The herald., 1897-01-03
THE POSTAL SERVICE
Steady Increase Of Business During the
Year
Gen. Mathews Agitating for an I'm
Year-Money Order Business.

Some idea of the growth and prosper
ity of Los Angeles can be gathered from
the revenue and business done at the
general postoffice. Notwithstanding the
fact that five new stations have been es-
| tablished within the city during the pas t
year, the average daily stamp sales at
the main office during Christmas week
| amounted to 1904 per day, an increase of
$73 per day over the same period last
| year, which added to the sales at the sta
tions makes a total of about 5000 per
| day and total increase of over S15O per
| day.
During Christmas week 6S72 pieces of
mail were received for registry at the
windows, and about an equal number
will pass through the same department
| for delivery in the city, showing con-
| siderable increase over the preceding
year.
The money order business has increas-
| ed 10 per cent, representing a daily busi-
| ness OF auUut s-o,vvv
The office was never in better work.
| ing condition than at present, notwith-
standing the heavy increase in the mails
and with less force at the main office
than was employed the preceding year.
There has not been a single day dur
| ing the Christmas rush that the mail,
| either coming or going, has been delayed
| in the office.
This is the result of better business
| like system, a better understanding as
| TO what is required of each division, and
| plsnty of good, hard, willing. extra work
| on the part of all the employees.
| Another feature of this years ar
| rangement is five extra carriers, with
wagons, whose sole duty is to deliver all
the large packages received during
the Christmas week. giving the same
service they would have received had
they been sent by express, and host of
packages are being thus delivered. For
merly cards were made out and deliv-
| cred by the carriers, giving the address
ees notice that packages awaited them
at the office; but the present arrange
| ment obyiates the necessity of any such
call. Other large offices sought the same
assistance from the department, but Los
| Angeles seems to have been the only one
| favored.
Gen. Mathews has hobby, and any
one who knows the trouble, worry and
| veXation that wolSd be saved to the Of
flee, as well as the great benefit many
would receive, If this hobby can only be
made to assume tangible shape, can un-
derstand why the postmaster is contin-
uaily endeavoring to extend the carrier
limits.
recent census taken by the post
office employees of the district outside Of
the present carriers limits, but within
the city limits shows there are 1851
people who are entitled to but do not re-
ceive free delivery.
| Gen. Mathews now believes he is in {
fair way to give every one within the
city limits, except in few of the thinly
settled outlying districts, free delivery
before summer. He has fair prospect.
of having the necessary additional car
riers allowed by the departments; and
if he fails. no one vii be more disap
pointed than himself.
Mr.. Flint the postoffice inspector, II
working in perfect accord with the post
master. and is of material assistance il
securing the better postal service Il
which the people of Los Angeles are en-