bell,
and to render mail delivery as rapid and
convenient as possible, both for the ben
eft Of the recipient and the postman.
HARD TO PLEASE.
In response to this circular Mr.. Cole
man said 400 models were submitted, but
none of them were deemed satisfactory,
and so a second circular to similar effect
was sent out. Ten hundred and thirty
i've models rewarded this second appeal,
and among the number several designs
were thought deserving of commenda-
ZION by the commission appointed to
Judge the competition.
Only one, however. was actually re-
commended, and this pattern received the
official approval of the PostmaSter-G GEN
eral. 1t is a mechanical marvel, at once
beautiful in its simplicity and admirable
N its effectiveness for the purpose con-
tempIated.
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 other
wise. 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 remove them. They
can only be taken ont from above by the
householder, who has a key for that pur-
pose. 1t is not necessary. however. for
he latter to open the receptacle every
time that he wishes to ascertain if it con-
tains anything.
THE SUGGESTION.
But what struck the postal authorities
most forcibly about this contrivance was
the fact that il was not only a receptacle
3or mail, but also delivered letters to the
postman for mailing. If the owner had
any letters to send, he simply dropped
5hem into a compartment attached to the
DOX. He can only do this after first lift
ng into view little target bearing red
disk two inches in diameter and the tar
anything remains in that compartment
The postman can see the exposed red disk
very easily from across the street. It
says: Here is mail to collect" He opens
q side door and takes out the letters. A
spring attachment serves to hold news
papers.
MORE DESIGNS.
This box set the Postmaster enerai to
thinking. He wondered if it would not
be possible to collect letters from all
houses as well as to deliver them. The
more he thought the matter over the
more convinced he became that it could
lie done. As a result he called for more
models, this time including the collecting
device. Another invoice was received,
and several clever devices were among
the lot.
one looks from the street like door
plate with a slit in it, Letters dropped
through the slit fall into receptacle in
side. y second receptacle holds mail in
tended for collection, and the putting of
it in lifts sign which is visible from
without. The pOstman puts his key into
lock. turns 1t, swings the whole door
plate open and takes out whatever has
been left for him. Another box is at
tached to the jamb of the front door, by
the shutting and opening of which it is
locked and unlocked. Still another is
intended to be built into the wall of a
house. so that it cannot be stolen.
y ct another, very highly approved, has
IN electric attachment. When the post
man drops mail a bell is set ringing.
furthermore, if an occupant of the sixth
story wants to know if there is letter in
the receptacle he can touch bell at his
elbow and find out. 1t will not ring un-
less there is something in the box This
device can be fixed with a simple slot in
the door, SO as to give notification of the
arrival of mail.
HOW TO ENFORCE IT.
''From what I have heard" said Mr..
Coleman, 1.-THE reports thus far circulated
regarding Mr.. Wanamaker's plan seem
TO have conveyed to the public the i'm
preston that the Postal Department is
going to furnish these boxes free. On
the contrary, each householder Will be ex-
Dected to buy his own box. At present
there is no law by which an individual
can be compelled to adopt such recep-
tacle and attach it to his front door; but
it has been suggested that Congress may
decree that any one who refuses shall be
obliged to go to the general delivery win
dow for his mail"
NAVTTRAT, GAS