The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-25
BUSY CARRIERS.
Express Companies and the POstoflice
Department Overworked With
Largely Increased Business.

The public has a very small idea OF the
trouble 1t has been largely responsible for
during the past two weeks. and no one out
side of the express Offices and the post
office could tell of the tons of valua bic mat
ter that have within very brief time been
sent away from and received at Seattle.
Nothing like figures have been compiled,
as statements for a months business are
not made up until the following month.
but IL is certain that the larger population
Of this city and the general Improvement
In commercial conditions nave nearly il
rot quite doubled the business in the Of
fees Of the express companies and in the
mails In and out OF the Queen City during
the past year.
Superintendent Waring at the Great
Northern express office stated yesterday
that no estimates of weights, number Of
packages or values had been made. IN
the early part OF the Christmas ship
ments,' said he. our line was badly
Handicapped by the washouts and slides
on the Great Northern railway, but ii is
safe TO say that the general Increase is at
least 80 per cent. since Christmas ship
ments began. The business has been stead
iiy increaing in the past several months.
however, and IL did not wait for the hoii-
days to demonstrate a better condition of
the times"
The Western and Dominion express COM
panies. operating over the Canadian Pa
ciffc railway, report n large Christmas
business; one that Is entirely satisfactory
to the lines and fiatterlng for the prospects
for the future. The Western and Do
minion express companies are the new
corners and there are hundreds of Seattle
people who are In ignorance of the fact
that these lines have an office here
superintendent Harlow, of the Northern
Pacific Express Company, congratulates
.SAfH tE.aA h. 4
cfiic have been open for business, with but
temporary delays. His force. augmented
by two extra clerks and two extra delivery
wagons, has been working from 8 o'clock
In the morning until II o'clock at night
The pressure brought on the service IS one
OF the heaviest in it's history and every
effort has been exerted 10 handle the bust
ness satisfactorily 10 the patrons Still.
Mr.. Harlow says there have been COM
| plants, but that when the situation mas
been explained TO people. particularly
| those living in outlying districts and in
| the suburbs. they have appreciated the diff
fcuities the company has had 10 contend
| with and have been reasonable. The aver
| age daily income has been in excess of 500
| over last year
There has been no more animated cor
ner in Seattle than around the postotfice.
| where lines of people-rnen and women
| Hiike-have reached out TO the sidewalks
| from the stamp. registry and money order
| windows and the general delivery Yes
| ttrday Assistant Postmaster Corkett
/ stated that the registered mail and money
| order business had amounted 10 more in
| the eleven months To December | than u
| had in all Y 1895. The general business
| had Increased four-fold since June OF the
| present year When one man took things
| easy running the general delivery window
/ prior 20 July, three are now necessary and
| request Tor another temporary appoint
| nirht mas been telegraphed 10 the postoffice
| department at Washington. December
TWO carriers were added 20 the forre maxi
| lns IN all twenty-five carriers working at
| present The stamp sales are twice what
| thaY were year ago. The Increase IN the
j money order and registered mail depart
m"nts IN November was over rs per cent.
| There is one extra man In the mailing. de-
/ parimen' and another in the registry de-
/ partment.