The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-22
A POSTAL CLEARING HOUSE.
WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN SAVAN-
NAB AUG. L.

Banks VIII Accept Money Orders as
Checks-Merchants' National Bank
the Clearing HOuse-New Mnil
Boxes on steel Posts to BE Added
and Present System of Collection
Boxes to Be ImprOved-Carrier
Force to BE Increased.
Another batch of recommendations for
the improvement of the local postal ser
vice, submitted to the postoffice depart
ment at Washington by Postmaster Jo-
seph F. Doyle, has been adopted and or
ders issued for the work to be done at
once. The improvement consists of ia new
steel posts, a large number of new boxes,
and the overhauling of all old boxes.
These boxes will be treated to a coat of
aluminium bronze.
In addition to these new features Post
master Doyle has about completed ar
rangements for the Inauguration of what
may be termed a money order Clearing
house, which promises to be one of the
most valuable additions yet made TO the
postal service. The recommendation that
a clearing house be established to be run
in connection with the postoff1ce was made
by MI Doyle some time ago, and since
then he has been busily engaged looking
into the details of the service. The no
dce received yesterday that all necessary
blanks and other matters would be sent
the Savannah office at once did not, there
fore, come to him as a surprise.
The Merchants National Bank. the gov
eminent repository, will receive all money
orders, and will be the clearing house for
them.
IhIs will soon become a great con-
Venience to Savannah's banks and bust
ness men" said MIR. Doy.e. for whom
it was specially arranged. The arrange
ment simply means that hereafter busj-
ness men can deposit their money orders
IN bank the same as a check and have
the amount credited to their accounts
rms VIII not only save time in present
ing orders at the postofice for collection
but 1t VIII in many instances save bust
ness men the trouble of waiting two or
three days for the local office TO get the
necessary notification before paying an
order presented to it. All the banks will
honor money orders hereafter the same as
a check, for under The ARRANGEMENT that
has been made they are the same as a
check
The government sends out printed
blanks" explained Mr. Doyle. upon
which each bank at the close of business
enters the number and amount of the
money orders taken in during the day
This slip with the orders is sent in the
usual way 10 the clearing house, the Mer-
chants Bank, where the amount is paid.
or placed TO the credit of The bank making
the deposit. By the time all banks have
made their reports the postof1ce clerk
goes to the clearing house for the pur-
pose of taking up the orders received for
the day. This he clerk does at the same
hour on all business days. The plan is
simple. and VIII surely rebound to the in
terest and convenience of the banks and
business men.
The convenience to the banks is illustrat-
ed in the condition of things at ST. Louis
now and prior to the Inauguration of the
clearing house for money orders. In St
Louis there are thirty-fve banks; prior to
the change the messengers of these banks
appeared in line at the money order win
dow with packages of money orders for
payment; il was impossible for them to
await the process of examination of these
packages, hence they were Obliged TO call
later, making in all seventy applicants at
the paying clerks window, to that extent
dlscommoding other persons alike impa-
ttent to be waited upon Payments were
made in currency entaiiing danger of or
ror aud loss. The advantages are as al
ready explained. The system is in success
full operation in New York, Chicago. St.
Louis San Francisco. Cincinnati. Milwau.
kee and other large cities Savannah win
have it by Aug. l.
1t is expected the contractors who are 10
overhaul the letter boxes will be in Savan-
nah shortly to begin their work While
many new boxes will he placed, the old
ones will look like new after being treated
with aluminium bronze, which gives them
a pretty light color. The purpose is TO
make clean sweep over the city, repair
ing all boxes that need repairs and brush
ing UP those in every part of The city.
The steel posts 10 be erected, and which
order on tba n,annfoct,For ~, -