The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-10-18
NEEDED IMPROVEMENTS
MADE ny POSTMASTER GENERAL
DAT LATELY.
An Improved Service by Labor-saving
Machines That win Separate Island
and Foreign Mail.

OF all the labor-saving machines and
contraptions Postmaster-General Dat
has introduced an idea into the POST
Office which is unique in design as it is
convenient in arrangement. 1t is a
circular asserting table. The idea in
itself is not Mr.. Oats. No, it was
Matched in the brain of some fellow in
America, and now his invention is used
in large offices from Maine to California.
1t is true, however, that Mr.. Dat intro
duced his ingenuity into the makeup of
the one in question and has turned out
a great improvement on the original.
The table has been placed near the
center of the Post Office, down stairs.
AS said before, it lie circular, with an
opening on the makai side. Above it a
rick extends quite all around which
contains eighty one large boxes, all on
an inclined plane. These boxes are for
newspapers and represent all of the
spare. The name of the post Office APP
pears on the door of each box, opening
downward on the outside,
When papers for outside offices are
received the bags will be taken into
the circle and placed upon the table.
The space is large enough for three
distributors. As the papers are taken
out they are separated and thrown into
the various boxes--for the different
offices. When the mail for the island
steamers is being made up the door OF
the box is approached, the little catch
slipped up and the papers tumble out
into the bags. All OF the boxes can thus
be visited in very few minutes. The
amount of time and labor saved is
simply uncomfortable until one con-
siders the pigeon-hole, sugar-barrel ar
rangement which the boys in the post
office have tugged and sweated over
heretofore.
Under the table twelve other boxes
appear. These will be used for surplus
foreign mail at times when steamers
move slow and matter for the East
heaps up in great quantities. These are
also provided with doors at the bottoms,
so that the entire contents of the chest
or table can be turned out in moment.
The table is stained in a very pretty
natural-wood color.
Aside from this complementary con-
venience will be placed just across the
floor, where the asserting table now
stands. 1t will be an asserting counter
for letters, but will be provided
with boxes as in the first one.
1t is also announced that these pigeon
holes will be low enough for Mr.. Dat to
reach.
In the mauka corner on Bethel street
the Postmaster-General will have his
office. There it will have the benefit OF
two large windows and will be near the
door,. doing away with the former
necessity of the chief having to &c
meandering all through the Office to
find the exit. The Office will be raised
eighteen inches above the floor and will
command view of the whole house
When Mr.. Dat is comfortably ensconced
in this sanctum he guarantees pleasant
smile increasingly. The pipe of peace
will ever be in the locker with the key
in the door.
At the south end of the building
some important changes will also b.
made. The Hawaiian delivery window
which has for so long been on Bethe
street will be moved to the Mauka enc
on the south side. Next to this, nearer
toward merchant, will be ladies
window, which will be great improve
ment indeed. By the side of tn,
ladies' window, and near to the Portu
guese and Japanese window
which comes next will b,
the stamp window, small
opening cut through the stone wall o
the building. The present deliver.
windows will be turned into what will
be called the general delivery"
Altogether Mr.. Dat is making grea
improvement in his department and is u
be excused for that air OF pride h
wears at times.