The herald., 1896-02-17
THE POSTOFFICE'S NEEDS
Local Merchants Association Appeals
to the Washington Authorities
Convincing Statements As to the Continu-
ally Increasing Population and the Me-
eessity for Better Facilities.

In an effort to obtain better and more
adequate postal facilities in Los Angeles,
William H. Knight, secretary of the Mer-
chants association, has addressed letter
to the Hon. i. H. Jones. first assistant
postmaster general, at Washington, a copy
of which follows
Dear Sir: The merchants and manufac-
turers of this city are subjected to great
inconvenience and pecuniary loss arising
from inadequate accommodations and
service at the postofiice. At meeting of
the Merchants association of Los Angeles,
held February Z, 1896, the secretary was
instructed to collate the facts and invite
your attention to our grievance. and earn
estly urge your department to provide i'm
mediate relief.
According to approximate estimates OF
our population made by officers OF the
school department, by publishers of the
city directory and by the postmaster OF Los
Angeles, the number of people residing
within our city limits is between 10000
and 100000. If we add the thickly set.
tied adjacent neighborhoods soon to be an
neNed. the aggregate will undoubtedly eX-
ceed the latter figure.
For this large population. the business
center of an extensive region rapidly fill
ing up with prosperous communities. we
have postal facilities about equal to what
would be required for city of 10000 in
habitants.
We not only require increased accommo-
datious for present necessities, but our
rapid growth demands still larger provi-
sion for the immediate future.
When it is borne in mind that the an
nual erection of dwellings for actual occu-
patton was increased since 1890 at the
rate OF about 40 per cent each year over
the previous year, still leaving a scarcity
for rental purposes; that i'll addition to
these some 300 substantial store, Office
and hotel buildings have been erected OH
the business streets. it is manifest that
greatly increased service is required in the
postofiice.
The imperative demand for eleven new
school houses, which has been met during
the past year, and the extensive enlarge
nent of several others. still further attest
the genuineness and rapidity of our
growth.
Every winter an increasing tide of tourist
travel pours into Southern California to
escape the rigors of northern and eastern
climates. These. to the number of many
thousands, make their temporary home in
Los Angeles for days, weeks, months and
often the entire season, and they do not
only make extra demands on the window
clerks, but they keep the registry and
money order departments busy.
Furthermore, Los Angeles is the busi-
ness. financial, commercial and railway
center of a population in Southern Califor-
mia, exceeding quarter of million. and
of a still wider scope of country beyond it's
borders, comprising southern Nevada, Ari-
zona and northern Mexico, all containing
rich but only partially developed resources
in agriculture, horticulture, precious min
erals and useful metals.
Of this large territory in the southwest
Los Angeles is the emporium and metropo-
lis. and her business and social intercourse
srxts. ..I..x
entire region. Her merchants are supply
ing the wares of a busy mart, and in return
are receiving the products of the soil and
the mines. An interruption OF that inter-
course not only harms the merchants but
ii inf1icts wrong upon the community.
If these considerations are not sufficient
to stimulate the authorities at Washington
to activity in our behalf, then we beg to
put forth one more plea. We are assured
that the net revenue from the Los Angeles
postotiice for the year 1895 amounted to
nearly 100000, and yet. in the face of
that fact our merchants were compelled,
during the last holiday season, to resort to
Wells, Fargo q Co.'S express, not only for
the delivery of small packages, but also
for the prompt transmission of ordinary
commercial correspondence. AS a result
the government was deprived of revenue
that rightly belonged to it, and that rev.
enue was diverted into channel that in
StCoSCu tuC SoSt VI adhSdCtluB puSitlcSS 10
the merchant and of receiving goods to the
consumer.
We have thus shown that a matter of
revenue and economy to the postal depart
ment, as we'll as of justice to the merchant
and the community, the government
should enlarge it's postal facilities and i'll
crease its service in the Los Angeles office,
without delay.
We have addressed communications of
same tenor to United States Senator
Stephen NJ. White, and to United States
Representative James McLachlan.