New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-07
WOULD CRIPPLE SERVICE.
FEWER DELIVERIES LIKELY TO REDUCE
POSTOFFICE RECEIPTS.

POSTMASTER VAN coTT Is SURPRISED AT The
PROPOSED INFRINGEMENT AND ARGUES
AGAINST rT-NEw-YoRK's LARGE LOCAL
BUSINESS 4 SOURCE OF REVENUE
TO THE DEPARTMENT.
It was reported from Washington YESTERDAY N"
Assistant Postmaster-General Heath hau "e'e''
mined that the daily postal deliveries III 'ne resF
dence sections Of cities shall not exceed the hummer
OF four and that Mr. Heath had under considera-
ton n reduction Of one-third In the numoer OF de-
lver,es In the business section of New YORK Tnis
cl:y has at present seven daily deliveries IN inc
residence and fourteen in the business sec''ohs'
Postmaster Van Colt. when seen in relation 20 the
rumor, said:
I have received as yet no official notice Of such
intention on the part OF the Washington author.t s';
and my only knowledge In the mater rs sa'nV IT.
be any reduction in the number Of business deliy-
cries in this city although It may be true tnat me
limiting the number Of deliveries In their residence
sections Such rule would be extremely di,ncut
stores Offices and banks are scattered thcky ~.
through the city and our business scion
For example take Broadway. Fifth-ave. or any
yersitv of the business interests throughout their
lengths To apply limit OF tqq iro qay od nrov
productive OF great inconvenience, and probaoy
entail positive loss. ,.r....,l,
4
downtown. | am surprised at the report. ana can
not believe that the authorities are contemplating
the earnings Of this occ for the last year and
the report Of the committee which came rom
Washington months ago 10 investigate me
service here and 10 recommend ans lor us ~
tension. our office curing 1891 earned more tn"n
$3.50 1 and after deducting expenses, had hft
earnings Of nearly $4,000. The Increase In the
sale Of stamps was over $5o."l -,.. = ,.-
As the committees report shows. nearly % per
cent Of tho receipts are from mall Originating l
within the city limits for local delivery anG an,
larry n
G9nyiTSea att l9Sr to he vide the business
community makes Of the m m' ,be o" deyery which
With the aid OF the pneumatic service we eoPe
sbo her Should be immediate results FOR when
reduced the time Of the har ssIa Of snecia de-
one hour to one-h$f hour the Sa'' u
am that the saving nat wVu'I ,ld he far
more than offset by the decrea sed recsig o ID us
Offices. and that the business service
Where thcy now use the mails ,-.... ,or ,ho
Tho dedct Of the Postofice Department for ne
current wear II is estimated. Will amount 70 mearK
30 GOO 0o5 and every effort Is being maze 70 cs .a
york which paws in Sj0ooOoO toward meeting tt-
deceit caused by 9 9dft % 2 bor own So"''
We should have increase, not decrsase IL.
the number Of our deliveries II the au,nO ,n6
hayf TeGaHe ocal no,caon that effect
within the next fe" days
Tho report Of the committee which investigated
tho New-York service several months ago said;
are comnd 6 to s saFS an" %t apPFRRTh
change Of mails is made betweehtnr dlze"i IN lT
large percentage Of letters thnS originate IN ~.
city for city delivery proporonatey eNC'rps t.rt
of any other city. and is further evidence OF tne
efHciency and accuracy Of the service. II mas Dcch
foi:rd I'm many Instances. Nhere count anu jus -
lion hava been made. that as high as =" per cent
of the letters collected at given station or stations
WAS for local delivery. II Is estimated shd' wy
average Of mail originating IN this city ror I9.n.
delivery Is anout a. per cent. This YOU VIII reai
see can only he accomplished where the local
service Is well nigh perfection. II II DO areueu
that the cost Of the service In New-fork city +
rroa, vour committee believes that. since this
service produces the largest possible revenue WIZ
Tho lea :, cost in comparison with mails NAL
mus. be TRANSPORTED long distances over the ran
WAYS tho wisdom OF the Department IN MAKING
very generous allowances In the matter OF sd
lions messenger service. street-railway service
and now IN tho near future. the pneumatic tupe
is fully justified, and we believe that the VISION
Of Us action will be more clearly defined when the
pneumatic tube is in full operation
Washington. Jan. 6.-Aready protests have been
received against intention the Postoi1ce De-
partment entertains TO limit the number Of mali
deliveries in residential parts OF the large cities
OF the East 70 four per day. To-day Representative
Qulrs OF New-York city. called at the Department
and set forth the dissatisfaction which the new
order would give in New-York. il put into opera
ton 1t IS probable that some united action vii!
be taken by the delegation from The metropolis.
With 2 view TO a modification Of the order. The
Department officials say that the order Will be put
into effect unless ample provision is made by con-
sress t. continue the present practice and at the
same time give cities In the west equally adequate
service.