The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-19
QUEEN POSTAL DISTRICT.
Four Carriers Whose Work Is Wholly
Within an Area OF 20 by 100 Feet.

The smallest postal district in the world
is under the roof OF the AIonadnock build
ing at Jackson Dearborn and Van Buren,
Streets in CatcagO- The building alone
comprises a separate ana distinct district
in Itself the same time the volume
Of bust ere is the largest OF any OF
the SUI is or even districts in the
city, save at of tae Board of Trade sta
lion. In This immense seyenteen-storIed
structure which covers the small ground
area OF 40 feet long by 30 feet wide, nearly
6,U61 people occupy the 200 rooms " hen
it is considered that the population Of many
towns covering many miles OF area DO not
reach that figure. some conception OF the
population Of the AIonadnocll building may
be had The comparison is 4 striking one.
and serves to show what u large number
OF people can be crowded into a small
space. 1t is also an example OF the ecoao-
my in ground space that has come to be
necessary in this commercial age. And out
OF this economy has come the system OF
skyscTapers that the larger cities, and es-
peCiaily Chicago have been forced 10 build.
The Monal nock postal district was estab-
lished on May l, though Il money order,
stamp and registered letter station was
established there more than two years ago
TO meet the demands made by that section
OF the downtown district. Prior TO May
the deliveries of mail in the buildings were
made by carriers working out of the CEN
trail station at the foot of Washington
Street, on the lake front. They would
have to route their mail az the main office
and then carry ii 10 the MonadnocK oultd-
ing. The rapid increase in the volume or
mail overburdened the carriers TO such an
extent as to cause the frequent use OK
auxiliary service. ana the expenditure OF
money in car fare allowance in transport
ing the heavy mails from the central sta
ton TO the building. In order TO relieve the
situation an investigation was made, re-
sultng in the recommendation by Supefln-
tendEnt Clarity 10 Postmaster Charles u
Gordon that the four carriers serving IN
the building from the main Office be trans
ferred to the Mouadn0ck station, and that
the mails be despatched TO them by wagon
messenger Tnts recommendation was APP
proved by Postmaster Gordon The Dullu-
ing thereupon was made a separate dis
trict and the carriers were transferred on
May l. The schedule OF the wagon ser
vice was arranged so as to make close con-
nection H-ith the carriers deliveries. Il
provided for sixteen dispatches daily from
the central office to the Monadnock build
ing and twenty from the building to the
central Office except on Sundays, when
the number is only three to and two from
the sub-Station and district.
Tho carriers schedule in the building
provides for six deliveries every day eX-
cept Sunday and is SO arranged as 10 en-
able the men 10 begin their deliveries prac-
t;cally the same time as thsy did when
serving from the central station. In these
six deliveries the carriers distribute on in
average 250ON pisces of mail daily in the
great office structure AT least 70 per
cent OF the mail received there for delivery
is addressed without room number. The
difficulties and delays that would naturally
grow out OF this condition can readily be
seen. The carriers who serve thl district
ara old ones, however, and nave reduced
tho apparent drawback 10 a minimum
Seldom is a mistake made in the d!s.r-bu-
ton.
Long training and service in the Postal
Department have made these carriers
adopts, establishing q system tia. !Csures
accurate delivery OF mail 10 he persons
to whom it is addressed. Every Old or naw
occupant of the building IS knGwn L them.
And when new person comes into ths
building no matter how humble or hsgE
in position, he gets his mali promptly.
Such names ara secured by the carriers
on their respective floors and added 70 the
list Those who leave the building are
also kept UP with. and Their maj. IS tor-
wardeG t. thetc new aGdr, sses. In facc, the
district, thoUgi: small II arsa. Is sSls=-
rate and distinct postoffice in Itself, and The
same routine is found there as in the
central office. 1t only differs in degree
Chicago Tribune.