The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-15

numbered, but the few numbers that
are left are so irregularly thrown
around that it is not possible to ascer-
tam what system was used without
the key, and that l have not found.
The general delivery case. with its
many little boxes for separation of
mali alpha betically, to expedite deliv-
cry. is an unknown quality here. On
arrival of mail all letters for the
general delivery were numbered and a
INST made of them and posted on the
bulletin board. The lists were num-
bered consecutively and the package
OF letters was given the number Of the
list corresponding. When any one
called for letter the list had to be
examined. and If he found there was
mail for him the caller would go to
the window and ask. for instance, for
No 2O5, on list No. 3, and No. 160, on
list No. !. An attempt was made to
keep letters of foreigners on separate
lists, but when I took possession l
found such letters badly mixed with
the Spanish mails.
l have found it advisable to run two
general delivery windows, one for
Spanish letters exclusively. in charge
of Spanish employees, and the other for
all other classes, in charge of a SOL
der detailed to postoffice duty. At
first there was a little difficulty in
keeping the Spaniards from causing
letters of other nationalities to become
mixed with their own, but they soon
caught on and after being told they
would be removed If any such letters
were found in the Spanish case. When
instructed to case their letters alpha
betically, instead of using the sur
name. they used the given or Christian
name. Juan Soler, for instance, would
Ind hi 4
of the go box.
The mails received were handled in a
very awkward fashion. For letters
they used both small baskets and a
semi-circular case with seven apart
ments about Is inches deep. Letters
were dropped into these apartments,
and when they were fun the opening of
trap door in the bottom let the let
tiers out into a basket After this OPP
Grafton they were badly mixed and had
to be faced up again for second and
little finer separation. They were thus
handled and rehandled several times
before finally being laid at rest in their
respective boxes for delivery. When
the small baskets were used the process
was the same as far as the mixing and
rehandling was concerned.
For the paper mail they used large
table about 10 feet by feet, with four
holes in the middle. These holes were
ldbeiieu Foreigners, OIIlCldl, span
ish" and provinces" and under each
hole was placed large basket Mail
was dumped out on the table and the
office force stood around and distribut-
ed it according to the above separa-
tons. After this separation each bas-
ket had to be reworked in order to
separate matter for carriers, boxes and
general delivery. They had carrier
service. that is, carrier service of ye
olden time. The carriers We're paid no
salaries by the government, but de-
pended for a living upon the fees they
collected from the recipients of letters.
The usual charge was two cents for a
letter and one cent for paper. AS
this service cost the department moth
ing, and as it's suspension would work
inconvenience to many who depended
upon the carriers, l have continued it,
delivering by the carriers only the mail
of parties who order it. On account of
the many changes of residence, the
interruption to exchanges with the
provinces. and the fact that the car
rers We're not familiar with American
names and could not safely be trusted
( to handle American mails, l did not at
first consider it advisable to place the
carriers on the salary list, as is done
at home. A small salary is now being
paid them. In the states the postoftice
department enters into contract with
private parties for carrying the mails
between the postoffice and depots and
with the Manila office was found gov
eminent stable, with four mail wagons
one cart and seven horses. AS it was
cheaper to maintain the stable than to
contract for having the mails carried
this was done. and I think that here
in Manila is the only place where
Uncle Sam carries his own mails.
! have stated that the postofice and
telegraph systems We're operated to-
gether. On the pay rolls of the Manila
office We're POS names, and l was con-
siderably exercised at first to know
how that number of men could be en-
ployed. I learned that it was the prac-
tice to work the men every other day
I only, while chiefs of divisions worked
only one day in four, and let me say
right here, before you apply for an APP
pointment to the Manila postoffice thai
this practice has not been continued.
OF the POS employees only 40 received
more than $500 Mexican money year.
The remaining 165 were paid salaries
ranging from s92 year to $500 year,
Mexican money, or $42 to s1S6 year in
gold.