Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-13
FOUND TONS OF MAIL.
Carloads of Undelixcred Letters Dis.
covered In a Post Ohice.
From the Chicago Chronicle

Carloads of Undelixcred Letters Dis
covered In Post Office.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
There is a post office in the southern
part of this state that claims the world s
record for the delaying, Withholding and
concealment of mail
A few days ago it was noticed that some
mail postmarked 1888, 1890, 1891 and 1892
was being returned to the writer's, and had
thus been gone from six to ten years be-
fore being returned. This aroused curiosity
and inquiry was made. The postmaster
appointed to this famous office in 1880 was
considered very good man. but did not
possess the qualifications necessary to con-
duct post office and so his daughter look
ed after the management of the office.
There were frequent complaints soon after
by patrons of the Office that they did not
receive all the mail due them, but these
complaints were not made to the Post Of
flee Department, as the man in charge of
the office was considered entirely honest.
SO matters drfted along until 1890. when
the postmaster died, and his daughter was
appointed to succeed him. After that COM
plants were more frequent than ever COM
ing from publishers and business men as
well as private citizens.
TWO years ago she failed to make two
quarterly reports to the authorities at
Washington. This aroused the department.
and an inspector was sent there to make
an investigation, and he made quite a dis
covery. She had in front of the Office q
large wooden case with closed back ex-
cept for one delivery window about 10. by
II inches. This completely INSTRUCTED the
view of the public to what was back of
the wooden structure.
When the inspector entered this part of
the Office he found more than two wagon
loads OF mail stacked upon the floor like
stove wood. He spent two busy days ex-
amining this astonishing amount Of unde-
l1vered mail. When he had finished he
looked more like a wayfarer than an in
spector. This ended the duties of the post
mistress. The Inspector supposed that he
mad recovered all the mail, as he made a
thorough investigation, and was informed
by the postmfstress that 1t was all and
strange as it may seem, the book accounts
OF the money order department were found
to be correct.
In August 1897, the incumbent took
charge of the office. A short time after
ward the former postmistress was taken
sick and many neghbors called to see her
one or them. more inquisitive than the rest.
removed nall from a door leading to the
stairway. He entered room above the
former post office and there his discover
les were astonishing. Heaped on the floor
were no less than three wagon loads of
mail. the Accommodations of wears The man
who made the discovery notified the pres
ent postmaster. who in turn notified the in
spector. and he was no other than the man
VINO mad two years previously spent two
days in the same building.
The postmaster was instructed to take
charge of all this mail and deliver or re-
turn all the first-claSs mail that he could
and send the remainder to the dead letter
office. This work was done by the post
master and five assistants. They found the
room, which was about lexis feet Ia be
hlled to depth Of about two and one-haIf
feet with mail
Here were also found eighteen mail sacks
and one pouch, all filled with mail Boxes
chests, barrels and closets were also full
Mail was found in the walls of the room as
well as in the space between ceiling and
floor. number of checks and notes were
found. The amount called for by some
checks was much as $500, while single
notes We're for as much as $1,6211S The
note OF the latter amount should have been
sent to an Illinois post office of the same
name. Deeds and mortgages were also
scattered about. There are in the United
States thirty-three post offices by the same
name as the one under discussion. and
nearly all of these are represented by some
of the mail. Over 200 letters were found
with the corner torn off where the stamp
should have been.
What the object was in thus accumulate
ing and storing away mail Is a mystery
which will likely never be known.