Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-24
H O U S E MAIL BOXE S
Every Householder May Now Have Hi
Own Mail Box.
A Former Order Reamrmed and Pos
tai Employees Directed to Urge and
Promote the Innovation.

Postmaster General Wilson has issued an
order similar to that issued by his pre-
decessor, Mr.. Wanamaker, in regard to
house mail boxes.
In 1880 and 1891, in response to an invi-
tation by the Postmaster General, over
1000 box devices were submitted by vari-
Gus inventors to be submitted to a commit
tee of postal experts. consisting of John
B. Harlow, the postmaster at st. Louis;
Charles Van Colt, postmaster at New
York; Capt Henry Sherwood, postmaster
at Washington; James E. Bell, superin-
tendent Of delivery in the Washington post
Office; w. B. Smith OF Washington, post
Office inspector, and Thomas M. Hart
postmaster at Boston. From the I,6O0
boxes six were selected as meeting the
feasible requirements of the case. A prac-
teal test was given in the use of these
boxes In st. Louis and Washington with
excellent results. The carriers, instead of
ringing the door bell and waiting for some
one to answer 1t, were able to drop their
letters IN box, open another compartment
In the same box and take the letters which
had been posted and proceed on their
route. There was saving Of time to the
carrier and householders were very much
pleased with the innovation.
affirmed this order Of Postmaster General
Wanamaker, and directs postmasters and
postal clerks and carriers to recommend
and urge upon householders the use of
mail boxes. The householder must provide
himself with box at his own expense, and
must select some one of the six approved
by the department. These vary in slze
utility and cost. Some are simply small.
stout iron boxes, from which the carrier
takes letters that have been posted and
then deposits in the box mail which he may
have to deliver. Some are intended to be
fastened upon the inner side of the door,
others are designed to be built into the side
of the wall when the house is constructed.
The box which seems to combine most
advantages and to receive the Endorsement
of the department is so made that it may
be fastened on DOORS the side of the wall
or on porch railing 1t has an automatic
announcement device that tells the carrier
when letters have been posted in the box,
and Is large enough to receive and post,
In separate compartments, letters, newSpa-
pers, magazines and small packages 1t Is
also arranged that if placed on the door
the carrier can take from it or deliver to
1t mail matter without disturbing the occu-
pants of the house, and the latter may re-
ceive and deposit mail without going out of
doors.
In the practical tests, collections were
made from these boxes in Washington and
In ST. Louis for one month. For these tests
the department itself supplied the boxes.
and, of course, they were placed, not over
the whole of either city, but upon certain
selected carrier routes, and solely with a
view to a practical test. 1t was found that
they saved to each carrier from an hour to
an hour and a half each day. Mr.. Harlow,
the postmaster of St.Louis, and Capt Sher-
wood Washington's postmaster, promptly
and unhesitatingly gave their fullest in
dorsement to the scheme. The innovation
is looked upon by the department as
which has every recommendation in its IA
vor. Not only does it save time both to the
carrier and to householders, but it adds a
feature of security in the posting and de-
1t was also found in the st. Louis test that
a route on which these boxes had been
placed than previous to their use.
1t was found that letters which had been
formerly written and sent down town were
mailed at home. The convenience had evil
IDENTIFY multiplied the use Of the mails. There
was increased business from increased facil-
tiles. Postmaster General Wilson believes
that If householders could be induced to
supply themselves with the convenience
of these boxes the revenues OF the govern
ment would be very greatly increased.
In issuing the order the Postmaster Cen
eral states distinctly that the householder
must consult the postmaster in regard to
the choice of box and that the carriers
will at once recognize and use it; but the
department will not assume any RESPONSE
hility for the collection of mail deposited in
any other collection boxes than those rec
cmm ended by the commission and tested
by the department, so that the selection of
a box is strictly limited to the six which
we're approved In 1891.