The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-09

neat frame building near First avenue
and Yesler way.
Mr.. Gillian was postmaster from 1870
to 1873 and Il was during his term that
the office took on an appearance OF style.
He moved IL from MIR. Keilogg's quarters
TO site on Commercial street, now First
avenue south. between Main and Wash.
ington streets. During the first few
months following his appointment he
spent several thousand dollars in putting
In modern and handsome hxtures. unsii
II was considered che OF the best equipped
Offices then In the state. As Mr.. Gilliams
term OF office was drawing to a close, Il
is said. Duncan /. Wheeler confidently ex-
pected the appointment. and purchased
from Mr.. Gillian lis entire outfit. But.
according to the story told, this expect
ancy becoming noised around, an. organ
lied effort resulted in the appointment go
Ing to William II. Humphrey. large
book and stationery merchant, and MIR.
Wheeler was disappointed. Me-. Pum-
phrey thought II unwise 10 invest so much
money in fixtures. and declined TO buy
from Mr.. Wheeler. and a consequence
the furniture lay stored for years in a
warehouse Humphrey moved the ofico
to site near the corner of Post street
and yesler way, where It remained untii
the close OF his term. in 1876
The next seattle postmaster was
Thomas w. prpson. then proprietor OF the
Pacific Tribune. His appointment was
after President Grants Inauguration.
Mr.. Prosch WIS rot an applicant for the
position. ThF town had then grown to
have a population 81 about $500 One day
+. 4. Starr dropped into Mr. Prosch Of
nee and Informed him tina. II he wanted
tho position ne could have Il. Mr.. rrosch
said he would accept, and that was the last
mention OF the subject until his commits
sion arrived. Mr.. Frosch moved the Office
20 a battling ON the site ~ the present
Lowuian s Hanfcrd building. where IL
remained for a few months and then waS
moved hack to its old location at the cor
ner n Post strset and Yesler way.
Al that time the Office paid $50
a month and 81 for expenses Out
q this the salary 81 two assistants. rent
and other expenses had 10 be paid. so
there was ilttie in the ofice for the post
master. IN 1877 Mr.. Pr0sca appolntea o.
J, Carr his assistant and practically left
the office Ia MS charge. In ISIS Mr. Carr
was appointed postmaster and served for
nine years or until isss. on september 1.
iSsl. MIR. Carr moved the ONCE to the op-
poslte corner. IN a bniidlng 10 which A. L.
Yeslsr and Andrew Chtberg had an Of
Aoe. But the business grew SO rapidly
that IL Was necessary 10 have more room
and the two sf5ces moved out and the
whole building became a postefsicc.
ON June q 1888. Mr.. Carr appointed w
]. Colkett assistant postmaster. which po-
sftion after more thar twenty years ssrv-
ice. be SIN holds Through ave changes
Ia the head 81 ths local office Mr.. Coike.t
has held his position. IT'S long services
have made him q NEST valuasls servant
not only SO the Ecstmastsrs. hus 60 the
department. az Washington. ard By more
than one Inspector who has had occasion
20 visit the Seattle postoiilce VA ia,sy years
has Il been ssia thai IN 70 ofsce is there
a better posted assistant than al Seattle.
During his term % service M Coikctt has
aided much IN the betterEnent % the local
postal service. and 10 his Efforts are ac
CREDITED many ~ the more important
change Almost every year ne Jcarucye
20 Washington. where ne Is well ac4uain,
ed ia the department.. and - able 20 show
the needed reforms ~ the service hsre-
In iSSs there came a change q as-
rniuistratiou and two years after the IN
auguratioa OF President Cleveland for his
arst term Joha NJ. Lyon Was appointed