The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-06-14

quently suffer because OF the
condition. Postmaster Wallace needs
more carriers and more clerks in the
Office, but IL he were TO be granted this
additional service there Is actually
no room in the office where these nie1
could be put to work. The workroom
is now over-crowded with men and
furniture. He needs more of both, b [,
as we said. if he got them there would
be no room for either.
The business of the city has entirely
outgrown the capacity OF the postof-
fee building. The construction OF this
building was begun in 1889 and the
postofice force moved into it in 1921.
The accommodations were ample for
the business of the city at that time
and for several years after. buC in
| recent years the business has SO far
| exceeded the calculations as to it's
| growth made at that time that the
| government must make new Drovis-
| ions for the business. The following
| figures show how wonderfully the bus
| mess of the Office has increased since
| the new building was planned and
| erected: For the postal year ending
March 31st. 1889. the receipts Of this
| office were S25, 336.28. For the postal
| year of 1891 the receipts were $30,74t-
O3. For the year 1907 they were $780,
| 957. "a. and the increase for the fl ct
two months Of the present quarter ate
so great as to indicate that for the cur
rent veal the receipts will amount 20
over 500, 900. This means that in less
than twenty years the business of this
office has increased four-fold, and the
greater part of this increase has been
in the last few years. It means that q
service which was ample for the city
only a few years ago is entirely mad
eQuate at the present time.
Because of the cramped condition in
the working room the men now en-
ployed cannot do their work with sat
%isfaction to themselves or the post
master or to the patrons Of the Office.
More furniture is needed for those now
at work there. but there is no room
for another piece. and the postmaster
wants more clerks and more carriers
We do not see how he can use then
until he gets more room.
There are at present only thirty-si1
empty boxes in the Office. These viii
soon be taken and there is not room
for placing another single box. Wher
these thirty-six are taken those per.
sons wanting boxes will have to b,
refused the privilege.
In order to make room for the work
ing force Postmaster Wallace has beel
forced to remove to the basement TIL
: lockers of the workmen. This is
great inconvenience and for other rea
, sons should not be done. but in thi
case it could not be avoided.
? BY the expenditure of a hundre
! thousand dollars the government coul
enlarge this building so as to give tn
: postoffice and the other department
), ample room. The addition could b
made to the eastward of the buildin
without in the least destroying til
= symmetry of the building. 1t wa
originally designed with the idea {
an addition at some future day. 1t
: a very handsome building, and the
e are some who oppose an addition to
e because they think such would impa
l. it's beauty. They are mistaken.
= any thing an addition would add
'e it's beauty; but even if they are co
"a rect in>the idea still that should be /
II valid objection to the addition, :
u the building was not made for an ORR
l. ment, but for use. It's purpose W
in and is to serve the people and it shou
X be made t. do so. If it is not lar
enough for that purpose-and it
not then it should be made so.
II. We hope the business 1nen of @
All city will take the matter up and hal
or mer away at it through the aid of G
- senator's and congressman until til
he succeed in getting the necessary add