New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-13
UNITING THE POSTOFFICES,

UNlllNO lI1E IOC1O 1NGC.
ACTION BOTH BY CONGRESS AND THE
IosTOFFICE DEPARTMENT NEEDED
NO REASON FOR HASTE AND NO LIKELIHOOD
OF Ir-ABoUr SIXTY OFFICES IN THE
BoRoUGHs OF QUEENS AND RICHMOND
AN ASSISTANT POSTMASTER FOR
BROOKLYN PROBABLE.
large number of interesting questions will arise
in connection with the consolidation Of the post
offices included In the territory Of Greater New
York. which many regard as a necessary corolary
to municipal consolidation Though not inevitable,
a union Of posofilces is unquestionably desirable.
and 1t will not be long before the people Of the
rural districts soon to be made a part Of the
metropolis will be clamoring for free carrier de-
livery and other benefits that are supposed to per-
tain to ciyhood. The Postofflce Department. how
ever unless 1t departs from its usual course. will
probably be In no haste to combine even the post
Offices Of New-York and Brooklyn. to say nothing
OF the nearly threescore offices In the boroughs OF
Queens and Richmond; and before this can be done
1t will be necessary for Congress to take action.
In the first place. II Is recognized by all who have
given attention TO the subject that the general
postoflce in Brooklyn should be treated as some
thing different from simple branch station OF the
New-York office. but such treatment is impossible
except through the passage OF an act OF Congress
There Is another reason why Congressional action
Is required preliminary to any consolidation
OF the Greater New-York postofices, and this Is
that by addition TO the Postal Appropriation bill
passed last year provisions made directly at
fecting the question raised here. although not SO
intended by the author Of them. Part Of that bill
runs follows
Provided that no postofice established at any
reason Of any consolidation of postofices made by
the Postmaster General under existing law. and
any such postoffce at county seat heretofore
consolidated shall be established as separate post
office at such county eeat.
Provided that hereafter no station. sub-station
or branch postofce shall be established beyond the
corporate limits or boundaries Of any city or town
in which the principal office which such station,
sub-station branch office Is attached is located
except In the Of villages, towns or cities or
1850 more inhabitants not distant more than
five miles as near as may be from the outer bound
airy or limits OF such city or town In which the
principal office is located
CONGRESSIONAL ACTION NECESSARY.
The second provision quoted does not appear TO
apply to Greater NewYork. but the first does be-
cause Brooklyn is the county seat Of Kings Coun-
ty. Long Island City Of Queens County and Rich
n,ond of Richmond County 1t would be a simple
matter for Congress TO repeal or modify the law
Passed a
consolidation In another State; and in connection
with such repeal Congress could, II deemed desir-
pble provide that an assistant postmaster should
bs appointed for Brooklyn, who would perform sub
stantially the duties belonging TO the post
master Of that city. with the difference only that
instead OF reporting directly to the Department at
Washington he would report through the New
York Postoffce 1t would naturally follow that
contrary to established usage. the assistant post
master for Brooklyn would be included In the list
Of Presidential appointments
There has been considerable discussion already as
to the best way OF designating the various sec
tons of the enlarged city in order to simplify and
expedite the delivery OF mall matter. and wide diff
fcrences of opinion have been disclosed. The
simplest way. plainly. would be to call the whole
New York and 20 make such changes In street
names as might be required to prevent duplication
throughout the entire territory That has been
the course pursued heretofore on a small scale
when additions have been made to the territory OF
New-York and Brooklyn. There are obvious OBJ
jecions 10 It large scale as would be neces-
sary in the bigger city Hundreds Of street names
on one side OF the river or the other would have to
be altered many Of them of long standing. and
endless confusion and complaint would ensue. The
simplest solution OF the problem seems. therefore,,
to be ruled out Of court.
The question then remains whether the borough
names shall be employed or whether geographical
designations contractions would be preferable
On this head II may be said that nothing in the
way OF official action has yet been taken and MOTH
ing "a likely to be done until after municipal con-
solidation Is a fact. Apart from the consolidation
OF the postofices. 1t Is said by those we'll Informed
on postal matters that simple order OF the De-
mrtment is all that Is needed TO determine whether
a letter for Brooklyn Heights shall be addressed to
BROOKLYN. New-York" or "New-York East" or
"New-York South" as the case may be. Whatever
the Department may do 1t is certain that for many
years to come letters FOR Brooklyn will be ad-
sent to Williamsburg" Harlem" "Fiatbush'
and SO on although these places have no actual
existence save as neighborhood names.
CONSOLIDATION WILL TAKE TIME.
In previous extensions OF territory in New-York
and BROOKLYN the postofice authorities have been
deliberate In making the annexed districts parts
OF the previously existing postal districts. In the
ca sc OF the latest addition to this city 1t took the
greater part OF year to wipe out the old post
offices and extend the carrier service the people
living beyond the Bronx. and when the last towns
OF Kings County wero added to Brooklyn two years
or more passed before they were all made part
Of the Brooklyn postal district. With the large
region soon TO be embraced In Greater New-York
II Is believed that still more time will be required
10 effect complete postofilce consolidation. even II
all existing obstacles should be promptly removed
by Congressional action.
From a well-informed Official II Is learned that
there are twenty postofIlces in Richmond County.
all of which will come into the city at the be-
ginning OF next year, while IN the Borough OF
Queens there are more than forty. X the six sta
tions included In Long Island City be counted as
separate posi- Offices The full list Is follows:
BOROUGH OF QUEENS.