Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-30
FOR CARRYING THE MAILS
Increasing the Efficiency of the Post Office
Department.
Three Recent Important Inventions
by officials Which Will Shortly
Be Used In the Service.

Three important inventions, designed to
promote the efficiency of the Post Office
Department in the matter of carrying the
mails, have just been made public The
most important is a railway mail pouch,
provided with a mouth or opening so con-
structed as to be instantaneously closed
The pouches now in use are all equipped
with rather intricate devices for locking
and closing. One side of the bag is made
little longer than the other and provided
with metallic faced slots which engage
staples on the other side. Through these
staples strap Is passed, the end being
locked to the last one. Considerable time
was lost in locking this bag, and in the
railway mail service, where every sec
ond counts. it Is absolutely necessary to
equip the service, with devices calculated
to save time.
The new bag, which is the invention of
Superintendent Severe, Inspector McMur-
ray and Chief Graham, is an ingenious de-
vice, simple in construction and eaSy and
certain in action.
After the pouch is formed it is laid fiat
and the sides of the mouth folded over,
forming triangular head. A portion of
the peak Of this head is cut off, leaving a
single gusset on the side. On the front and
back of this portion is cut off, and to it
stitched a section Of leather, running cross
wise, five and a half inches deep, the
lenSln according 10 the width OF the Dag.
In the center of these two sections of
leather is cut a slot crosswise, extending
through the material, the slots being REIN
forced by brass grommets. On the side
extending across the mouth of the bag is
attached a section of leather or flap, four
inches and half deep and the length of
the side of the mouth of the bag. Near
each end of these two section flaps is cut
a slot or hole, running lengthwise and
inforced by brass grommets, SO arranged
as to be in line with the slots in the sec
ton of the leather on the front and back.
On the back of the mouth of the pouch is
a leather flap fastened by rivets and burrs
of sufficient width to fold over the mouth
of the pouch when closed. On the end of
this flap is a staple or keeper, long enough
to extend through all the slots, which are
In line and come together when the mouth
of the bag is closed. To this staple the
lock which secures the bag is attached.
The advantages claimed for this bag
an increase of the mouth area and quick
ness in closing and securing the same.
New Kind of Saddle Bag.
Another invention is new kind of sad
die bag for carrying the mail, designed by
Superintendent Severe. The present bag is
made entirely of leather, and beside being
very expensive is very perishable, the
sweat from the horses back easily Destroy
ing it. The new bag combines durability
with cheapness. the cost being very ma
terially less than that of the present bag.
This new bag is made of a combination of
extra heavy canvas and leather, pads of
the latter being stitched to the canvas
where it comes in contact with the horse.
Two wearing services are thus provided,
one of leather and the other of canvas.
A third invention is the conceit of Mr..
Fernandez resident of Washington, and
consists simply of squarirg the bottom of
a mail bag, whereby mail matter, especially
publications, may be more compactly bag
ged.
These inventions are all the property of
the United States and will shortly be used
in connection with the service.