The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-07
AN EFFICIENT SERVICE
Committees Report on New York's
Free Delivery.
the Best Given Any city
Rut Justified by the Enormous
Postal Revenues - frooie"
scented by the Apartment Houses
Praise for the Gotham ofhci"is'

L SlSllni
who recently investigated the free delivery
service OF New York, have submitted their
formal report.
Besides recommending the allowance OF
SIG. coo for the employment of additional
carriers during the current fiscal year, an
allowance for mounting one carrier at
Westchester and the granting of SUM-
clent auxiliary force to maintain the ser
vice during emergencies. the committee
makes a number of suggestions looking 10
reduction in the office time of the car
riers and an improvement Of the service
in business districts, not by giving more
deliveries or collections. but by SO arrang-
ing the work as to make the first morning
delivery In business districts at an earlier
hour.
Considering free delivery service in its
entirety" the committee says. the pa
irons of New York office enjoy a higher
grade of service than is maintained by
the Department in any other city. This is
justified, in the opinion of the committee,
by the vast population, the magnitude of
the postal revenues, and the concentration
OF both population and business within
comparatively small area. These condi-
lions are of the first importance in the up
building and maintenance Of a system for
rapid and free delivery and collection Of
mails
so long as the city Of New York leads
in these several elements, as well as in
the volume of mail the committee respect
fully subscribes to the view that the pres
ent superior service should be maintained
But this service. both as to the number Of
deliveries and collections, should not be
increased except in the case of single
routes and then only after the most care
full test showing that the volume or i'm
portance of the mail justiiies and demands
an enlargement of the schedule.
Special attention was given by the COM
mittee 10 feature of the service which
| has gained much prominence and has
| caused the officials of the New York office
much thought and tTouble-the delivery OF
/ mail to apartment houses. In regard to
| this question, the report says:
| 1T is the committees judgment that
this class OF buildings should be provided
| with individual letter boxes, placed in the
vestibules. as is the custom in ether cities.
| Many of these structures are already thus
| equipped There are but few conditions
| that justify the delivery by the carrier of
mail at the door of tenants, separately,
when addressed TO the same number or
! house. This practice is becoming less fire.
quent, and in New York districts it is con-
! fined to a comparatively few apartment
| houses. where there are no boxes and no
janitors, in which case the carrier has nc
choice in the matter.
There are many apartment houses of
! the better grade where the janitors or ele-
vator boys are always on hand but no
vestibule boxes are in use. In these fats
| it frequently happens, and, indeed. is the
/ practice, that the mail is delivered to the
| elevator attendants, and the element of
/ safety is thus absent. This service. how
ever, adjusts Itself to local conditions. and
considering the great quantity OF mail de-
livered at these apartments and flats, the
complaints are remarkably few.
Efforts should be renewed on the part
of the local officials to bring about the
equipment Of every apartment house in the
city with individual vestibule boxes. A
census Of the fiat and apartment houses
not thus equipped is suggested, and also
that it be taken by carriers routes and
compiled by stations. Such figures would
show TO what extent the practice of de-
livering to each tenant was still prevailing
in conjunction with the six-trIp schedule
In those districts"
Some recommendations of a technical
nature are made by the committee looking
to the eXpediting of the first morning de-
| The plan suggested has been tried in the
| ccngested districts Of Boston with good
\ results.
In concluding, the committee pays a high
| tribute to the administration OF the ser
l vice at the New York Office by Postmaster
| Van Colt and the efficiency of the assis-
! tanT postmaster. MT. Morgan. and other
| officials. The efficiency OF the service is
| they state, largely due to the good feel
! ing existing between the carriers and theil
superior officers and the general esprit
| du corps" throughout the service.
| The efficient and economical manage
ment of the service is evident by the Off
cial figures. which show that while the
/ gross receipts of the New York office have
/ increased. since 1886. 33.45 per cent. the
| free delivery expenditures have increased
| but II per cent, and the force of carriers
| but 8 per cent; also that the percentage
Of cost of the free delivery service to the
growth of receipts OF the office, which, in
1896. was 1921 per cent, is now but 1e
per cent.
In referring to the Philadelphia carriers
the committee says:
ct Is found the carriers present a neat
clean. and tidy appearance; are OF good
| department, well versed in their duties
| attentive. courteous TO the patrons, ard
render to the public a very satisfactory
/ service"
The cost OF the free delivery service last
| year was $3.50. coo, or 2G.1s per cent of the
! gross receipts. which were 1886. eco. The
/ high percentage is due to the number OF
deliveries and the large extent of terri
tories covered. While It Is relatively
/ higher than New York, Chicago, or St
| Louis. it has decreased under the present
! postmaster Mr.. Hicks. Although there
has been but a net increase of thirty six
| carriers since 1894 the entire city of Phila-
! delphia containing 1870 square miles is
| given free delivery. an increase OF about
fifty square miles in the territory served
! IN investigation was made by the COM
( mittee into the charges preferred by the
! local branch Of the Letter Carriers AS
| ISOLATION that the postmaster had been
/ unnecessarily harsh in some disciplinary
measures. The committee sustains some
! Of the charges to the extent that it recon-
] nf hn