The Washington times., 1904-11-13

IN the city are Phillip H. Branson and d.
f. Brewer. They have grown gray in the
service. but continue 10 fulfill their daily
tasks with as much vigor as ever.
Brewer was letter carrier before the
free delivery system was established.
He has not, however. been continuously
in the service since that time. IN the
old days the carriers had just so much
work to do each day. and It had to be
done. no matter how many hours u
took them Often the men worked
fourteen or fifteen hours a day. When
the hght began 10 establish an eight
hour working day for the postmen,
Brewer took a prominent part.
Mr.. Branson became a letter carrier
more than thirty-two years ago, long
er time. as he says. than he will ever
serve again. In spite OF this assertion
he appears good FOR many more years,
His present route covers three blocks on
the busiest part Of @ Street northwest.
and one block on Eleventh Street. What
a contrast this is with the route he
walked over twice every day thirty
years ago. Then he covered from Eighth
Street 10 Twelfth Street east and west
and from G Street to l. Street north and
south This area now requires ten men
and they have all the work they are
looking for 10 deliver the mail four times
a day. Mr.. Branson estimates that he
used TO travel upwards Of twenty miles
each day I'm the early years OF the free
delivery service. Tiresome work II was
at times. but the men, he says, got used
10 il and never thought much about II.
When the house delivery system was
first inaugurated singular though IL may
appear 10 us now, IL was an innovation
viewed with distinct hostility by large
number Of citizens. The idea OF a car
rier coming TO their own door with the
mail was too personal 70 suit, and a gem
erous section Of the people continued
to call for their Elail at the postofiice.
so that the carriers duties al first were
light. and though his district was large
il was seldom, indeed, he had to ira
/ verse every street located within its bOT-
ders in the delivery Of Il tiers and pa
pers. AT that. however, his walks were
OF ample size, and il is the belief Of
the veteran carriers that they averaged
something like twenty-five TO thirty
/ miles a day for several years, a speed
/ that would enable them 10 travel from
81. Louis 10 New York In about a month
had they pursued their daily walk ia
an eastern direction continuously. Now.
/ il "a professional pedestrian would make
/ that Journey In two months and emerge
from the hospital afteTward within
+ thirty davg. ne would be held up as Il
marvellous example OF endurance pow
/ ers by the sporting fraternity. Albert J.
/ Carew and Emery A WubeT. another
veteran carrier still in the service Of
/ the drpartment, walked more than 5000
miles each year. however. and seldom
. spent "a dag az home to recuperate.
Emery 1. Wilbur has the second long
. est record I'm the service. He was 'in-
4 augurated' March 4. 1861. ana since that
time he las served continuously until
/ today lie has made a name for himself
throughout the service which will last
as long again. This veteran who Is one
OF the .nen looked up 10 in the service
now mas the route through Marke.
Space.
As the carrier system gaineo in favor
and the daily loads of the carriers in
creased. the force was gradually aug
meutud AID the size Of the carrier di--
tricts reduced proporuonately, but the
/ greater amount OF work required. de
spite the shortening or the routes, prob
taDly maintained the average of daily
I walking at comparatively large tota.
until within the past few years II must
De remembered too. that the carrier
doubtless covers longer distance of
actual walking than is shown in any
/ study of his route, because OF the fire.
ment crossing back and forth on the
streets. Thus route OF today may be
f0uuu 10 have eight miles OF streets
within It's borders, along every foot OF
which the Carri'r viii be compelled 10
walk, but he may cross from one side
of the street To the other so often that
the distance viii be increased from 10 10
- per ceGt.