New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-10
A NEW POSTAL SCHEME.
COLLECTION AND DELIVERY OF NAIL AT
tHoUSEDOOR LETTER. BOXES.
POSTMASTER: GENERAL wANAMAKER ISSUES AN
ORDER PUTTING II INTO EFFEcT-AN
IMPORTANT DEPARTURE IN
FREE DELiVERT

FREE DELIVERY.
Washington. Sept. 9.-Postmaster-GeneTal wana'
maker to-day issued his expected order depuullng
the postmasters Of eedevery cities. towns and
rural communities to put up letter boxes on the
request OF citizens for collection and delivery Of
mall at house DOORS The order, It Is sald affects
nearly $1,000 900 residences which the free delivery
service II already extended and II is regarded By
postal experts the most important departure In the
free delivery Of mails since the beginning OF the
system under Postmaster General Blair The canvass
Of models Of boxes to be recommended has lasted over
two years, and the recommended boxes have stood
the Of actual experience. In the test upon the
Washington carrier routes where boxes were put up
Oh houses located mostly on the building line, an
actual saving OF time the trip OF the carrier was
half hour more and In the test upon the ST.
Louis route, where the boxes were all put up on
houses seventyfve feet from the sidewalk. there
actual gain of several minutes. This gain comes
from the fact that much time formerly consumed
by the In waiting for people to come 10 doors
10 receive their malls is saved in calling at houses
where the automatic signal. seen from the sidewalk.
indicates that mil Is to be collected In ST. Louis
more than four times much mail was deposited in
the house letterb0xes had formerly been dropped
in the street letter boxes upon the same area and
in the same length OF time.
The boxes vary in price from 81 to 81, and
given route is to be equipped when the postmaster
nnds that twOttrdS OF the houscholderS desire the
double service. Tho PosOfiice officials say that
loss OF time is involved to the carrier
force. extra carriers except the service natu
rally grOws) required and II the saving Of time
on given routes Is considerable enough, extra deliveries
always . necessity, may be put on with the same
force Of carriers. The change that fast
rs patrons Of the mails desire them the
facilities OF immediate deliveries to safe recepaces
and Of collections direct nom house doors Will be
within reach without any expense the householder,
except the first cost OF tho box, and without any
Departmental outlay at all, past future, the
expenses OF tests have been borne by tho inventors
themselves.
1t has already been decided to experiment, without
cost 10 the Department, with the house leterboxes
In rural communities. In conjunction with the country
free delivery and the long routes; and 1t Is
believed that IL this housetO house collection system
comes generally into vogue the robbery letter boxes
will perforce be done away with.
In response ~ the invitation Of the Postmaster
General for models, designs and specifications OF
house letter boxes, about 1900 devices were sub.
mlttd These were referred to n commission OF
postal experts. OF which Postmaster Van Cott OF New
YORK, was chairman, for examination This com.
mission recommended for favorable consideration six
OF mo devices, which, In Its opinion, best met the
requirements OF the case. The fOS General
accepted the proposition OF such OF the Inventors a.
desired TO put up boxes nj their expense to give
pract cal demonstration Of their value. Accordingly
tests were made of four different boxes by the post
masters OF OF. Louis and Washington. The boxes
approved viii BE- exhibited NJ potOiCes By the post.
master and all postoice employees have been directed
To facilitate their Introduction Ilousekecpers de-.
string 10 Try the new mail collection and delivery
scheme must select and purchase a box OF one OF
the styles approved by the Department.