The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-06
Observation-Disclosures
.,oM ? DELITERIEs 10 4 IN THE
vrsIDENCE PART OF NEW FORK.

m. Iess-The Force or Carriers to ne re.
,...a-au This TO Make Up tho Dcpart-
amt. sie. 900. o Deficit. Though the
r,v York once Earns SS, 900. 900 . Year.
WARRINGTON, Jan. 5.-Acting upon tho
.,,oted suggestion Of the House Committee on
a., Offices, which Is now framing the annual
.rnropriatlon bill, Assistant Postmaster-Gen-
ii Heath has determined upon q reduction IN
A. number of daily mail deliveries In the resi-
ssres portions Of New York city from seven to
sonr. There is a possibility, moreover. that the
,umber Of deliveries in the business section
iii also be reduced, unless the committee can
"a brought to 500 the impossibility Of handling
Tho business of the Office on q reduced delivery
,cbedule. Mr.. Heath was called before the
committee several days ago to discuss the ques-
linn OF the deficiency for the Post Office De-
nartment, which will amount this year to about
$40 900, 900. As q result Of q general desire for
economy, the members are not inclined to DO
liberal with the department, and when Il was
called to their attention that New York was
receiving seven deliveries q day in the residen-
t.l portion and twelve to fourteen in the bust
ness portion they saw a chance.
Mr., Heath called to their attention the fact
OF the great amount Of business done in New
York, and said that tho large business houses
were entitled to receive their mail as soon as
possible after it was received at the Post Office.
lie thought the interests of the commercial
houses demanded this. and he also pointed out
that tho congestcd condition Of the New York
Post Office imperatively demanded that mail
should not DO permitted to accumulate, as there
would be danger OF the office being blocked.
After u thorough discussion Of the subject
tho members Of tho committee and Mr.. Heath
.rraa1 that tho huqinaaa and rnSiIenrn porfinna
OF other cities were entitled to an adequate ser
vice as veil as the ,r6sideptial portions of New
York city. and Mr.. Heath was instructed to
draw up some plan by which the appropriation
Tor carrier service could cover q greater amount
Of ground than 1t docs now. This resulted in
tho adoption Of n regulation that tho delivery
Of mail in all cities of the country should DO
limited to four deliy n day in the residen-
tial portion. the number of deliveries for the
business section to be limited by the demand.
In addition to New York. there will be sew
eral other cities. including Boston and Philu-
delphia, affected by this regulation. There are
at present six deliveries a day in Boston and
Philadelphia in the residential section. The
number will bo reduced to four. In Chicago
there has never been but -four deliveries per
diem.
In speaking of the matter to o SUN reporter
to-day Mr.. Heath said that the system grew
out Of tho old practice Of permitting a Post
master to regulate the schedules of carriers
himself. He asked for his appropriations in a
lump sum aud they were so given, and he up.
portioned them to suit his own ideas. This
method will be changed and, the Postmaster
will be required to submit his schedules to the
department for approval and when IN ~increase
Of carriers Is requested the proposed schedules
will be submitted SO that the department can
seo just what disposition is being made of
them. By shortening the number of trips the
lengths of the routes can be extended and the
services Of q large number. of carriers in. New
York can be dispensed with. IN each city the
business district will be bounded. In New
York it may possibly BIO laid out so as to in.
clude y the territory between Forty third
str ID the Battery and Seventh avenue and
Thii- avenue and the river. In this territory
as many deliveries will nc made q day as posi-.
bic and in tho remaining portions of New York
there will be but four a day.
The percentage of'the cost of delivery in Kew
York Is 17M per cent. the lowest rate In the
country. This, however; is partially offset by
the clerk hire, the percentage OF the latter being
2O.4 per cent. In Cincinnati, the next lowest
to New York. the percentage of the cost of de-
livery is 1874 per cent. but the cost of clerk hire
is but 1872 per cent. In Chicago the cost of de-
livery is 2l.5 per cent. and that of clerk hire is
only 1877 per cent, The new schedules will be
drawn up at once and go into effect as soon as
possible. If the small offices In Greater New
York arc consolidated with tho New York
office, and the free delivery BY stem extended to
cover these districts, the'services of the carriers
who may BIO let out by the new regulation can
be utilized In the new territory. Otherwise
they will probably BIO dispensed with entirely.
Postmaster Van CotJ said last night that the
proposal to contract tho delivery system of the
city was news to him. He said that of q sug-
eestion to extend the service would have sur
prised him less in view Of the fact that the Post
ofico of Now York is u source of large revenue
to the Government.
During tho last year" he said, "our sales Of
postage stamps, postals and stamped envelopes
alone amounted, in round numbers, to $780,
600. To this were added the registry and money
order fees. Tho expense OF running the office
for the year was about $3.5O0.GOO Tho increase
In sales of stamps. &C.. for tho year was just
about $500 900. .F.
Now l believe that the better service New
York business men get the moro they will use
the mails. i proved 1t during my first term by
reducing the time between the main office and
Harlem from one hour to half OF one hour.
immediately the sales of special delivery
stamps more than doubled. / honestly believe
that II business people here find that these mails
are not delivered AZ quickly as possible they will
be driven to the use of messenger boys. the tsle-
graph, and the telephone to an extent that will
Tell seriously on the revenue of the department.
Our carriers are overworked even now.
ihelr loads arc as heavy rs they can proftably
carry, even with seven to ten deliveries a day.
ihere Is no slack season. and the rush season,
when men have to work overtime. Is becoming
longer and longer every year.
i should be very sorry IL Congress. in its wis
aom' should change the policy OF the New York
once l am sure nothing good would result
IRON such u change. and that the service In gen.
er"l would DO seriously affected for tho worse"
FOUND n L BED OF ESCALLOPs.