The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-25
NEW DELIVERY SYSTEM
WHAT 1T COSTS TO MAINTAIN POST
OFFICE STATIONS IN THIS CITY.
Statement of the Business Tramsa cted
During Last MOnth-The New
Sub atiOnss

office stations in this city really worth what
it costs to operate them?' People living in
the districts of Stations A. and b have
complained they do not get their mail as
early under the station system they did
when it was delivered by carriers from the
main postoffice. This is explained by Post
master Hess to be due to the fact that the
mail for people in the station districts must
be worked" both at the postofice and at
the stations. This, of course, is time lost.
But when Mr.. Hess materializes the plans
which he has for the mail service in this
city the postoffice stations will show them
selves to be valuable. 1t is proposed to OPP
crate system here like that of New York,
st. Louis, Chicago and other Of the larger
cities. The mail is worked" on the trains
before they enter the city. The clerks are
expected to be familiar with the city and
its system of stations. The mail is pouched
for the stations and is taken directly to
them without passing through the postoffice.
In this way as much time is saved as is
now lost under the system in this city.
Postmaster Hess says in view of the COM
ing improvement of the mail service he
wants the patrons of the stations to ask
their correspondents to address them with
the letter of the station as well as the
street and number Mr.. Hess feels that as
soon as the new plan becomes cpel alive
the mail service for INDIANAPOLIS will be
worthy of the growing city that it is.
A SERGEANT OF CARRIERS.
In addition to the improvement which
will be caused by the new system of pouch
ing mail on trains for station districts the
whole city is to be redistricted for carriers
&c hn nf oyf of
riers, which Mr.. Hess asks be added to the
indianapolis mail force, is created The SER
geant will go over the city and so arrange
the districts of the carriers that time may
be gained in distributing mail. AS it is now
the routes of several carriers conflict, one
entering the district of another. This will
be done away with A map of the city, with
carriers routes marked out, will be studied
with the purpose of getting the best re-
suits in mail delivery. Postmaster Hess has
prepared a statement Of the business and
expense of the stations for the month of
June, and other information about the new
system.
One of the busiest offices is Station A,
at the southeast corner of Illinois street
and Mclean place. This station has charge
of the collection and delivery of all mail
north of Sixteenth street TO the city limits
fhe c %eS' EI ao nsdng North indianan 70
oils. For the month of June the ten car
riers who go out from Station A made twen-
ty deliveries daily and 102, $50 pieces of first
class mail were handled. The amount of
second-class mail handled was 1880 pieces.
One hundred and thirty-eight registered
letters and parcels were also handled. The
receipts from the sale of stamps stamped
envelopes, postal cards, etc, amounted to
$451.S9. The expense of maintaining Station
A for the month Of Tune aggregated $1O71.7 Y.
The carriers pay roll Of $4,000 is included
in the general expenses.
Station B. situated at 1927 Hillside avenue,
cost the government $92S. 50 for the month
of June. The receipts were $247.29 Station B
has ten carriers, who made twenty deliver
les daily during the month. There was ham
died $500 pieces of first-class mail and $3.50
pieces of Second-class mall The SubStationS
do not deliver mail. They are intended as
neighborhood conveniences and are mostly
located in drug stores in their respective
districts Stamps are sold money orders is
sued and letters and parcels registered at
all substations The cost of these stations
to the government is limited to 500 a year,
except the one located at the Union Sta
ton. which does a postoftfce business equal
to that of many towns. Following is a list
of the substations Of the city and the
clerks in charge: No l. Union Station
Eugene M. Wilson and James C. Wheat;
No. 2. West Indianapolis, Charles c.. Hahn;
No 3, Brightwood, Jacob b. Caskey; No. 4,
West Indianapolis, A. "A Gauld; No. 5,
Jackson, Thomas NJ Neal; No. Z, 1888 South
Meridian street. Charles Broich; No. s. 1901
l., y.
East Tenth street, L. w. Holmes: No. 10,
1862 Virginia avenue, William Kaiser; No.
II, 2i06 East Washington street, James r.
Lambert; No. -, 1912 College avenue. A.
Undertake.
BENEFIT OF sUBsTATIONs.
The substations have been in operation
but few days, and, therefore, their value
cannot be determined. AS is we'll known,
the mail service of the country is operated
al locc 70 tbo cyovarpyrapt THE o,,ae+;ov,
in this city. therefore, will not be whether
or not the stations and substations are OPP
Grated at a money loss. but whether they
are 81 convenience to the people. Postmaster
Hess is satisfied that when the mail is de-
livered directly to the stations it will be at
once found they are of great benefit. AS
an aid to better mail service Mr.. Hess de-
sires to lay before the people of the city
several suggestions which he hopes will be
followed. Addresses on envelopes should not
be written with lead pencil. In handling the
mail the envelopes rub together obliterat-
ing the addresses if they are written with
a pencil Many times 1t is necessary to ex
anime with large magnifying glass adj
dresses on envelopes written with lead
pencil This scheme does not always sue
coed in deciphering the address, and many
letters are sent to the dead letter office be-
cause their writers do not use pen and ink.
Another cause of loss is sending currency
in letters In many instances the metal
wears through the envelopes and is lost for
ever to the owners Besides there is no way
of tracing currency stolen from the mails
If the letters containing il are not regis
tered. Letter writers should always place
their names and addresses on the upper
left-hand corner of the envelopes unless
they are already printed there. This precau-
ton would prevent a multitude of letters
from finding their way to the dead letter
Office. BY following these suggestions the
people can aid the postal authorities great
iy In bringing the service up 10 the high
standard which is desired.