The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-08-18
RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE
Something About Assistant Gen.
eral Superintendent.
ALEXANDER GRANT OF MICHIGAN.


Known Than He Is--A Hard Worker
Genial and Entertaining.
Washington, Aug. Alexander
Grant, assistant general superintendent
of the railway mail service. is one of the
best known Michigan men in the nation
al capital.
lie is an active member Of the Michi
gan association and never tires Of
sounding the praises OF his native state.
Mr.. Grant was born at Monroe. Mich.
about 40 years ago. He is Of Scotch pa
rentage and is endowed with all the
sturdy characteristics Of the Scotch peo-
pie. Some say that Alex Grant is stub
born, but he can't help it, for he was
born that way" At any rate, those
who come in contact with him always
find him courteous and genial antag-
onist.
There are few young men in Washing
ton better known than Mr.. Grant, as he
has been for a number Of years past the
president of the Columbia Athletic club
one of the most prominent clubs in
Washington, and he has been an active
and Woodworking member ever since
It's organization. His unflagging inter-
est in athletic sports has endeared him
to all lovers Of athletics in the city, and
made him a wel-known figure in all
athletic events. That, however, is his
recreation. His business is the railway
mail service with which he has been
connected, as the old legends go. since
the memory Of man runneth not to the
contrary"
Clerk i'm "A postOfIice
Mr.. Grant entered the railway mail
service Immediately after graduating
! from the high school at Monroe, Mich,
! more years ago than he is willing to adj
init. He was first employed as a clerk
in the postofice under General Spalding,
now the honored congressman from the
Second Michigan district. He remained
! in that position about two years when
| he was given a place on the Flint and
| Pere Marquette railroad as a postal
| clerk, and many are the stories he tells
Of his experiences on that line, which
at that time opened up the finest pine
belt in the state, but which was decided
| ly new in every respect. Floods and
| fires were common incidents, and rail-
reading in that section had all the ex-
elements usually associated with the
frontiers of the far west. After two
years on that road he was transferred
to the through line between New York
and Chicago, and assisted in building up
that line which is now the greatest mail
route in the world.
Eight years of road work eminently
fitted him for the higher positions he
has since held. AS examiner at Cleve-
land, o., and as chief clerk and assist
ant superintendent at Washington, he
has shown knowledge of detail and an
acquaintance with all the varying con-
dtions of the service, which could only
be gained by actual experience. Mr..
Grant has for many years been regard
ed as an authority on all matters ap-
pertaining to the railway mail service.
His recent accession to the position OF
assistant general superintendent is re-
garded as q well merited recognition OF
his efforts for the upbuilding of the
service, and his many friends look to see
him go still higher.
Known to Thousands
Every postal clerk in the United
States, and there are nearly six thou
sand of them, knows Alex Grant by rep
utation because his name has for many
years been signed to general orders
which are spread broadcast in The
, Postal Bulletin, a daily publication OF
postal orders. Every one of the divis-
ion superintendent throughout the
. country is personally acquainted with
: Mr.. Grant, and probably majority OF
+ all postal clerks have at different times
, met with, and became acquainted with
him. He is always on duty and fire.
, uuently goes to the department at night
} | TO look after important official business
| and upon q change of administration
he has been known to go to the depart
ment and attend to a great deal OF cor
respondence on Sundays, in order to keeI
5 pace with the growing needs OF the
service.
Although he Is austere Of manner, Of
] ficially. and always dignified In his OIL
' cial position, among his friends he 1:
one of the most genial and entertaining
, | men in any branch of the public service
The general superintendent, who has
spent nearly a lifetime in the railway
mail service, relies upon Mr.. Grant FOL
n large portion of the executive work
and places great reliance In his knowl
g edge and Interpretation Of the posta
laws and regulations. He can refer t.
. every statute and every ruling or tn
i department as readily as the mos
4 learned theooglan can refer to tn
chapters and verses of the Bible.
Many thousands Of letters are an
nually received at the headquarters
the railway mail service in Washing
i ton. and a majority of these communi
r cations are replied to by Mr.. Grant
r who dictates many letters to stenogra
pliers every day and also writes scor
9 or more of letters daily with his owl
!. hand. All of these communications ar
of official Importance, and every let
6 ter received contains some inquiry, IN
n answer to which is of importance l
u the writer.
Encyclopedia of Postal Information
No man could possibly attend to tai
!, correspondence without having fu
!, knowledge Of every detail of the posta
service and the laws and regulation
- governing II. With the daily mail ope
before him on his desk, Mr.. Grant dc
tates replies without ever being ophge
10 refer to laws or postal rulings HI
. brain is an encyclopedia of postal In
formation. and he draws upon his mem
= ory at will, and that without any az
!. parent effort
ira. oascial position often requires MI