The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-06-08
Postal Departments Duty.

still is. a favored city. In anything that can
be accomplished by the push and energy OF
her citizens, or by the use of their means OF
their time and trouble, she stands as lead
er today of all cities in Michigan or in the
north central states. BY most of the state
and national officials we have ever been
generously treated except in one respect
the United States postal department.. The
immense amount of postoflice business done
in this city is scarcely realized by any ex-
cept those directly connected with the Office.
The receipts of the Owosso Office during
1898 were SIS, OS4.4s, netting to the United
States government $4,000, equal to that, as
shown by the records, of large number of
cities of $4,000, 10000 and $4,000 inhabi-
tants.
This revenue came from stamps, envel-
opes and the ordinary income of postoffices.
The number of money orders issued was
5,725, the number of postal notes sent 2,270
and the registers 1,2l4, being undoubtedly
as good record as tbs ordinary city Of
10000 people. The transfers at this Office
were $3.50 being positive indication of the
unusual amount of work that finds its way
day after day and year after year through
this central point.
The money order business has run as high
as 81, $50 in a single day, this department
requiring the constant attention Of one clerk,
while in many Offices the services of this
clerk are much of the time available in the
other departments.
Centering and transferring mail constant
ly in this city are four railroads, including
two international lines-the Grand Trunk
and the Michigan Central-and one inter-
state line-the Toledo 81 Ann Arbor, while
two star routes furnishing five postofiices-
Hartwellville, Sagerville and Pittsburg, and
West Haven and Easton add to the work of
the Office large amount of work for which
no extra help is furnished.
One daily, five weekly, one semi-monthly
and one monthly journals, with calculations
ranging from 400 to 5000, must constantly
be handled by the force of this Office and
practically as far as the government is con-
cernej, by clerks whose entire time should
be given to the duties to which they are reg
ulaily assigned.
When this city was given carriers the
population, by a census just completed, was
a little over 5000. The directory just pub
lished shows, by the usual methods of COM
putation, population of IL 200, while the
census enumerators now at work are posi-
tive that it will be as high as 10000. Yet
we have had no increase in the number of
carriers and fully 5000 of our people who
are constantly paying into an Office that
nets the U. S. nearly $1,000 year, are not
allowed the benefits of free delivery. The
districts have been cut down once and will
have to be again unless an additional car
rier is given to this city,
The city covers an area of two miles
square, and, like many larger towns, has
settlements in the extreme corners, making
large amount of territory to cover. Like
the larger cities, which on this account re-
ceive an extra allowance Of carriers, the Of
fee being backed by an equally large bust
ness, should be given the proper share of
assistants.
For three years the postmaster has been
Obliged to hire and pay from his none to
large salary an assistant, and do all the
time IL or IA hours work day himself.
The delivery clerk is kept constantly at
work and is required to attend to the stamp
and general delivery windows making an
almost impossible task.
The chief clerk, besides her regular duties,
is compelled to act as an all round assistant
and 1t is wonder that the inspector can
say as he has 1.-THE Office was never in better
shape as 10 records and thoroughness."
This record, however, the force will be
unable 10 keep up II an additional carrier
and clerk are not allowed by the depart
ment. Much time is now put in by the en-
tire force that they are not obliged by the
department to give to their work, but the
time is fast approaching when even with
the time thus donated, they can not keep
the work up.
1t is the duty of the Michigan senators
and representatives. to see that Owosso is
given her rightful quota.