New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-21
POSTAL OFFICIALS OBJECT.
THEY DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF STAMPING
WEATHER PREDICTIONS ON MAIL
MATTER

Some Official color having been given to the new
weather forecast scheme by a reported move OF
the Postofiice Department officials at Washington
TO arrange for the sending OF predictions on the
backs OF letter envelopes on and after July i, the
proposition revived discussion among the postal
and Signal Service authorizes in this city.
Postmaster Dayton who Is still out or the CITY,
Is known TO have discouraged the scheme as much
as he could and sought through interviews with
Mr. Dunn. OF the Weather Bureau. to have the
affair confined wholly to the Signal Service. and not
to have 1t introduced into the postal operations
In letter to Willis l. Moore chief of the Weather
Bureau at Washington. Postmaster Dayton's at
titude was defined in the statement that the great
amount OF work in the stamping department and
the consequent rush preclude. for the present al
least the adoption OF the suggestion
Acting Postmaster Gayler said yesterday to q
Tribune reporter: mo official communication mas
been received at this Office respecting the stamping
OF weather forecasts on letters and all know re-
gardng 1t IS what has appeared In the press
dispatches from Washington.
"Of course. II an order Is received to stamp the
weather predictions on letters received mere us
Office Will find IL feasible to do so, although so FAR
as can see, 1t will entail an outlay for an entirely
set OF cancellation stamps WIN WHICH u iii
print the Signal Service reports.
The number Of electric stamps at present In the
main postofiice IL twenty-five according to Superh,
tendent Morgan. and there are In addition ntty hahu
haf-hour. The stamps are rented by the Govern er
ment the lease being renewed each year Inc
present lease expires July J. the DATE set TOT the
introduction OF the weather forecasts on mall
Postal officials here point out among the oDJec-
TORS to the scheme that II conflicts with the opera
lions the department. In order 10 gain time ana
10 relieve the Ncw-Y0rk office In measure Inuch oil
the mail coming to the city Is stamped on the trains
before arriving here, thereby permitting Immediate
delivery. II Is pointed out that 1t would De IN IN,
practicable TO supply railway mail clerks with the
latest weather predictions. and besides, New
Workers. read the weather forecasts In the news
papers In the morning, hours before the arrival oil
their mall. ,,,.,, -
There Is also the question OF the additional ex-
pcnse involved In sending the weather forecasts TO
the forty branch postofices In New York, which
operate Independently. receiving and delivering man
direct their wagons going to the trains and no Dus-
ness being transacted through the main office. .
Mr. Dunn director OF the Weather Bureau. smiled
his approval of the scheme from the top or his LOFTY
Headquarters In the Manhattan Building .
AS "A movement to further circulate the weather
bulletins IL Is commendable" he said and test
may produce the most favorable results me sug-
gestiOn, which emanated from +. T. Chanee, direc-
tor OF the Alabama Weather Service, at Montgom-
cry and which was introduced by him to the con-
venton OF weather prophets OF all States last fall.
has been tried at the New-Brunswick IN: - POST
Office where II was put into operation by f. w; Nc
Gam superintendent OF the Weather Bureau there
The scheme has also been introduced into the MIL
waukee Postofice."
Mr. Dunn's faith In the proposition was not shaken
by the grim situation which would arise when a
"fair" weather bulletin was sent out. and while the
postofice clerks ndustriously stamped that intell-
cence on envelopes. the elements would gurgle 1eers
through rain and mud.