The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-20
ORR POSTAL SERVICE.
,,,yy IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE.
I'll. with Postmaster Russell-A Hed"c-
don in Ratcs-Tho Keyie's bo'-''"'"'
stamped Envclopcs-House Letter Boxes

10 the Improvement OF the mah eeIF'Se III
edmond. and believe / am going 10 get
.h,r, too said Postmaster huSseH 10
r.vrs reporter yesterday. Since the con
,.-.,co Of frst-class postmasters IN Washing
. low aavs AGO Mr.. Russell has been full
=. enthusiasm and looks Tor splendid
...slts from their recommendations. II
,.s tho first conference of postnasters
.,or held. and it gave the only opportunity
4, ese officials ever had 10 cri;icise the Post
.,or. General and his chiefs 90 their faces.
'..., we're invited 90 freely speak their minds.
az, 4. ev did u. they believe. To some purpose.
H. Russell Is daily expecting the arrival Of
a sf4mp caucelling machine. heretofore
.,-.Ied. which Wall do the work II SIX
...s more cfectually and neatly than IT can
b.. I,no bv baud The other improvements
D., fo. made application for. and hopes TO ob-
+..- after the lst Of July. the commencement
"a Flo news fiscal year IN the lostoihce De-
sUn-srATI0Ns.
lie desires 70 carry ont cherished idea of
SAVING two sub stations IN thickiy settled
rtons 81 the city remote from tie man
20 where postoiiice money orders, posthl
..t.s. registered letters and general postal sup
d, es can be had with the same facility iLat tuey
..r bo procured at tho central Office on Dilh
e-.at one Of these will be located I'D lne
lborbo0i Of the Masonic Temp and ne
e- 40 the most convenient point 10 Do
tod iu the eastern portion of the Guy.
Nr Russell set forth the need OF inns con
,..inrcc 90 Richmands growing pop"'allo"
.. Ills recent trip and expects 20 nave tAem
established during tins year. Ih 9u"i1i0H ~
t.sa hc Will ask for about oo1eh more
.t...,r agencies IA the drug stores ana tei7'
fuI
+. ..nes can bs obtained without having to SO
v- Russell has not been backward in max
ir. the wants Of Richmond known, ana ono
0t his requests Is 80 per ceni. more suees Ig
,.. boxes and force sufficient tO-nake nan
t..- collections in certain portions oi lhs
i..ness quarter of the city. An adoitlohal
...-t will be asked for IN the stamp depart
r..rt SD that the stamp window may DE Kept
....4n untu ~ o'clock each night. Inc CLOS
..., haflr IS now 8 20 l.. NJ. With these requisl-
f.ns 81 led and 6tew more men IN the ulstriou-
trr department Postmaster Russell THINKS
richmond could have az almost perfect
s~v.cs lie thinks that the main recommen-
cations Of the p0stmasters conference 10 the
f.n4rtment Will be adopted by the POstoihce
Committee o. be presented TO Congress.
t..ors these was the recommendation that
tHIrl and iourth-class mail matter be blendeu
,.nder one head. with the lower rate OF one
fho aepartnent from the necessity OF some
,err Nee determinations and the public from
many yex4ti0us Misunderstanding
AKrYLEss 1ETrEE-BoX.
Tlo te,less letter-box for postofices IS
another valuable recommendation. The lock
~ worked by two knobs on simple alpha
bsfeal com6ination, and will save box holders
-.roh trouble and inconvenience that they
low experience with keys.
house letter box was also selected
rom twelve hundred models presented,
which is an invention worthy OF me ADVANCE
az the times This box Will cost from seventy
i've cents TO two dollars each. or AS much
lirler as the rich householder may order
Them T. be made IL Is a simple arrange
mont with an ordinary slit Tor the
depository Of mail. and by an lngen-
ious mechanism. operated by the Key
of the letter-carrer. the mail Tor
the most is delivered TO the collector. The
box is very ornamental and can be attached
10 the front door or built into the house IN
varions WAYS The mail will thus be deiy-
cred and collected at the same time 10 IS
expected also 90 furnish postage stamps IN
tie same manner The money with the
written order being placed IN the Do1'
fhe carrier viii take II mp with MS
collection. and deposit the stamps IN the box
,.r Ina return trip This. MIR. Russell THINKS
will le a very useful adjunct to the delivery
nj mail In the cities and he expects to see the
residents GA west Franklin street ana othel
of the most wealthy localities equipped Win
these conveniences. 10 is easy TO see rom
ms short description the convenience they
v.- be.
number OF other suggestions valuable tC
feuullic were made by the conference. VI
these one of the NOSE useful IS the issue bJ
f.e DEPARTMENT of postal notes OF hXed de
r0minations good for ninety days at any
ro.toHice for their face value IN stamps o
money This. of course, viii do away VIII
C.euumerous remittances OF stamps III pay
mont %. small sums
Ills also contemplated to issue the lowe
Grade special request envelopes at their pos
tare value. and 20 lower the price or the mrs
quality envelopes also 20 admit IN the return
request the simple announcement OF lA
al aracter of the business as well as the nam
OF the person OF firm. This Is recommended
.u order 90 encourage tue greater use OF re
turn request envelopes ~ order 10 relieve IN
leld letter Office of some OF the lmmens
Ink of undelvered mail on which there !
no indication of the address of the winter
The fact thar the printed envelopes. with III
character 81 the business permitted IN the "a
frru le nest at 81 cost no greater than ID
stamp on the letter will be at once apprec
ated by the average business man.
Tho accommodation OF Lrunch OF IN
dead letter Office on the Pacific coast wa
a'somade IN order 10 relieve the sending OF
vast amount of mail 70 Washington TO be ex
ahmed and immediately returned TO IN
writer's. The more general use OF specla
re uest envelopes is also expected TO faciil
tts tho delivery of mail and relieve the post
oHeeo much labor. This may be apprC
Gated bv tie public when 1t IS known that a
average of fifty letters a day are deposited d
tie cIty postofice without stamps. Mhe
these have the name of the writer on then
-l.y arc returned without delay, otherwise
cr. has to be filled out and sent 10 the ad
dle-s asking him to send the proper amour
Tho more rapid collection Of mail matte
also occupied much of the attention OF th
Conference and they recommended 10 Cor
gre.s AN appropriation of 100000 Tor the II
yesupation IN Washington OF the practc'
bit o.. the pneumatic tube or other aut
ua,c appliance for transmitting mail. son
Of these questions were adopted by vote
.ec.ufersnce and others We're referred 70
committee. Those adopted by vote, NJ
Russell thinks. will be put into use.
B4SE-EzLL N THE ISLAND.