Evening journal., 1907-12-28
WANT MORE ROOM
AT POSTOFFICE
Senator dupont Makes an
Inspection, and Alterations
May be Urged

Hearing that the Wilmington Postofhce
is sorely in need Of more room for the
office force and the various departments,
Senator Henry A. dupont this morning
made an inspection of the building in
order to faminarize himself with the
needs should action be taken at Wash
ington to try to have the Federal Build
ing enlarged. 1t is not unlikely that In
the near future the Treasury DEPART
ment may send an architect TO Will
mington 10 look over the postofhce and
suggest alterations to meet the postal de-
mands Of the growing city.
Senator DUPONT was accompanied by his
secretary. +. b. shurter, and was con-
Quoted through the postofhse by Post
master Henry c. Conrad and Assistant
Postmaster NJ. Howard Jester. Mr. Con-
rad remarked that there is no urgency
Tor more room in the upper stories Of the
Federal Building, but the pOstofhce is
sadly in need of floor space for a proper
conduct of the business. There are fifty
one regular carriers and nine substitute
carriers in the postofhce, as wen as
twenty-nine clerks. and these, with the
facilities for asserting, distributing and
classifying mail. caused crowding Of
the space.
This condition was pointed out to Senator
DUPONT by Postmaster Conrad. 1t was
shown that there is not sufficient room
for racks for the second-class mail, and
the other racks and tables also are
crowded together.
Necessity for more room for the stamp
clerks. general deliverG clerks, and for
anadditional window in the registry de-
partment, as well as for more space there
also was pointed out by Mr.. Conrad and
Mr. Jester. Another inconvenience is the
fact that the postmaster's office and as
ssitant postmaster's office are widely sep
arated, and the only way Tor a person to
get to the assistant postmaster is to pass
through the main postofice room itself.
Senator DUPONT also was shown the base
ment, but there is no pressing demand
for increased room there.
Senator Greatly Interested.
The Senator was greatly interested
lin conditions at the postofiice, and
said ne would be in a position to dis
/ cuss the subject Of his own knowledge
/ should occasion arise at Washington.
/ He commented on the rapid growth Of
/ Wilmington in the past few years. the
city having run ahead of its postoffice
/ facilities when it was thought the pres
ent postofilce might meet all require
ments for a quarter Of a century.
Senator DUPONT also viewed with In
/ terest Postmaster Conrad's collection
Of portraits Of former postmasters,
many Of whom the Senator knew per-
! sonally.
Just what steps viii be taken at
/ Washington is not known. but it is ex-
/ pected that The necessity for an addi-
/ tion to the postofiice viii be pointed
out The congestion could be over
come by building a one-story addition
to the Federal building over the space
where the driveway in the rear is To-
Gated.
There is .ot much of a prospect for
a government appropriation to enlarge
the postofiice at the present session of
Congress, which has determined to
curtail appropriations. Aside from
tEat the procedure in such conting-
encies is deliberate and often pro-
! tracted. It is believed, however. that
Senator DUPONT will give the matter
his consideration and attention.