The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-05
THE POST OFFICE MUSEUM.


cIoaAScu uoIc UelOW, IL WOulu surely re.
semble nothing quite 80 much as that
maintained by the postoffice depart
ment In connection with the dead let
ter Office In Washington. OF couHse,
the pOstOfice museum is not merely a
collection of odds and ends that have
been lost to transmission through the
mails. 1t is more than that; it is an
instructive exhibit, showing how let
tiers are carried in this and other
lands, and the curio portion only
comes from the addition of the col
lection that has always existed in the
dead letter division.
An Interesting Collection.
These objects have been shown at
many. worlds fairs and similar cele-
brations. It~was not, however, until
after the worlds fair at Chicago that
the idea of permanent exhibit was
suggested. Postmaster General Wan
amaker approved the suggestion, and
the cooperation of foreign govern
ments was asked. The result is an
already large and rapidly growing coll
lection of articles relating, in one way
or another, to the postal service.
Moreover, the gathering Is one replete
with interest.
Mail delivery in the United States Is
illustrated in its development from
the old Montana stage coach, used
on the Helena-Bozeman route, to a
model of an up-t0-date mail car and
the rural free delivery wagon-itself
kind Of postof1ce on wheels.
The Old Montana Coach.
The old stage, which stands in the
Eleventh street entrance, was one of
the first made use of to carry the
mails In Montana. 1t has seen STIR
ring times In Its day and has carried
many celebrated men.
In 1877 1t was captured by Indians,
only to be retaken after fight by
General Howard. In that same year
General Sherman used the coach
while on his tour of inspection, the
distance between Fort Ellis and Hell
ena, 108 miles, being covered on that
occasion in eight hours.
General Garfield also made use of
the old conveyance before he became
president, and his successor, Presi-
dent Arthur, rode in 1t in 1888.
The Pony Post.
The pony post of the plains is de-
picted by life-sized rider of wax,
mounted on a fleet-footed prairie
steed. There is another reminder of
the. Indian country.
1t Is mail-box, slashed open with
a vicious cut. A bullet hole has
pierced 1t near the lock. On the
leather are certain blotches-stains-
as If something thick and sticky had
been poured out and left to run off
in two little steams.
1t was the blood of the carrier that
left these marks when he fell riddled
by Apache bullets.
He carried three pouches. Two
were ripped to shreds and their con-
tents destroyed.
The letters in this bag also were
torn up, but the pouch itself was
left a grim witness of how the In
dian question may affect postoffice
business.
From Alaska to the Tropics.
In the woods of the northwest and
In Alaska dogs must replace ponies,
and they are shown, stuffed, with a
waxen driver, treading their way over
the glittering snow as the toboggan-
like sled glides along behind them.
From the arctic circle to the tropics
Is far cry, yet nearby there is
stuffed donkey which in life did duty
in Porto Rico
The old pack saddle is still upon his
back, and on either side of the rider
are the trunk-shaped receptacles, used
In transporting letters. There are
other models to be soon, but none
quite SO interesting or so perfect as
that of sixty-foot railway mail serv-
|. ice car which is reproduced on a scale
of one-sixth. If a human being could
be reduced in similar proportion he