New-York tribune., 1900-10-07
MAIL CARS SADLY MISSED
AIETROPOLITAN'S REFUSAL TO RUN
THEM CAUSES ANNOYANCE
AND DELAY
AND DELAY

The action Of the Metropolitan Street Railway
IN refusing TO continue the contract with the
United States Government to carry msHcars on
the Third Avenue and Fort George Line will
seriously retard the delivery an collection Of
uptovu mail The contrac- came - an end on
October / and tho MerroUOiiisr people. despite
all the efforts thus far made by Washington Of
fcals Will not renew II.
The disadvantages resulting II the public by
the annulnneni Of the contract are soon made
plain Under this contract mailcars were sent
out from the Postofhce every half hour One
would he attached TO Third Avenue car as a
trailer snd filled with mail As the car moved
along men within hustiy assorted the mail and
threw it off al the different sub-stations. Thus
pouches were tIlrcvrn OF ar station D. Ninth-st-
and Third-ave. at Twenty -third-st. and Third
ave 10 be carried to the Madison Square Post
office: AT Station T Thi-d-ave, near Twenty
eighth-st. at Forty-thirL-st. and Third-ave for
Station H at Forty-third-st and lexington
ave: az Station 7. Third-ave. and Sixty-sev-
enth-st. at Station x. Third-ave. and Eighty
sixth-st: at Station Z, Third-avs and One-hun-
dred-and- -third-st-: at Station L az One-hun-
dred-and- twenty -hfth-st-. and Lexington-ave.:
at Station J. in Observation-Disclosures fifth
St. between Seventh and Eighth aves-. and at
Station NJ al One-hundred-and-hft -hfty-seventh-st
and Arlsterdarn-ave. II took about an hour and
forty minutes to get mail from the Postofhce to
Fort George on the return trip the mail was
gathered up along the route. and what was for
New-York Central and New-York. New-Haven
and Hartford trains was dropped OF at Forty
sacond-sr. Thus close train connection was Sc
cured.
PROTECTION IN CASE OF STRIKE
There were nine cars. They were owned by
the railway company and rented 10 the Govern
rnant for $4,000 yea< II said that the
Third Avenue company wished before its con-
solidation with the Metropolitan 70 continue the
mail car service because of the protection af-
forded in case Of a strike.
The contract has been cancelled by the Metro
politan company. according 10 its officials. sim
nI,- for the reason that the company does not
1,-ar+ to he bothered with mail cars. The COM
nanv fears no strike. ard accordingly feels that
the mail service offers no inducements the
officials of the Metropolitan say that II IS not
question Of advantage or disadvantage TO the
oubIfc but only source of annoyance 10 them
selves Hence they have refused all overtures
made by the Washington authorities
As a consequence the mail is now sent from
the PostofHce to the northern part Of the city
by pneumatic tube. by elevated trains and by
surface cars.
The rheumatic tube is used between the Post
once and the Grand Central Station. al which
noint the sealed pouches are sent over 10 Third
ave elevated trains, carried up 70 One-hunored-
and thrown on crosstoWn
cars where they are cared for by the motormen-
IN This vyav mail for Station NJ. at Amsterdam
ovs and One-hundred-a land -hfty-seventh-st-' Is
berd1Ad three times The chief Inconvenience
ts Axnarienced in delivering and collecting mail
AZ 4ba offices between Forty-second-st- and One
twenty -ffth-st, since the postornce
stations are often several blocks distant i1o'H
the elevated railroad stations.
work FORMERLY DONE IN TRANSIT
Great DELAY is also experienced because the Z
r,au must be arranged after IT reaches the sub I
.+.,,or. whereas before it was arranged in the .
car in transit
In speaking Of the present conditions which .
the Fostonce ofciaIs have been compelled 10 .
face Assistant Postmaster Morgan SAID 20
Tribune reporter yesterday
,r.arg nanv uptown business men who nov
S.-,.s close mail connection with New-England
aTd Western cities. Their letters now VIII laAs
go, one 70 seven hours longer 70 rsach IleI
,--on--anfance OF rehandling the pouches Two
,jy,,as each trip and dragging them 10 ana LroIh
tllLi1 ~ sis-sfad stations the predicament which
saces ne nav be seen TO be truly formidable.
~. Government has agreed to pay the ele-
- ~.i,1Vav company 5000 for the service
: ,-saT F7ortv-second-st- and One-Hundred-and-
-ffrh-st The arrangement Tor the
d-tv -ffth-st- 10 Fort George
ss ths only concession the Metropolitan Com
Dany would make