New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-12

ton OF four wheeled trucks piled high with
nafbags blocks the way for the stranger.
Mountainous heaps Of postal matter are thrown
from the trim wagons that never cease arriving
yet other tons are cast into the maws OF other
wagons little and big that quickly clap their
doors smartly 10 and drive away.
Thus It has been. hour following hour
Pouches. sacks and men have never for mo-
ment failed To the casual observer this seems
70 90 on every moment Of the day and night. 1t
is not until one looks keenly that he sees at one
corner a little more briskness than usual a
greater massing Of trucks. more wagons backed
I'D along a certain section Of the platforms edge.
There has been no scurrying, no rush and anx-
;ety. But the City Hall clock. it can be plainly
seen. is pointing close 10 $50.
SENDING OUT TWO HEAVY MAILS.
A porter or two move quietly over to where
two wagons have their doors wide open. An as
,istant dispatcher comes forward with large
| board. on which is thumbnailed a tally sheet.
4 tumble OF truck wheels sounds within. fol-
lowed by the creak Of an elevator. AS II by
magic there are of a sudden a great heap OF
pouches at the wagons mouth. one by one
with the swiftness that is mechanical and breeds
thrown within, the destination Of every one
called of sharply and written down. But three
minutes have gone by; the clock face of the City
| uou ,o,, sne1ls $50 Two wagon doors swing
| /, and are padocked as If by machinery two
l drivers spring to their seats. four horses start
I Of with whirl
i "Fortv-eight Forty-nineE says Johh MI
/ crum who is on the evening tour" boss OF the
II o1x taking
/ interest IN the proceedings.
The listener and locker on starts. Forty-
| ssbt. 'Forty-niner' These are the two great
! e. mails OF the twenty-four hours. Forty
l eght" is the Wash" bound for Washington
l t,s tbe Southwest; "Forty-nine" the Plus
h- pt,shurg and the territory OF the Mlodie
Vest No greater postal feat is performed III
A-srca than The getting off of these two mans
e. lime each night. Yet here they have slipped
iEsy as il on runners. with never an ouii0e
uaternent nor a particle Of furry.
sor,s,h,,r q, this sort IS said in wonderrneh'
l 70 NcCruro and that chief dispatcher lausns,
sFor,v.r,re, carried tonight" he says I"
l poprhss frs, class mail you understand anu
/ Ag sscks % other mail. 1t took twelve wagons
| 70 ,aka I, n the train 'FOrty-eights Ioau ""'
| g roucbes and ZIG sacks. on six wagons Du'
| w. dom, yrai, until the last moment we he'P
sending on ahead having the stun maui up
| ADVANCE .Forrv-nine' had eleven Of us WEI
wagons 20 in advance; Forty-eight loui "a
Il uK"
NryFp INNING STREAM OF POUCHES
Par n, ~. ,,ro,,,e,n that Of the never falling
never ceasine "busyness" Of the pIa'ioi H.
becomes clssr Il is not with a flourish 'hal
these rnsus o. on. Sack follows sack. pouch
after pouch a. 2 stream that never runs NY
The final. sudden closing Of a mail presents ~
tie more OF q ric,ure than between times me
mail never ceases flowing. nor. over TINS ere~'
Platform. does II ever cease to come III 40
/ There IS many an interesting thing about TIC
/ Nex.York pos,oe7ce and this huge dispstch-
l sg and receiving platforrn is not the Ieas' -
hem II is new institution. dating bacN '''''
four or five months Before this last suill'''0'
there were in reality two platforms one y"
eiher end Of Mail-st. with an open sP@0o -"
'ftWeen. On the east platform. then lhco'i''ns
nsils were dumped: from the west emo Hi"''
We're sent out Everything that arrl'eu'
/ already made up" and ready 70 pass o'' 10"
be hauled half floor below drasseo "0'
l shc hoisted w again.
With the new platform in full operation ii'ucn
THIS second handling is saved. SACKS oi PUD
.shers mall many and frequent, mace uP 80
go out by the publishers Themselves ~"
shply pass along the platform and are u"s
arecty into the wagons. In other "aS'' ~
ae platform has justified the hopes oi 10
| suhcers and Of Postmaster Van Colt II eoe'
r each day 10 simplify the problem Oh '0'''
asnty increasing mails 10 be handled ny
''fce that remains nearly stationary In po'A' -
numbers
FIFTY MILLION PIECES HANDLED
The figures OF this outgoing mail, disregafu'
~e that Of the city deserve attention by Ne"
''sers. who should take much more price 'i'"'
~sy % in the achievements of their Postoi'''''
.aree hundred and forty six clerks. known
distribution clerks" make up these poucHe'
40 sacks In October. 1898 10,243,4O2 pieces
nrst class mail Qetterso went out In oc'o-
~ 1899 q .539,553 pieces. OF other classes
~sfs were Gor OCTOBER: 1895. 25,2lo.165 pieces