New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
GREATER NEW-YORK MAILS.
POSTMASTER DAYTONS VIEWS ON THE
SUBJECT
A SYSTEM OF DISTRICT PosTldAsrERs SUGGESTED
THE ABOLITION OF INDEPENDENT OFFICES
MINI on crprrra


THE NAMING OF STREETS.
Among the questions which people ask In connec-
| ton With the Greater New-York there are many
! as to the management Of the Postoffice and the
| fate Of the Offices which will be absorbed by the
operation Of the act. The present Postofiice has
been pronounced inadequate In Size, and It's loca-
| ton Is not considered central enough to suit the
| Ideas Of many citizens. while Its style OF archi-
| lecture has been often and severely criticised
Charles w. Dayton, Postmaster Of New-York.
who has given the subject much attention. has
| this say about II:
1T must Dc conceded by all knowing anything
| Of the subject that the postal district OF the
| Greater New-York would establish an organized
| system. whereby the Department at washington
would lie enormously relieved OF an inhnity OF de-
| tails and. better than that. the district Itself
would represent entity. whero responsibility
| would have 10 be accompanied with power IN ths
| postmaster.
"rhe deta.I, of the organization Of such an ex-
tenslve postal district would require careful con-
| sideration and minute calculations. Having maoe
that last statement. rather hesitate about giving
| my Views to the plan OF such organization. ana
| therefore what shall say must DO taken I'd MI
| Individual rather than official view. because'
aftcr nll tho Department at Washington. when II
takes up tho subject. Will dispose OF 1t according
10 IL, best Judgment, probably by the appointment
| OF a commission 10 make inspection, obtain data
| and make q report to the Postmaster-General
"As / look at II now the GrcateT ->e"-A -AoAn "AAA
doubtless be divided into districts. In that event.
| | would say that the Brooklyn district, ror IN
| stance would be In charge Of an assistant post
| master who would be held originally Responsible
| and to whom all subordinates In that district
| would report, he reporting 10 ano optAlnihB "is
instructions from the postmaster. as In the metro
politan district Of London under similar conditions.
| such assistant postmaster would have charge OK
| the discipline OF the force and pass upon deln-
quencies subject to appeal to the postmaster.
THE main Office would be the centre OF supplies.
| tho nomination or appointment or supoiuhaeos'
the collection and deposit OF all revenues ana inc
drawing OF checks for tho payment OF salaries ETC.
Tho postmaster being in receipt Of daily reports
from the assistant postmaster OF Brooklyn OF any
other district would transmit the same 10 the
Department at Washington. With such an orsahl-
zation In force. the Department at washington
would correspond with the postmaster only. and
he would have 10 assume responsibility for the
postal administration Of Greater New-York. The
economy Of administration upon this plan wouid
follow from the diminution In tho number OF post
masters a harmony and celerity OF management
arising from a supervision at hand, Instead OF a
! supervision by correspondence, say two hunoreo
| odd miles from the seat Of operations
Tho territory OF the proposed Greater Ne"-
York. as outlined In the act Of 1894 Is as follows'
1.-The city of New-York. Long Island City. the
| county Of Kings tho county OF Richmond. tho
towns Of West Chester. Flushing. Newtown ana
Jamaica those portions OF the towns OF East Ches-
ter and Pelham which lie southerly of straight
line of the Bronx River TO the middle Oh the chan-
mel between Hunters and Glen Islands. In Long
Island Sound and THAI part OF the town OF Hemp
stead which is westerly OF straight line drawn
from the southeasery point OF the town OF Flush
Ing through the middle OF the channel between
Rockaway Beach and Shelter Island to the At
antic Ocean
This is an area OF about 1915 square miles.
Within this area there now eighteen Presiden-
ff.f nd thlrty-Seven
oaicos-a total Of fifty postotices. all OF when
would DO abolished and branch stations or SUD-
stations established instead. with sucn reductions
in their number as may be expedleht. Inc eli En-
-sarly be less than under the present system
What the expeEse OF free delivery may bd DC Ga
In 1894 there were than fifty postoftces
within the corporate limits OF the city OF Cncago.
In July 1884, that entire district was included within
one post al district tho Presidential postoffceS were
abolished and branch stations were established in
those places wherever necessary; Inc result mas
ua turally much more satisfactory postal ad-
ministration. Postmaster Warteld OF Baltimore.
recommended that the postal area OF tnat CITY pe
extended. which was done with tne same resdiss ds
experienced at Chicago When me snboaeu % 1 us
ir.-t of twenty-five square miles was aoueu W to
civ OF New York a similar reorganization followed.
and ! personally testify to its advantages "
the people and the service.
Ine duplication OF names OF streets at first sight
presents obstacle. but, IKE az othef
calling upon Skill energy ana aDinty II Is Iai lIp,i %
insuperabe II seems TO mo that a considerable
10 instruct properly the asserting clerks II; tne
various local Offices and in the railway man ser
vice. II may be considered practcaDF linpoSsipe
To- provide different names for each street within
thls large territory and the OF local names In
addition to a district initial may be deemed I'D
vls,ble This system Is used in London. for in
stance: Granville Road. Kilburn, y. w: Granville
Road Lewisham 5 T.. etc. There are hundreds OF
other local names in London-as Tottenham. Kent
ish Town Holloway. Camberwel. Soho, etc Here
Is a practical suggestion upon this point
Have all streets known a North. East South
or West according 10 their natural geographical
location
.'Have tho streets numbered from the south or
from the centre dhe watercourses) as now prevails
substantially.
when the size and growth OF the Greater New
York are considered Il tangled geography would be
bewIlderiug for generations come. London has
been trying straighten itself out in this regard
FOR many years: and unless much care is taken in
this particular tho Greater New-York will become
n maze IN comparison OF which London would seem
TO be a rectangular city.
"Ae nv public service is nearing its close,
should like in this connection TO repeat the propo-