The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-15
MAIL BY STREETCAR
TO HASTEN DELIVERY.
POSTMASTER HALE EVOLVING
NEW POSTAL PLANS.
Collection and Distribution of Mime
apolis Mail by Use Of Trolley Lines
and New Satisfaction Arrangement Is
Project Now Developing with
Chances of Realization.

With the elimination of few ifs,
Minneapolis is to have the finest.
quickest, and most convenient system
for the collection and distribution of
mail enjoyed by any city in the United
States. For some time Postmaster w.
D. Hale has been planning a street car
system of distribution and collection,
wagon delivery being too slow and ex.
pensive. The plans were held up by
two conditions, the lack Of any CROSS
town line and the lack of suitable
the street railway company. J.
The first obstruction has been re-
moved by the construction Of the Lake
street crosstown line. It is hoped that
the second will soon be eliminated by
the provisions Of the new postal bin
now before congress, which makes a
more generous allowance for street car
service. It is believed that the bill will
pass, in which event the street railway
show it's public spiritedness by accept
ing the appropriation and allowing the
service. -'--.' ~. ~.
The plans provide for three special
twenty-foot mail cars, the cars and
motormen to be provided by the COM
pany, and manned by postal clerks to
sort and arrange mail as the cars make
the rounds Of the substations. The
cars would make frequent trips, one
covering west and south Minneapolis,
one covering the southeast and east
side, and one going north.
Changes in Substattons.
A few changes in the location Of
substations would be made to make bet
ter service possible. At present there
are seven substations, St. Anthony on
the east side, Riverside, in south Min.
neapolis; &C." Plymouth avenue and
Washington; "D,N Nicollet ar Thirty
first street; "E,' Lyndale and twenty
sixth street; Chamber Of Commerce,
and Camden Place. At all Of these
stations three is box and carrier de-
livery, and stamp, money order and
them, st. Anthony and Chamber of
Commerce. there is more business in
stamp sales, money orders, and regis
tered letters than in any postoffce in
the state except st. Paul and Duluth.
Under the present system carriers
work out Of the stations, mail being de.
livered by wagon. All collections, how.
ever, must Be taken to the central
office, necessitating loss of time and
service the collection and distribution
to substations would be greatly i'm
proved Mail would be collected from
Estreet boxes and delivered to- the dis
trict substation to be collected by thu
:! car. The same car would collect ant
| distribute at the same time. 49,
/ r.@ First Step Is Taken.
/ AS the firts step toward the improve
ment, a new station is to be established
at Lyndale and Lake street to be known
%I4 lo1~ c%~+s c{o<S
D and E, will be discontinued and thei
business turned to the new station. I
is probable that another substation will
soon be established on Lake street, a
Bloomington or Cedar avenue, wher
ever there is the greatest need. One ca
would cover these stations, runnin,
from the main office and receiving an
delivering mail at the Lyndale station
the proposed station farther south, AM
the Riverside station. This arrangement
would allow Of O fast service, hourl.
trips being made If necessary.
It is believed that station will 500
be needed in Southeast Minneapolis
:. probably about Oak street, for tn
growing business in that section. An
i other car would cover the Commerc
station, the proposed Oak street sta
) tion, and the St. Anthony station o.
: the East Side. -. IT,, Egg.
81 The third car will cover North Min
, neapolis, making the station at Plym
| outh and Washington and the Candle
3 station. It is probable that the @ sta
ton may be renamed Plymouth.
Much Time Now Lost.
3 Under this system the delivery o
8 mail would be greatly fastened, as tn
| cars would not only make quick time
' but the service would be frequent. TIL
r same Is true Of the collection. Unde
: the present system of collection and tn
: eight-hour day rule affecting carriers
q much time is lost by the collectors 0
the outlying districts by the, long tri
to the central office. With the new sys
tenn a collector could cover. mofs terri
tos2 tha Sa ShG de,hvesy would ID.
the last trips at night collectors wi
not even drive to the station, but wi
4 make delivery direct to the car at Gel
tain points along the line.
1o1a L.