Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-26
HOW II HAS GROWN
julius Cesar Discusses the Or
igin and Growth
OF The CITY CARRIER SYSTEM
II Began Win Five Gamers September
1883, When A b. Turner Was
Acting as Postmaster.

veteran mail carrier, VINO resigned ms
position few days ago. 10 a reporter
FOR IHE HERALD yesterday: 81 went TO
work as carrier November l, 1873. The
Hon. Aaron b. Turner was postmaster
and the Office was located where the
present Eagle building now stands.
Frank GodfrOy was assistant postmas-
ter. and Martin l.. Meils was appointed
uperlntendent OF carriers. After
wards Mr.. Melis was made assistant
postmaster ana +. Mllmine was ap-
pointed superintendent OF carriers.
There were i've carriers when the sys-
tenn started. They began work Sep
tember /, 1878. | was appointed sub
carrier at the same time and was made
a regular carrier November !, 1873.
The i've carriers that started were
Charlie Shattuck, Romeo Lemoreaux,
Raymond MeGowan, Charlie Big
nell, and John SOnke. Mr..
McGowan resigned at the end of two
months and l was made regular car
uer. We had rather large districts in
| those DAYS. Nine, for instance, ex-
tended from Fulton street TO Bronson
/ street, or what's now Crescent avenue,
! ana to East street. East street was
I then the city limits. We made one de-
| livery Il day TO the residence por ton of
the city and three 10 the business por-
! ton. We made part of our district IN
/ the morning and the rest of II IN the
/ afternoon. 1t WAS n large extent of
| territory for Us 10 cover and we used TO
work from twelve TO fourteen hours q
| day.
Had No Vacations.
eve didn't have any vacations
| either, but ground right along ram or
| shine. Now the carriers each receive
/ fifteen days' vacation at the expense OF
/ the government, We started on 5000
| year and were afterwards raised to
/ 500. Finally we received $500. One
/ veal, | don't remember which one 1t
/ was so long ago, our salaries were all
| reduced per cent. | think it was
| used for campaign expenses, but some
/ excuse was made.
| AT the close of General Grants adj
ministration Mr.. Turner's term of office
| expired and Peter Il. l.. Pierce was ap-
/ pointed. Under him Mr.. Melis was as
| s!stant postmaster and Will Il. Earl
/ was superintendent of carriers. The
number of carriers had been increased
| to eight, but the districts had not been
| materially changed.
Mr.. Pierce deed before hi. term of of
| fee had expired and President Hayes
| appointed l.. l.. Gallup to fill the va
cancy. Several minor changes were
| made IN the carrier system during this
time; but nothing of Importance oc-
Cured. The principal thing connected
with the department during the time
| Mr.. Gallup was postmaster was the
| construction Of the present postoffice
and government building. We moved
INTO the new Office before the explra-
ton of Mr.. Gailup's term.
Ii. l.. Moore succeeded Mr.. Gallup
and held the Office for four years. A
great many of the old carriers dropped
| out during his administration ana new
ones were appointed. New districts
We're added and new appointments
made.
Was Generally Shaken Up.
The office received q general shaking
up at the expiration of Mr.. MOore's
term. Cleveland was elected president
and James Blair was made postmaster
had been delivering campaign speech
es most of the fall preceding election
and expected when Mr.. Cleveland was
elected that my head would 60 INTO
the basket. Most of us expected to 60
at TINS time. This was the first change
inthcp politics of the administration since
the system had been adopted. But none
of US were dropped for political reasons
Mr.. Blair called me into his Office and
requested me not to make any more
campaign speeches during his term of
office. That was fair request and
kept my mouth shut about politics for
o -. 60 e..
changes IN the department during Mr.
Blair's administration, except those
that would naturally occur. Mr.. Blair
held the Office four years and seven
months. 1t was at the end of his term
that the famous postofiice fight oc-
Cured between Fred Clark and Colonel
Pierce. The fight was bitter and
Colonel Briggs finally received the ap-
pOlntment. At the beginning of Colonel
Briggs term OF Office there were thirty
three carriers: but the number was in
creased last August to thirty-slX.
civil Service Examinations.
The fret civil service examination
was conducted in 1886, during Mr..
Rlair's term OF office. Aaron Sihley,
Charles Hall and Mr.. Lyon were ap-
pointed civil service examiners, aud
l
have been regular institutions since,
but I never had 10 take one. was
/ appointed by Mr.. Turner without any
preliminary tests whatever. I could
read and speak the German. Holland
and English languages, aud so he
wanted me to be carrier. agreed
but forgot to come the right day. not
/ visiting the Office until the day after.
All frc voefttgns sra~n Ffled fhor tr4
Nr. Turner promised me the FIRST va
csncy. and 10 came in two months.
/ carried mail on the hill district until the
/ change was made, August ]. 1921. 10
began 20 get little hard for me and
when the changes were made year
ago asked o. be transferred 20 the
Sixth ward. This WAS granted. but a
while ago 7 was brought hack % the
hill district. aud the transfer resu ted
in my resignation. ] have seen the
/ 0rand Rapids postofice grow from a
I village affair 70 a wetropo ten Office.
lt las been improved and enlarged
from time % time and many changes
have been made. Eut J am glad am
ont ~ r.. and would not so ack under
the same circumstance for env con
siderat1n. Ny HAIR and beard we're
once black. hnf they are beginning -
10 streaked wIfh whta from wears of
service for trcle sem But none 20
tnosa hairs have vhffenef under any
F reputation ~ dishonesty or ds
+ ioyslty
Msuasiof ih- CouncL
/ city Clerk shiuEmsn hss sspel the
manual of fhe common council and
Memorial qnrrrrfnsnf for che wears