The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-03-08
KICK ON LETTER BOXES
Post Office Department Will
Double the Price
April |.

Postmaster Wanser, acting under in
structions from Washington. succeeded
in jarring dozen or more persons yes
terday, who make use of the letter boxes
in the Post Office. He did it by means
of the following letter sent out by the
Postmaster's ORDER
Sir-Pursuant to departmental in
structions, respectfully beg to in
form you that on and after April l,
l90l, the rent of the lock-drawers of
this office, same as now used by you,
will be So per quarter.
PETER F. wANsER.
A reporter of "The News attempted to
see the Postmaster yesterday regarding
this increase in box-rent, but the Assist
ant Postmaster Edward w. WooIley,
volunteered the desired information
Heretofore rent for boxes was but $1.5t
quarter, or $6 yearly. The increase on
the large boxes brings the rent to $12.
We received a circular letter from the
authorities at Washington said Mr..
Woolley, asking for statement of the
box-rent receipts. This was some time
ago. The report was submitted. A few
days ago we got instructions to raise the
price just double on the big boxes. The
letter called our attention to the fact
that there was no fairness in charging
the same rates for the small boxes as for
the large ones This old price was charg-
ed for all boxes alike. There are POS
small boxes and 2 large ones. The lat
ter are six times the size of the small
ones. The revenue from this source
amounts to between six and seven hun
dred dollars year. If all boxes were
rented the receipts would amount to over
81 $50 annually under the old sale. Here
after the small boxes will be rented for
the same sum, but the big ones will cost
twice the amount to those who rent
them.'
Mr.. Woolley was asked if there was
law compelling persons receiving papers
in bulk to hire boxes and collect them
at their own expense.
Certainly not said he. ''The advan-
tage of hiring box lies in the fact that
the papers and mail are secured several
hours earlier than they would be deliver
ed by carriers. No one is compelled to
pay for a box, but there is much benefit
to be derived from hiring one in the mat
ter of receiving mail at least two hours
sooner"
Would extra carriers be necessary to
deliver the matter deposited in boxes if
these boxes were not hired?' he was
asked
IF you knew the trouble we experience
in trying to get more carriers" said he,
t.you probably would not ask the ques-
tion. OF course the fourth-class matter
will be delivered by carriers if people
give Up their boxes, but they cannot ex-
pect to receive it very early"
One man who has hired a box for ten
years or more, stated today that he was
of the opinion that the Government was
indebted to box holders for services rem
dered in carting away the bulky mass
of matter each day.
Mr.. Woolley said that he had not heard
of any persons signifying their intention
of giving up the boxes because of the in
crease in rent He stated that he thought
the postal authorities were adopting a
uniform scale of prices throughout the
country or were readjusting the prices in
a few of the cities: He also said that he
knew the prices in the larger cities were
far in excess of the amount asked here,
and smaller cities paid in proportion.