Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-25
NEW COLLECTION WAGONS
An Experiment in Rapid Mails to Be Tried
Here.
Extension of the Trolley Mail System
In Large Cities-The Cars to BE
Completely Equipped.

Acting Second Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Stone today told Star reporter that
the department expects to receive today or
tomorrow one of several experimental col
lection and delivery wagons, which VIII
be first tried here. and If successful similar
ones WILL 1t is likely. be introduced into
all large cities in the country where the
cable or trolley postal cars cannot be made
available for the extension and quiet dis
patch Of the mail service.
The wagons, which are very large and
handsome. were built in Hartford, Conn.,,
and each in all respects in a miniature post
office on wheels. 1t Is as high as the ordi-
nary street car and nearly as long. so
with 1t can perform their work without any
trouble.
The interior of the wagon is supplied
with cases. canoeing stamps. and. in fact.
all the paraphernalia which belongs to the
regulation postal car. and at night 1t Will
be lighted with electricity, storage bat
terry being used. The wheels of the vehicle
are fitted with rubber tires, so as to re-
duce the annoyance from the noise OF street
travel to a minimum.
The great object sought to be obtained is
to bring the collection and delivery service
of the department up to an even higher
standard than 1t has yet attained. For this
purpose the wagon will have a regular
route, which will be probably along F
street, 18th street, Pennsylvania avenue
and other principal streets.
The wagon will. be drawn by team of
five horses, which will be driven as rapidly
as the dictates of humanity will allow.
Upon reaching a letter box. one of the
clerks on duty in the wagon will quickly
open the box. take the mail from 1t and
pass 1t to those inside the wagon. The
clerks will then assert 1t and have 1t ready
to send, such of 1t as Is intended to go
outside the city, as soon as the depot from
h Job fhaf IL, -,
Is reached the other being taken to the
main post office.
The wagon will be In service from Z am.
to IL pm. Meanwhile the department is
arranging to extend the trolley postal SER
vice in various large cities where the troll
ley is In use. principally, Philadelphia
Pittsburg, Baltimore. Buffalo. Cleveland
and some other cities. Boston. Brooklyn
Chicago and ST. Louis being already. pretty
well supplied. The department has 1t Is
stated. no available funds. but the credit
of the government is good. and the railroad
companies interested have. it is understood
expressed Willingness to adopt the views
of Second Assistant Postmaster General
Nelson in regard to extending the service
and wait for Congress to appropriate the
money to reimburse them.
The next extension of this sort will be in
Philadelphia. and when completed that city
Will have the most extensive trolley mai
service system in the country With cleo.
trio lines extending into every section OF
the city and out into the suburbs, a com.
plete me- ork OF surface lines, the depart.
ment recognized. 1t is said. that in this
respect Philadelphia offered greater advan
tages than any other city for the introduc
ton of a general trolley mail service Ac.
cordingly, plans have been perfected tC
connect nearly all the thirty-seven postal
substations in the city, and immediate sub
urbs with the central post Office by regular
trolley mail lines. and several OF them Will
shortly be in operation.
The Union Traction Company, whose
lires will be used. for the routes, is about
completing fourteen new cars for the es-
pecial purpose Of handling the mails.
These cars are sixteen feet in length and
built on heavy steel frames to insure great
strength and durability. The interior is
furn shed with every appliance for han
ding the mails.
tanning 22S letter boxes, underneath which
are closets and lockers. On one side arc
ranged tables for sorting the mail and let
ter-cancelng machines operated by the
electricity which propels the car. On the
other eide are swinging racks for pouches.
There is a door on each side of the cars
to take 1T and throw out mail, and there
will be no necessity for the motorman or
conductor or any one else except the two
mail. clerks employed ON the car entering
the interior. A number of the car win
dows are Of frosted glass, and the rest are
protected with brass screens and bars.
The cars are each lighted with nine mean
descent bulbs and heated by electricity
They will not be run as trailers, as are
those now in Use in the city, but each Is
equipped with Its own motors and Is oper-
ated independently.