The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-02
New Workers Will Soon
Post Their Letters.
Will Also Be Able to Obtain
Postage Stamps There
House 10 House System OF Gather.
ing Mail 10 BE Introduced.

New York, April Am announcements
of particular interest 10 residents oi his
city is contained I'm an order issued low
DAYS ago by the postmater general IN
cluding New York in the house to house
collection and delivery system ana pro
yidinV for the sale by letter Carriers Oh
hostage stamps of certain denominations
Io householdcrs This means that you
may post your letters and obtain stamps
without leaving your house.
The system of house to house collee
tion is not a new one III the ohlteu
States. having been in operation In othcf
cities as an experiment for "A considerable
time In 1892 an order was issued py inc
postmaster general appointing com.
mittee consisting of the postnasters oi
New York, st. Louis Washington anu
Boston To examine and report, upon
several sample letter boxes subnittd hy
inventors intended to meet the require
ments of the proposed new system.
The styles recommended by the corn-
mttee for adoption were those whloh pro
| yided for device To be attached to ~
| door slot which kept out tho wind ana
| rain and had an automatic covering.
! Another provided for receptacles where
| tho mail could be deposited by the car
rier and the householder and also was
| provided with an automatic signal which
Indicated the presence of letters.
An order extending the system to Wash
| inpton and St Louis was issued. House
| holders were Obliged to purchase tho boxes
| Mt their own expense. The system worked
| well for the time being; but for some
reason the postoflice department rescinded
| the order few months later, before III
| had received "A thorough trial.
| The order was rcissucd on Jan. ~, 1870,
| however, and from time TO time Boston,
| Atlanta, Cleveland san Francisco, New
| Orleans Detroit, Portland, Me, St.
| Albans VT, Tacoma, Wash, Minneap-
| oils and other cities were added. On Dee.
IL. 1886, the sy stem was extended To pro
vide for the sale of postage and special
| delivery stamps by letter carriers.
The experimental stage having been
passed the Post Office Department decided
"A few days ago that the system conlc
safely bo introduced In New York. AL
that Is now necessary for the immediate
operation Of the system here Is the erection
bv citizens. in accordance will
| the regulations prescribed by the depart
inent of the approved devices
| The gain in time by carriers in deliver
ing mail is one Of the most inportan
points, ms the man does not have To wal
FOR door bells To Do answ cred.
l. The sale To hOuscholders by letter car
ricrs of postage stamps Is one OF the mos
convenient features OF the new system
and IL is expected that the sale Of stamp
will be increased largely Each collcctio
, and delivery box which IL placed IN
house will be provided with n patent ei
vclope On It's back are printed dirct
/ tions for the guidance of carriers M
patrons These include the statement tina
the envelope is the property OF the Unite
, States. and that stamps In the quantitit
of five ones, five twos, twenty-five ones
twenty-five twos and two fves viii be de
livered by the letter carriers 10 users {
the boxes when ordered in the envelope
Persons are directed 10 mark with
cross the square on the order slip opposil
, the number and denomination OF STAMP
! the householder wishes delivered. III }
| wishes To post unstamped matter he -
indicate that fact In the plnce provides
Tho name and address of the household
: | must be written plainly on the lines II
! | dicated on the order slip.
The order slip is then to be placed
the envelope with the exact amount
money TO pay for the stamps ordered, an
| i'm such manner that the carrier can "
the order and count the money withoi
removing the order from the envelop
which H. made Of transparent cclluloi'
Carriers will not be permitted 20 maj
change nor will householdcrs be PC
5 | mitted 10 detain them In the conduct
the now system.
Mr. Morgan superintendent OF the ci
delivery department, said yesterday Tn
Q | no appropriation would be made Tor az
| additional work which the system III,
| require on the part of letter carriers N
' | will the force Of carriers bc increased.
II il found that the new system entail
more work thnn the carriers can accOr
4 plish the number of deliveries each d'
. will be reduced.