The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-18
CITY EN7TTLI[|;.|D:| TO
A new P0SI.0FF!CE
Fine Showing Made by Bedford
City, Strong Argument for
Better Building.
! SHOWS GROWTH OF PLACE.
Information Complied by the
Postrlastertin Reply TO
Inquiries.
SHOWS GROWTH OF PLACE

IS Special 10 lUe llllleo> L1soPnSS.ltt
g BEDFORD CITY, VA. Soveniber u;
SOME time since a bill was offered
in Congress by Congressman Carter
Glass asking for an appropriation for
q public building for the post-offce IN
Bedford city. The. bill was not acted
upon ii the time, but will be taken UP.
at the next session OF. Congress, and
there seems an encouraging prospect
that the appropriation will be granted.
n Ii seems hopeful angury that such
will BIO the case that a seriessof ques-
tions In connection with TINS post
eaEicu have been sent Mr.. w. II. Mosby.
enc postmaster, inquiring In regard to
tho growth OF the office In the past
ter years.
These figures are significant of the
. marked progress In the volume OF
business that has taken place. The
POSTAL receipts for the sale OF stan'.5.
pest cards and stamped envelopes IN
the fiscal year ending June 30. 1897.
was ;5.4se.ls: that for the year ending
June aQ 1907, was $11 .384.3s. about
double. In 1897. besides the postma-s-
ter. there was one clerk and one small
4 boy mi Dyed to transact the ,,siuess
OF the of.ce. There are at pre- sent
scvonteen thus employed. These In
clude tho carriers OF mail. There are
questions In regard to the population.
the value OF property. suitable loc1-
tions for site for the public building
and other details that are at least en-
oouraging.
1t was supposed that with fewer to-
bacco jobbers and the withdrawal OF
the large n i,.ib"r 1t ic-<,,ns connected
with the railroad operations OF the
Norfolk and Western Railway. that
thnre would ie a marked decrease In
the business OF the Office. hut such has
not been the case. On the contrary.
the receipts for the past two months
have bean the largest In the hlstor, u;
the Office.
There are 500 rural delivery mail
routes emanating from this office, ana
II Is interesting to note the great In
crease OF mall matter that has ensucd
since Its establishment. Before there
was about 1900 letters. papers PAM
phlets and other mall ma tier sent out
along these lines. or to the branch
offices to which these lines were tribu-
tary. Now there are 5000 mali ar
ucles handled by the rural carriers
each month. The rural service has
given stimulus to reading that Is re-
markable. This Ii most apparent fl
the great Increase OF newspapers that
are now subscribed for, and the coun-
try people now. wonder how they ever
managed to do without the daily pa
, per. The Times Dispatch has the
honor OF leading all Others In the
number received Mt this office.
Mr, Mosby has received the appoint
ment OF postmaster three times. and
is now filling the last OF two consecu-
tive terms. he is alert TO avail him
self of every possible opportunity for
the accommodation OF the Office and
the service a the office is hrst-class
The employees are all most intelligen,
and courteous Through the efforts o1
Mr.. Mosby the free delivery OF ma i
was granted Bedford City. the secunc
Town OF Its population In the Unitet
States to be thus honored. 1t was
given on account OF the sale o1
stamps exceeding s10.000 annually, ans
not because of the requisite popula-
ton. -5t