Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-20
No. | 8

arating clerk vcrifies the count of each
100 letters before separating another
100, and, as frequently as may be neces-
sary, delivers each subdivision to the
clerks in charge of the cases.
A case consists of long table with q
set of pigeon holes bearing the names
of the large cities in the section of the
country assigned to that case, and in
these pigeon holes the clerk in charge
boxes the letters, and from time to time
parcels them out to his assistants.
The next step is the preparation of
what is known as registered package
envelope. This consists of an ingen-
ously contrived envelope specially man
nfactured out of particularly tough
paper for the use to which it is put,
and also numbered in series of 100000.
On the face of each envelope appears
it's number and spaces for the name of
the post Office, county and state to
which it will be sent, while the back is
arranged for notations of its condition
by every postal official through whose
hands it subsequently passes. One OF
these envelopes having been addressed.
entry of the letter to be inclosed in it
is made on registry bill, which shows
the date of mailing, name of the post
Office using it, name of the post office to
which it will be sent, number of the
registered package envelope, and, final
ly, the registered number of the letter
to be placed in it and the name of its
addressed.
The bill and the letter are placed in
this envelope, which then passes to a
clerk, who removes its contents, COM
pares the letter with the entry on the
bill, and calls the registered letter and
registered package envelope numbers,
together with their destination, to an
assistant, who records these particu-
lars in the mailing book. The letter
and bill are now replaced in the en-
velope, and it passes to another clerk
for final verifcation of contents and
scaling.
The sealing consists in an applica-
ton of blue mucilage to the three flaps
of the envelope, which when once closed
cannot be reopened without mutila-
tions, the blue mucilage exposing any
attempt to open the envelope by any
steaming process, The postmarll show
ing the mailing Office and the date is
now affixed, and the envelope, with
lot of others from the same case, goes to
the pouch room, where another separa-
ton is necessary in order that it may
get to the registered pouch that will
carry it to the distributing office near
est it's final destination.
The contents of the registered pack
age envelope can now only lie ascer-
tanned by reference to the registered
letter numbers charged against the
envelope number in the mailing book,
or the more full description of the let
ters on the registry bill, which is under
seal, and therefore, inaccessible.
The registered package envelope is
entered by origin number and dcsti-
nation on the book of the pouch in
which it is to be dispatched, a carbon
manifold record Of the package inclosed
in each pouch being preserved. the du-
plicate sheet Of each pouch forming
the bill of advice to the office to which
the pouch is sent.
When as many packages rs the pouch
will hold have been entered on the
proper book two clerks verify the en-
tries, sign the last sheet of the bill.
place it with the packages in the pouch,
ad just the strap that secures 1t ahd
finally attach that mechanical wonder
called a rotary lock. This lock has
fixed serial number engraved on its side.
which serves to identify it. and ro'
tarv number, which unerringly adj
vanccs one every time the lock is
opened.
The pouch is then delivered to rail-
way postal clerk, who receipts for it by
lock and rotary numbers, and it re-
mains under constant guard until it%
destination is reached. Keys that
open the rotary locks are issued only to
post Offices exchanging registered
Eouchcs, and a careful comparison of
the rotary number Of the lock with its
entry on the pouch bill is the first duty
of the clerks opening a registered
pouch.
Any discrepancy between the rotary
number advised on the bill and that
shown by the lock received would in
dicate an irregularity to be at once in
vestigated At every transfer from
one clerk to another of registered let
ter, registered package envelope or
registered pouch a receipt is taken.
and by these means no difficulty is ex-
perienced in tracing letter from the.
time it is first mailed until delivered
to its addreSsee.
These rotary locks cost SIS each, and
when the number 900 is turned they
must be returned to the makers for re-
nd stment.-BusinesS.