The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-24
HOLIDAY
RUSH AT
P0ST0FF|CE
Today tho Biggest Day In the
Year, Outgoing and Incoming
Mall Being Tremendous.

The postofrce has been one OF the bust
est places In the city for the past few
days. and the clerks and carriers have
just about been worked to death.
But with the great amount OF business
done It has not been SO great in the main
ofrice on weybosset street as has been
the case In former years, for the 30 sub
stations scattered all over the city has re-
lieved the pressure there, and great
deal OF mail has been sent from these
substations. The stations sell stamps.
stamped paper OF all kinds. register let
ters. issue money orders and have facil-
tiles for mailing letters and packages OF
all sizes.
Added TO this IL the fact that the mail
matter at these stations Is collected sew
eral times a day by a special messenger
sent out from the postoffice. The collect
or has a horse and wagon. From one
station to another he travels. collecting
the mall In the sacks left at the stations
for the purpose, and taking IL either 10
the postoffice or TO one OF the three prin-
cipal substations. where IL Is sent with
little delay 10 the office.
In front OF every station Is a large mall
box for packages But for the days before
Christmas, sacks are left In the onice and
In these the clerks OF the stations deposit
the packages. Whenever these sacks are
filled, or as soon as there becomes press
of mail matter at the station. telephone
message to the postoffice brings man
who collects II. Some OF the stations do
an enormous business.
There are three substations and q
small ones In the city, and they help out
the business Of the main office a lot. The
three main stations are North. at North
Main street near Doyle avenue, Elmwood.
in the Knights OF Pythias building. Elm
wood avenue, near Potter's avenue. and
Olneyville, at the head OF Olneyville
square. The q small ones are scattered
all over the city. every section having at
least one. They have all been doing
good business. and the relief they have
afforded at the postoffice has been the
greatest ever known there.
In former years a clerk has been sta
toned in the corridor OF the postoffice to
weigh packages. but this year q window
was opened next beyond the regular
stamp window and the change proved
most advantageous, as the stamps need
ed 10 send a package were sold at this
window.
An extra force has been at work at the
office, and all the men who could be
worked to advantage In the narrow.
cramped and extremely limited space
have been utilized. 1t Is a standing
source OF wonder 10 the postoffice In
spectors sent here from Washington how
so much business can be transacted In so
small a space as that available at the
postonice. But the men manage 10 do II.
somehow.
For the last few days the mall han
died here has been almost all outgoing.
Yesterday II was confined almost alto
gether to the New England and Middle
states. The rush will drop of tonight.
The money order department rush is
over. II began soon after Thanksgiving
day. when the demand for orders to send
to the old country opened. and It has con-
tinued steadily e-er since. When business
begins again in this department. which
will be within n few days, II will be for
the payment OF orders.
About the last OF the outgoing mail was
sent out today, very little going olt
Christmas day. as a rule. But tbs Of
flee was fairly overflowed with incom-
ing mail and the clerks hardly knew
which way to turn. With the large
amount OF outgoing mail and the inward
rush. the cramped quarters were filled
to overflowlng.
Today Is the busiest day In the year
as the food tide OF outgoing and incom-
ing mail Is always reached the day be-
fore Christmas. Tomorrow will be
strenuous day. also. but only as regards
the delivery by carriers. as about all the
outgoing mail will have been disposed OF.
The money order rush has quieted and
will remain quiet until the rush for the
payment OF orders begins. a few days
after Christmas. The work in the mail
ing departments will drop of nve-sxths
by tonight. The city division. which In
cludes all carriers, will take out almost
the entire mail in the ONCE for delivery
today and Christmas day. The registry
room will be n busy place for two days
more. And then all will be quiet until
the jewellers and others begin to send
out novelty advertising aboi II the first
OF the new year Most Of this ad yer
tislng comes In unusual forms. and II Is
hard TO handle In the malls. II is ac-
counted as worse than the Christmas
mail matter.
One large feature In the amo1nt of bus-
mess done at the local Office ls the
annual sending out OF jewelers. circulars
and novelties.
The jewelers. are sending out large
quantities OF stun these days. They al
ways do about Christmas and New
Years. and the packages they put In the
mall keep the clerks busy. Some idea OF
the extent OF the business In pieces OF
mail whose safe delivery Is assured by
the postofficc department, may be gained
from the statement that 1000 pieces were
registered Monday.