Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-17
REGISTRY BUSINESS BIG
Marshalltown Postoffice Hand
ling More Valuable Pack
ages Than Ever Before
EARLY HOLIDAY MAIL TRAFFIC
One Hundred Registered Pouches Sent
East on One Northwestern Train Yes
terday-Twice the Business Being
Done-Express Business for Holidays
Is Starting in Early and Is Heavy.

is StaTtinS IN Edi'y anu - Sesy
The Marshalltown postoffice is about
the busiest place in the city today, as
ia result of the heavy mail trafhc IN
anticipation of the holidays. The most
interesting feature Of the business is
the vast amount of registered pack
ages that are being handled locally.
The amount Is just twice that of last
year, which indicates that the pubic
generally is becoming better educated
and is willing to spend few extra
prompt delivery Of valuables.
The postoffice has two registered
pouches out of this city each day,
where heretofore, at this season OF the
year. but one was necessary. One OF
the pouches goes on No. 4, the Port
land special in the afternoon, and an
other on No. 8, the evening mail train.
Two also, are received each day, as
against one year ago, trains 10 ana
on the Northwestern carrying the
valuables into Marshalltown.
The new ruling of the department
may have a tendency to increase reg
istry business. but 1t is not likely that
the effect has been very pronounced
as yet, owing to the fact that the
ruling is not generally understood,
About six months ago the department
increased the guarantee for registered
mail from $40 to S25, so that the re-
coyery of patrons is more than doubled
The government is safe, however, nc
matter at what amount the recovery
might be placed, for 1t is seldom that
a package is lost. About the only way
in which one can go astray, is thru the
burning of mail car, and that is not
a frequent occurrence. Even then, In
most cases, the registered packages
would be more likely to be safe, for
only when they are beings dispatched
they are kept in fire. proof safes.
The registry department in the post
office is most interesting in all its de-
tails, and only a study can afford the
realization of the wonderful system
that the government has in force. The
system is one endless chain of re-
ceipts, which protect every one from
the time the sender entrusts the pack
age to the department until it reaches
it's destination. The sender is given the
first receipt, whereupon the postoff1ce
becomes responsible. To each clerk,
however, who handles the packages,
there is a receipts when they leave
his hands, and to the receipts there
is always a witness The railway post
al clerk receipts for the matter when
he receives it, and If 1t is transferred
another clerk receipts, and so on, until
the packages reach their destination,
and the final receipts are given. Should
one of these many receipts be delayed
in being accounted for an investigation
is begun within twelve hours.
The public is beginning, to greater
extent each year, to recognize the bene-
fits from an Scent expenditure in the
registering of packages, and also is it
beginning to realize the advantages of
sending packages for the holidays early
This latter fact is the cause for the
rush at this season,
for the holiday business in mail way
Is not looked for as usual thing until
nearer Christmas.
To show the immense amount of
business done on one train alone on the
it will be interesting to
know that yesterday afternoon, on the
Portland special east, No. 4, there were
carried 104 registered pouches. How
many registered packages each pouch
contained is, of course, not known, but
the aggregate is extremely large. The
W., ;n;
pated big registry business this sea-
son, as it had manufactured, for use in
the United States, 100000 extra regis
Try pouches. Extra clerks are being
placed on the runs in order to handle
the registry business.
One little caution to holiday patrons
If the postoffice might not be out of
place, and that is to securely wrap
that is mailed. A great
many people are careless in this regard,
also in the proper tieing of parcels.
the clerks in the postofice
will be compelled, purely for the pro-
lection of the service. to rewrap and re-
lie bundles. When the big rush begins,
now in a few days more, it will be i'm
possible to take this precaution, and
q
,ne to blame but themselves.
The Express Business.
The holiday business with the express
is also beginning to make it
self known, and before many days 1t
will be all day and night for expressmen
without rest. Last year some of the
express companies employees were up
.hree nights and days in succession
without removing their clothes in order
hat the business might be rushed thru
rs quickly as possible. Manager Grip
oen. of the American, said this morning
n speaking of the situation: Holiday
business with us began in earnest yes
.erday. expect big rush this season,
and have not the least doubt but that 1t
will exceed last years business by large
dds
Manager Abbott, of the Wells-Fargo
said: 1.-The holiday rush this year has
set in about one week earlier than usu-
II, and the prospects are that 1T Will be |
much heavier than last year. People |
seem TO have become educated to send
ng their Christmas packages week or
10 in advance, in order to avoid the
.ush that is Inevitable
Manager Bartmess, of the Adams:
Holiday business has begun, with no
prospect now of letting up until after
Christmas at least, and perhaps not TIL
lfter New Years. The indications are
hat our business will greatly eclipse
~ locf yoar Tho rush has begun |