Omaha daily bee., 1903-04-12

trade of fair, but not always careful.
patrons.
The increasing aversion to carrying
packages. even though they contain no
more than a paper OF pins and needles or
a soft silk tie; the c.. o. d. system; the
accommodation or special delivery, and
the immense number of accounts carried
by many firms, tend to make the position
Of the superintendent Of delivery an oner-
GUS one. lie must have executive power
In abnormal development. HI must pos
sess the hrmness and tact to enforce his
plans. He must have the men who are
capable Of carrying out his Instructions
men who will work like machines, yet
never become so mechanical as 10 make
mistakes without realizing what they are
doing.
One big shop, noted for its expeditions
delivery service, devotes the entire sub
basement to this department, and here,
during the dull season, two hundred men
are given regular employment. The num-
Der increases during the sharp rise in
spring and fall trade, and In holiday sea-
sons as many extra hands are secured as
can work without literally falling over one
another. During the two local deliveries at
$3.50 a. M. and $3.50 p. m, each day, between
fifteen and twenty thousand small parcels
are handled, and so thoroughly is the work
systematized that CT the mistakes made
only thirty Ave in ten thousand can be
traced TO the delivery department.
The dizziness with which the small parcel
delivery is handled is one Of the entertain
ing sights OF this teeming department.
These packages are collected from one
end Of the building to the other in big
hampers on wheels, by carriers who wear
blue uniforms with silver buttons, so that
the inspectors and wrappers may not make
the mistake of giving up bundles to unau-
thorized persons. When a carrier has COW
cred his route in the store he makes for
the nearest freight e~le-ator and is shot
down to the endorsement, where he rolls
his hamper to the distributing table.
This is an enormous structure of highly
polished wood, built on an incline. To the
left Of the man who is unloading II runs
about four or FIVE feet wide on a gentle
tilt to the reuter-, who has first sight Of the
address on the parcel. This side is used
for paid Packages or good accounts only.
Overhead there is a larger slide built at
a more pronounced angle. Here the c. o.
d. and unauthorized packages are whirled
along to the authorization clerk. This en-
ploye not only knows the name of almost
every man and woman carrying an account
with the firm. but he recognizes them at a
glance. II there exists in his mind any
doubt regarding a name or an account he
turns to a tube nearby and calls up the
department OF accounts to satisfy himself
before passing the package on to the reuter-.
The authorization clerk and the reuters
occupy square holes at various points in
the big system of tables, and they look not
unlike the barkers at a country or a mid
way show. But they are the ~quietest OF
men, and scarcely and conversation goes
on during the rush hours. The reuters
glance at the address, paying no attention
whatever to the name. mark the number Of
the route on which 1t is to be delivered
aud shoot it along to the next clerk, who
might be- termed a distributor. He pays
no attention to name or ADDRESS, only tc
the number stamped upon the package by
the reuter-. Having read that number. he
sends the package spinning down another
table to the bin which bears the number