Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-03-08
APPOINTMENT CONFIRMED
Hon. A, Clohan VIII be Postmaster
Another Term.
A BRIEF SKETCH or HIS CAREER
Much Progress Has Been Made In the Office
Here Since His Appointment The In
crease il Business Done at
This Office.
BRIEF SKETCH or HIS CAREER


Hon Alex. Clohan, who has been
Martinsburg' postmaster for the past
four years has been selected to con-
tinue in that capacity for the ensuing
four years. His appointment as
Postmaster to succeed himself has
been approved by the Senate and 1t is
now an assured fact that Mr.. Clohan
will be Martinsburg postmaster and
the custodian of the handsome FEEDER
al building OF which Nartinsburg
boasts for the next four years.
Although technically his appoint
ment was not an assured fact until
the acti on of the Senate put the oific-
ial seal on it. Neither Postmaster Clo-
han nor the citizens have been in
doubt as to who would be his success
sor. as long before his present term
expired 1t was accepted as an assured
fact that Postmaster Clohan would
succeed himself Although there
were others who asked for the an
pointment. Mr.. Clohan never had
cause to "shake in his boots, because
he Is in the front rank among West
Virginians who stand high IN WASH
ington official circles and there has
been no complaint about his admins
tralton during his four wears of service
as postmaster. He first took charge
OF the office on March l, 1898.
Mr.. Clohan was born IN Scot
land in the year 1916. In l849 he
accompanied his parents to this
country and settled in Preston conn
tv. The family later moved to
Wheeling, where young Alexander
was raised and where he spent a
great deal OF his life. During b is
stay in the Northern Panhandle he
was employed In the mining bust
ness.
In the year 1877 Mr.. Clohan came
to Berkeley county. where he engag-
ed in farming and where he first be-
came prominent in politics. From
1892 to 1898 he was chairman of the
Republican County Executive Com
mittee, and he Is now chairman of
tn, Berkeley County horticultural
Society.
During Postmaster Clohan's term
of Office there have been many ad-
vAncements made In the Martinsburg
postofiice. Rural free delivery SER
vice has been established in the city
and the free delivery service has been
established in the rural districts of
the county. Berkeley county was one
of the first counties in the country to
enjoy the rural free delivery service
and.now IL is the most completely COW
cred country In the State. There are
now five city carriers and one subsfi-
tute and five rural carriers. covering
all the territory within radius OF 8
miles OF Martinsburg. In addition to
these, three carriers start out from
Hedaesville and the service will In
the near future be established in other
sections of the county.
The increase OF business at the Mar
tinsburR postoffice can be noticed
from the following figures: During
the year 1897, $98. 4C worth of special
delivery stamps were sold at the Office
and 722 special delivery letters were
delivered. During the year 1891
$l07. 10 worth were sold and 1862 we're
delivered.
During the year 1897, 1854 register
ed letters were received, while DUR
ing the year 1901 1865 were received.
During the year 1897 80, on. 81 worth
of postage stamps, 1928. ID worth OF
postal cards and 1867. 80 worth of en-
velopes were sold. while during the
year 1901 $40. 695. ~ worth of stamps.
$698 ii worth OF postal cards and
SILL worth of envelopes were sold.
Then. too. through the effort of
Postmaster Clohan the salaries of
have been doubled during his term.
In former wears the highest salary
paid to any enc of the clerks in the
office was $500 year. while now the
lowest salary paid is 5000 year an
the highest 81. 900 year. The total
paw roll now amounts to s., $50 year.
The date Of Mr.. Clohan's second
term OF ottice began March /. The an
pointment would have been made be-
fore the expiration OF the first term
mad il not hevn for the recent unusu-
al proceedings III the Senate. which
changed the whole plan OF procedS
ure with that body.