New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-08
THE BROOKLYN POSTOFF1CE.
IMPROVEMENTS UNDER THE ADMINISTRA-
TION OF POSTMASTER SULLIVAN.
POSTAL CARS TO RUN on TROLLEY LINEs-INTER
CHANGES BETWEEN sTATIoNs-FREE DE-
LIVERY IN THE NEW wARDS-THE
BROOKLYN OFFICE REGARDED IN


RrookIvn Is now reaping the result OF the plac-
ing in the office Of postmaster of man trained in the
service and thoroughly familiar with 1t IN every
particular The appointment OF postmaster ouli'-
van was an excellent exemplifcation OF civil Ser
vice principles. for he promoted from the ONCE
OF assistant postmaster. and had previously served
for a number OF years as cashier or the postoilce
Mr. Sullivan was selected for the post or cashier
by Postmaster Hendrix in 1886 The accounts OF
the office at that time in bad shape anu 'he
postmaster felt the need of having a man IN thaI
office who knew how straighten them out ana
keen them straight and in whom he could nave
entire confidence. He offered the place 10 Mr. sui
Ivan greatly TO the ldtter's surprise for ne had
been in no sense an applicant for the ONCE ana,
indeed the idea of obtaining II had never eh'ereu
his mind At the first offer ne declined, put II was
urgently renewed. and finally at MI Hendrix
earnest solicitation he consented TO undertake 'he
duties OF cashier He proved 10 be the rlsht man III
the right place and soon seen to be so Vaiua-
bic that there no question or MS renainine
permanently in the postoihce.
A year ago last spring Assistant postmaster
Smith died. and Mr. Sullivan chosen as his
succassor Postmaster Collins was i'll at that time.
and not long afterward died His bondsmen there
upon selected Mr.. Sullivan as acting postmaster
and he remained IN that position for Few weeks
until promoted by President Cleveland to the once
of postmaster. The people of Brooklyn are wen
aware that under his administration the postai ser
1,ce has been measurably improved and POST
master Sullivan himself does not hesitate TO assert
that no city in the country is better served In TINS
respect.
The BROOKLYN postofice is also handsome
~ and conveniently housed The new Federal
Ruildng the lower part Of which is used by the
nostofYice is fine structure in every respect ana
the part of 1t used by the postofice was specialy
and inteligently designed for that purpose. Inc
quarters of the clerks. etc, contrast most iaVora-
blv with what may be seen in the postoffces IN
and
building is hollow square. the centre Of which on
the ground floor is occupied by the sorting ana
mailing departments. the whole space above oeing
omen TO the glass roof. Abundance OF ventilation
Is secured by windows on all sides OF the surTounu
ing corridor on the outside of the corridor and
forming the exterior of the hollow square are the
rooms of the postmaster. his assistant and o'her
officials. These are all Handsomely hhisheo anu
furnished Postmaster Sullivans office is at the
southwest corner of the building 1t is not large
apartment but 1t has lofty ceiling ana is COM
Portable and satisfactory in every way
MAIL CARS ON A TROLLEY ROAD.
One Of the latest improvements in the postal ser
vice of Brooklyn the carriage Of mails by trolley
cars This has only been introduced on limited
scale as yet but If it works as successfully as Is
now expected it is probable that 1t VIII in time
be extended so to cover all parts OF the city.
In a conversation on the subject day or two ago.
Postmaster Sullivan said:
I've have made a contract with the Atlantic Ave-
nue. Railroad Company for carrying the mails. and.
as you have doubtless seen, the sign u. 5. Mail
Is borne on its The service is soon TO be ex-
tended, for the company has agreed 10 pulld TWO
postal cars. which are to be ready between the loh
and 22d of this month. They 10 be painted white
and lettered in gold. The company has been ex-
ceedngly liberal in its dealings with the postoffce
in this matter. 1t has not only met us half way
but II has come a good distance over the line The
new cars will be fitted up as regular postal cars
with sorng-room, pouches, etc. SO that distriDu-
ton can be carried in transit. The company
offered to give us the use OF the whole of these
cars but that would be more room than we should
need, and so at my suggestion only hait OF each
car will be used for postal purposes The other half
will be a smoker, that the company VIII De de-
irving some revenue from these cars.
''By means Of this service we are brought INTO
Quick communication with the stations in South
Brooklyn. Bensonhurst Bath Beach and other
villages in the new Thrtieth Ward Furthermore
/ am trying TO arrange for the laying or switch
so that these postal cars can be run right into our
ward here at the postoffice There has been some
correspondence with the Treasury Department on
the subject: l have given details OF what is pro-
posed and strongly recommend that the privilege
of putting down a switch be granted That WILL
Of course. facilitate. the transaction OF our bus-
ness l hope. too in time to arrange so that the
mail collectors shall meet these cars at certain
points and hand in what they have taken from
the letter.boxes. and then proceed with their worK
There will be a great saving Of time II this is done
FOR much time Is consumed in the collectors coming
TO the main office or going TO the stations
us this idea Of using the trolley cars IN c0hnec-
ton with the postofice original with you! was
80 far as its practical application in this part Of
the country is concerned. Il IT," answered MI sui
ivan. Something Of the kind is done in St Louis,
i believe but am not familiar with the details q
h sthd ca in os o:.
the surface Zee seS ne 4sf TO o e kno
i say how II is In other cities. Brooklyn Is pecu
aary situated In TINS aespec nor az pon
only few rods distant from the postofhee, and
siyey employed. Certainly the success OF the ex-
Rsg"e"' % -1' 90 " w
MAIL TRANSFERS BETWEEN STATIONS.
.'what other improvements in the postal service
are contemplated"
.sWeu we are constantly making improvements.
One that gives me special satisfaction was intro
duced last year and has proved Of very great ad-
vantage. That is the interchange or mails between
the stations and the general once. Formerly
letter posted in one district even IL Its destination
was only few blocks away, had to come 10 the
main office II IL was 10 go into another district
Now all that Is done away Five times every day
messengers from all the stations meet at central
point and exchange pouches. That central point
is at De Kalb and Nostrand aves They all start
on schedule time, though OF course thelr reachiis
their destination is dependent on the regularity
with which the trolley cars are run Thus far
there haven't been half dozen failures the re-
suit is that a letter posted say at Abs p m IN any
letter-box in Red Hook. and addressed to some one
In the oil works over in Greenpoint, will be deiv-
cred that evening not later than go The distance
between the points is seven or eight miles.
and unless one lived close to telegraph once ~
is doubtful whether he could get telegram deliv-
II receive letters almost every day from promi-
nent business men telling me how quickly letters
they sent have been delivered, ana now
promptly the replies have come. and frequently
they inclose the envelopes TO show at what time
the letters were posted | at first proposed this
system on a small scale. and then had the super
intendents of the various stations act as messen-
gers In order 10 just how the WORK couid be
done. Then / went before the people at Washing
ton and said that It was not a mere theory but
matter OF practical experience. and so i secured