Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-06
THE TREE AND THE GRAVE.

auction, excepting such books as are select
ed for the department library. Several
hundred books are added each year to the
library, which Is for the use of the officials
and clerks exclusively. They comprise
largely works Of fiction and poetry intended
for gifts.
the owner is kept for three months and
then deposited in the United States treas
ury. 1t may be reclaimed within four
years. In these books one cent receives as
much attention as $50. a receipt being
signed by each clerk through whose hands
it passes. No red tape is spared on account
The stamps are the most numerous of
all valuables received. Every time the
department Issues a fraud order against
allowed to receive its mail. Its letters are
stamped fraudulent and sent to the dead
letter office. Thousands of dollars yearly
are thus saved by the department and re-
stored to the people in money and stamps
alone. The stamps which cannot be de-
liyered are destroyed each month:
| The photographs and valuable papers
which had been kept on file were allowed
to accumulate until the summer of 1888,
when the Oldest files were destroyed. ex-
certificates. Wills and others of exceptional
value. At present only those photographs
and papers filed within the last three years
Thus Uncle Sam, with Yankee practi-
cality, utiliZes everything that comes in his
way. He realizes a neat little sum each
/ sCdI " llC nuttloh Sdlc u PdShdSOsp
from the deposit of lost money and also
from the destroyed matter sold as waste
paper.
In addition to these records is a book
which gives the postal history of lost man
uscripts. which number about 1000 yearly.
There is also a record Of inquiries Of
matter. The registered articles received
are not distributed among the six desks
named. but a separate record Is kept OF
them. SO that these are the largest of the
record books and the articles kept on file
here are miscellaneous in character.
Every month the periodicals which have
gone astray in the mails and reached the
dead letter Office are distributed among
the charitable institutions in the District.
They are the department missionaries that
cheer the sick and bless the lonely.
1t is expected that the recent order to
postmasters in regard to the palmer stamp
ing of letters will facilitate the work of
are now ordered to stamp each letter dis
tinctly with the name of the mailing Office.
1t sometimes requires half a dozen clerks
blind reading to decipher a single post
mark. This kind of stamping is usually
done in the smaller offices: The letters
legible postmark. When this ruling is en-
forced the percentage of matter returned
will be increased.
Tn amount of matter received at the
few years. This is probably due to the
efficiency of the Don't" circulars, which
are sent 10 Hi pOstIlASteTS loT lle UlsSeIIl-
nation of rules of precaution TO be OBJ
served by patrons of the mails.
This office might be called the headquart-
ers of Santa Claus. At any rate. it is
where his mail is received. Every autumn
his letters come in by hundreds, and later
by thousands. There is every variety OF
spelling and childish chirography. There /:
also a variety of places assigned as his
abiding place. such as the North Pole
Fairyland. and other places not within
reach of the postal service.
But the little folks are not the only
ones who send Indefinitely addressed let
tiers. Two examples will serve to show TIT
rare discriminating powers assigned to tn,
postal employe by the public mind.
Please deliver to a physician who is
native of either Nova Scotia. New Bruins
wick. or Prince Edward island"
Evidently the area involved was too wide
and the authorities gave up the search.
Forward or give to q widow, age 90 o
over. with dark brown hair and eyes
height. five feet two inches; name I'm
known
: At a glance this would seem an easie
8 task. To find a widow is simple enough
!. To find one with dark hair and eyes wouI
: he a more specific task. but still not oh
jectionable. Perhaps. But making 1t plain
er by using the age limit put things in
{ different light. 1t was too delicate a tasl
!. for a postman. He was human and love,
life He gave uD the lob.