Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-09-24
MORE MAIL
CARRIERS REQUIRED

1t has been brought to our atten-
ton that the constantly increasing
mail at the poStoffice is becoming
burdensome TO the present number OF
mail Carriers. The four city carriers
in this city carry on an average, of
from 30 to 10 lbs. of mail, and travel
during the day from twelve to fifteen
miles to deliver this amount of mail.
NO man. no matter how strong and
healthy, can bear up under this service.
In recent interview that we had
with the city carriers, we CLEAN the
following facts: "When free delivery
was first started the average load
taken out by each carrier would aver
age about p to 30 los at the outside,
where now 1T has more than doubled,
IL being an ordinary occurance to
take out so, 60 and 20 lbs. at one
delivery. The record for the past
week for morning trip is as follows:
Monday, 63 los: Tuesday, 81 lbs We'd
nesday, "a lbs; Thursday, 55 lbs: Fri
day, % lbs: Saturday, 40 lbs; The
reason ascrihed for this big increase is.
l. A larger number of the people
are served than when delivery was
first established.
?. The people when formerly
obliged to 60 TO the postoffice for mail
did NOT take any daily papers and
many did not take monthly or weekly
periodicals, when now they have them
delivered at their door. More than
One-half the patrons take dailieS,
weeklies and many different kinds of
monthly magazines. Visiting carriers
from other cities like Stevens Point,
MarShtield, WauSau. Merrill, Milwau-
kee and Chicago are surprised at the
amount of mail our carriers are re-
quired to take out and say that they
do not see why relief is not given.
1t will be seen by the above amounts
taken out and what is taken out on
the other two trips that each carrier
delivers over 1000 lbs. per month.
But this is not the only trouble, no
carrier is allowed to work over hours
which is certainly long enough con-
sidering the arduous service,-The
first trip each morning there is first a
business trip which consumes l hour,
the second trip is business and resi-
dence trip which should begin at $40
a. M. and end at 1920 p. M, the third
or afternoon trip begins at 2 p. m.
and ends at 5 p. m.-this making a
days work of s hours. Since the
matthias become SO heavy, however, it
is impossible for the carriers to make
their second trip on schedule and
instead of returning at 1920 it is now
l to 1:3O p. m before they get in from
the second trip, leaving 2 hours for
afternoon. 20 minutes of these 2
hours are spent in the postotfice, to
arrange their respective mail leaving
one hour and forty minutes for work
on the route. This the carriers say
is just enough to cover one-third of
the afternoon leaving nearly two
thirds uncovered, compelling the car
riers to return to the postoffice with
the undelivered mail, and thereby
depriving the patrons of their mail
until the next day, some of which
may be important and should have
immediate delivery, These are the
most important conditions that call
for settlement"
Will the people who are not receiv-
ing their mail as promptly and often
as they ought, write to the Depart
ment at Washington, stating The fact
and asking for more carriers or at
least an investigation of the matter.
There are many people who reside
in the city that want their mail
delivered, but reside outside the
present districts. If we had two
more carriers the districts could
be enlarged and the work so
divided up that the carriers could
cover their territory and do so
promptly and within the eight
hours. Our experience is that
of all growing cities and the people
are entitled to the service and should
insist upon it. A united effort will
bring about the required relief. Let
Us all join in the demand. Call upon
or write both the Senators and men,
bers of Congress, tell them what we
want and what we believe the
occasion demands in our case.