The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-07
Ito Be contipued.)
NEW Works. POSTMASTERs.

An Once That Seems to Lead to Higher
Things or Long Life or 10th.
The first postmaster of the city Of New
York got bis commission from Thomas
Jefferson. He was Theodorua Bailey, a
resident of Poughkeepsie. He was a Unit
cd States senator. having as his colleague
De Witt Clinton, but he resigned his place
in the senate to become postmaster Of New
York, which was then city Of about 5000,
and the postal business of which amount
ed to few hundred letters day instead
of the present volume Of business, which
yields to the federal government a net
profit Of $1,000, 000 year. He had pre-
viously been member of the Legislature,
be had enjoyed the distinction which came
to senator's In the early years Of the coun-
try's life, and he held the Office of postmas-
ter for "a years.
Andrew jackson appointed the next
postmaster, who continued In office for
eight years. His name was Jonathan Cod
diDgton. Nine years before bis appoint
ment Coddington was a member Of the
legislature, at time when all the men,
bers were elected on one ticket, and he
held tho office Of postmaster until John
Tyler appointed another tnan in has place.
Tylers propensity for appointing men In
other mems places led to considerable
friction in his time, and it led, 1t is sup
posed, to some of the denunoiations which
were made Of Tyler, denuneiations emanat-
ing from those who were displaced. Presi
dent Pierce appointed as postmaster Of
" T1,ulor hp
important parsonage In the politics Of his
day. He had as his successor John A. Dix,
whose commission came from James Buoh
anan. General Dix-he was not then a
general-was born in 1893, and at the
time Of his selection as postmaster he was
known rather irreverently and certainly
inaccurately as "Old Dix" He had pre-
viously been-27 years before-secretary Of
state at Albany; ho had been legislator
and Is years before had been chosen a
United States senator. He was aftorward
assistant secretary Of the treasury, and his
acceptance Of the office Of postmaster of
New York was thought to round out his
career. He was the second United States
senator to become postmaster. So far
from rounding out his career, General
Dixs acceptance Of the office of postmaster
might truthfully be said to have begun it
again. In January, 1851, he was appoint
ed secretary of the treasury Of tho United
States, later on he became general in
the Union army still later American min
lister to France, and finally, on Jan. /,
1878, governor Of the state Of New York
General Dix died in April, 1879, at the age
Of 81 years. He was 60 when appointed
postmaster.
Two postmasters of New York were sp-
pointed during President Linooln's term
-Abram Wakeman and James Kolly-and
two during Grants term-Mr. Jones and
Mr.. James, both still active President
Harrison appointed Cornelius Van Colt
nine years ago and President Mckinley
reappointed him after the expiration Of the
four years tenure of Charles W. Dayton,
appointed by President Cleveland. The
Office Of postmaster of New York leads
usually to higher things for those who
leave it and to long life to those who don't.
New York Sun.