The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-08
ADVANCE OF POST OFFICES.
r,aUsEs UHPRECEDESTED IN the
DFP<RTMENrs HISTORY.

r,.,omsn.l Growth Of the Receipts In
IN. Free Delivery Service 81 1890
wanted for the Carrier servioe-New
latter Box Posts Needed in Now York.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7.-First Assistant Post
.,.ter. General Heath In his annual report calls
.,.ntiop to the unprecedented growth OF that
rortion OF the postal service falling within his
,rI.dIctiou. These include the division OF sal-
.,Iss and allowances. controlling the salaries
=, po.tmasters. the pay Of Post ONCE clerks
"a the general interior expenses OF operating
Aha Post oflces and the division OF free deiv-
.rv. controlling the exterior expenses.
Durine tho last nscal year 215 fourth-elass
po., oflces we're advanced 10 the third class. 81
,hIrd. class Post ofYices were advanced to the
..co.d class and II sscond-clsss Post On1ces
v.rs advanced to the hrst olsss-ngures up
n,.e.dsnted 10 the history OF the department.
An a, the present indications. says Mr.. Heath.
.hou that the general business OF the country
,,Il stesdi!7 improve, and as the next readjust-
mspt viii not be had until March 81. 1900.
Ia considers 1t impracticable to estimate
nov. even approx i'm ately. the amount re-
ouirsd for the payment OF rostmasters'
..l.ri,s during the fiscal year 1901.
He econmends a separate appropriation OF
Al a2s.oOO for salaries OF first and second class
i,v fixing their annual stipends at so per cent.
o,tso,e received by the postmastors.
Probably no Post once legislation. he says,
IA, given such an i'm petus to the discipline OF
IN. force inside OF Post Offices a. that OF the
iast Congress increasing the salaries OF the
,.rts This was only one step In the right d.
,.c,,on. and he renews his former recommsn-
d,,iop for the Redistribution Of clerks In flrst
.,d .scond class Offices
The department. he SAYS. has been ham,
per,d In lis plans OF consolidating post offlces
by the .o.called German Act. forbidding tho
abolition Of a Post ONCE at q county seat. Mr..
Heath cites the case OF Greater New York
where. but for this law. free delivery might be
extended over territory not now favored.
lie recommends the repeal OF the law on tho
grounds Of economy and for tho Improvement
Attention is called to the phen omenal growth
OF the receipts in the free delivery service
during the ., a ina, yes . 1nIy Ssnf
free delivery was established in 1888. while
the coat Of ma ntsnance has increased but
free delivery. 1900 uniformed carriers being
employed in serving 3o.OO0OOO patrons In
recommending an increased appropriation 81
Slls2 900 for the carrier service, the report
presents as contrast the increase Of s 22Ib.-
OIL 10 last ysars gross receipts. asserting that
The approximations hny. not KEPT pace with
fallen behind
In his estimates for Incidental EXPENSES, Mr..
Heath mentions the extraordinary and now
pressing need which the department will soon
be required to meet In New York City For a
number Of years the Board OF Public Works Of
New York had urged the department to move
its letter boxes from the lampposts OF that
city. as the hoard intended removing the now
unused lamppOsts As far back as four years
ego the department purchased the lampposts
en- Fifth avenue. cut them on about nve feet
from the ground. placed neat cars on them
and attached letter boxes at a cost OF S. %
rtr poet At that tims the postmaster At New
York solicited propositions FOR the planting OF
rosts to re supplied ny the department. and
the lowest bid then obtaipable was something
like SIC per post This bidder explained this
extraordinary price BY claiming that TO erect
posts In the long AMI thick naettones which
were used in the principal streets ~ New York
city he must run great risk OF breaking the
flag. In which event tbs city would require him
IN replace the whole fagstone. The depart
m-nt was now working on device for attach
Inc tie poSts or pedestss TO the hagstonss
without dri ling through them, but even thi.
In New York would cost considerable and IL
Il estimated that from 1000 to $500 letter
boxes in that city must, during the next year.
he attached to new posls. which could not be
erected at cost less than S. or $40 each.