The San Francisco call., 1906-04-04
MAILS FROM SHIPS.

IL the merchants would have the Gus
toms regulation that mails cannot be
taken from ships arriving after sunset
until after sunrise changed they would
get their letters from foreign ports the
morning after their arrival here. the
postmaster said.
The Postmaster announced an in
crease In the appropriation that would
permit of charging the force of car
r1ers and clerks after July l.
Mr. Fisk made the following sugres-
tions of how the business men could
assist in facilitating the work of the
Postoffice:
1st Mail should not be allowed to accun,,l
late during the day to be all deposited late in
the afternoon, but, where possible, mailed as
soon as prepared. in a letter box or the
nearest station.
I'd Caution your messengers against plac
ing letters In boxes on the streets which are
intended Tor packages or newspapers These
receptaeles are not collected as often as letter
boxes Large mailngs should be brought to
wagon be allowed this office for that pur-
pose. and If II is obtained would then call
for your mail: but at the present time when
You have large mailings, you should send it
to the main postoffice.
Sd. Letters for local delivery should be
kept separate from other mail If you Will do
this, l will establish letter boxes intended for
Eastern mall so that they will be collected
at the last moment before dispatch.
mailed in the forenoon and where practicable
faced one way and tied up in bundles for
large cities or States.
9TH. When unsealed advertising matter &c
mailed In number of not less than 2OOO at a
time. the permit privilege should be taken ad-
vantage OF. This allows the matter to be
taken without postage stamps the denomIna
tion of the stamp which would have been re-
auired being printed on each piece This
the postmaster.
GREAT GROWTH OF BUSINESS.
Mr.. Fisk spoke of the tremendous
growth in the business of the postoffice
and of the interruption In the service
caused by the removal from the old
building to the new. 1t took time for the
employees to adjust themselves to the
new conditions, he said. The removal
the most radical changes in
handling the mails ever undergone In
this city.
San Franciscos population was now
fully 100000. the speaker said. In addition
to the increased local business was
increase in the foreign mails
making this Office second to that of New
York. Prior to 1898 1t was an exception
to see steamer leave this port with
more than 300 sacks of mail. 1t is a COM
mon occurrence now to see 1900 sacks of
mail on q vessel.
For the handling of this ocean mail no
credit was given the local Office in maxi
ing the appropriations. There was an
abnormal increase in the general delivery
there being 5000 callers a day at the new
as against 1000 daily at the old building.
Fisk talked OF closing the night windows.
as people who could just as well transact
their business in the day were calling at
night, with the result that large force
of clerks was needed for the after dark
business.
Regarding proposed improvements, Mr..
Fisk said:
For the purpose of saving, time 1t Is INV in
tention to work mails at the stations in this
city, where practicable. and 1 mean by thar
that If mail is dropped within a station dis
trict it is collected. carried in and, instead of
being transmitted to the main office there 10
be worked and then sent back TO the station
for delivery, it will, SO far as possible
be distributed in the station and dispatched
directly from this station as often as possible
to its final destination. This 1 propose to do
at once at Station K. Mission and New Mont
gomery Streets. Station B. Jackson and SAN
some streets. and Ferry station. thus covering
direct interchange among the offices of the
entire business districts. We can add the