The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-21

Vigorous steps are being taken by the
postoffice department to reduce the
number of free deliveries in this and
other cities in order to avoid an an
ticipated deficiency Of $150,000 in the
governments free delivery approprla-
tion. Just as vigorous means have
been taken by Colonel e. II. Ripple,
Scranton's postmaster, to avoid a
crippling OF the service here. The par
ticulars of Colonel Ripples opposition
to the proposed curtailment and the
facts furnished by him to the postal
department give reason for hope that
Scranton may escape being included in
the pruning process.
On Jan. II letter was written and sent
here from the first assistant postmaster
general, saying the time had come when
1t was absolutely necessary for the de-
partment to devise ways and means
to avoid the expected deficiency of
$3.50, 900 in the free delivery service. The
letter requested that Scranton reduce
its carrier force by reducing the num-
Der of deliveries in the residential dis
tricts from three to two, etc. Colonel
Ripple was asked to take steps to carry
out this arrangement Feb. / and notify
the department of the number of car
IleIs affected Dy the CnanBe.
telegram was received by Colonel
Ripple on Wednesday from Superin-
tendent Machen, of the free delivery
system, asking for statement by wire
of this city's schedule of carriers and
deliveries. The facts We're forwarded
Immediately. The telegram following
so soon upon the receipt of the first
assistant postmaster-generals letter
cd hot hn ariSi
commonplace.
COL. RIPPLE'S STATEMENT.
Colonel Ripple said yesterday, in re-
sponse to a Tribune reporters inquiry:
Our carrier force consists of thirty-sev-
| en- men. OF these one is an afternoon
and night collector who does not deliver
mail. OF the thirty-siX other carriers,
| ten deliver mail in the business portion
| of the city alone, eight in the business
| and residential parts combined and the
| remaining eighteen in the residential part
| alone. Except one of these, who makes
| two full deliveries each day and third
| delivery over a portion of his route on
| four days of the week, no carrier of the
| eighteen makes two full deliveries. They
| make one full delivery and not to exceed
| half OF the second delivery. II this
| delivery were reduced, the carriers would
| De unable to carry with them in one trip
the mail belonging to their respective
| routes, and still less so if those routes
| were enlarged. All these facts 1 have
sent to Washington by telegram and let
| ter.
| I did not understand from the assistant
| postmaster generals letter-and / so
wrote him-that the department con-
| templated reduction below two deliv-
cries a day in the residential districts,
| hilt 10 Mt
| delivery is so much below that point
| that II would seem almost impossible to
| reduce 1t farther without seriously EN-
| barassing our entire residential deliv-
| cry.
I assured the department / would glad
ly do what l could to help over the emer-
| Gency If after the presentation of these
facts it was decided necessary for us to
| do so. However the peculiar conditions
| concerning Scranton's great area of nine
| teen square miles will also be properly
| presented by our representative at Wash
| ington, and / trust will result in our
being left with our present service un-
disturbed-this, of course, on the pre-
sumption that the demand for a reduc-
| ton of expenses here is not absolutely
| imperative.
BOARD OF TRADE ACTS.
When the Scranton board of trade
officials ascertained yesterday that the
citys free delivery service was threat
ened with a reduction the executive
committee of that body promptly met
and adopted the following resolutions,
which are self-explanatory:
At a meeting of the executive committee
| of the Scranton Board of Trade held this
day the following resolutions were unan-
| imously adopted:
| Whereas. Our attention has been called
| to the rumor that a reduction in the
number of letter-carriers Is soon to be
made In the Scranton postoffice in obedi-
ence to orders from headquarters at
| Washington, with the end in view of re-
ducing expenses; and
Whereas, Any such reduction of the
number of letter-carriers will mean few
er deliveries, which are now less than
they should be in d city covering the ter
ritory that Scranton does, Therefore be
it
Resolved. That we deprecate any
change which will destroy the efficiency
of the present postal service, on the plea
of economy or deficiency of appropria-