The Washington times., 1908-12-23
Mail Carriers Have All They
Can Do Delivering Pack
ages for Christmas.
SKILL REQUIRED
FOR GREAT TASK
Parcels Distributed and Sent on
Their Way With Marvellous
Accuracy and Speed.

How would you like TO be tho post
man.
We'll. when there are approximately
5000 packages 10 DO delivered these
DAYS, the job is one to ponder over
That is the number of packages which
were delivered from the City POstof-
fec Yesterday. and there Is every indi-
cation that when the count IS made to-
night the recod for the Christmas sea
Eoa will be- broken
At the Postofnce today the air and
hustle would give one the idea that
Santa Claus had just left. Also that
he had Just left everything he ever
made for the small army OF mail car
riers to dispose Of. But there's sys-
tom in Uncle Sans delivery depart
ment, and the way great sacks Of mail
were assorted, piled on the carriers
backs. and sent out around the city
was n caution
Hours of Work Limited.
According to law. the regular carriers
are permitted To work only eight hours
and I'm order TO fill this time il Is posi-
hlo for the regulars to make only three
trips
To-day. however the storm stepped in
and iuterfered with the routine Of the
department, and only two trips could
hc made by the regular carriers in the
residential section OF the city
But the faithful sub" was right on
the Job. and saw TO il that nobody
missed anything The entire staff OF
substitutes was called Into service to-
day, and as the regular carriers left
the office carrying every package they
could possibly squeeze into their big
.4r1~ a I'M
the overflow and follow the regulars
right up
Thirty cents an hour is the pay OF
the subs" and IL IS estimated that
each trip consumes two hours, making
go cents for hauling the packed sacks
around the city To eNpectant homes,
where the sight of letter carrier turn
ing into the gateway is as welcome as
the coming Of spring.
Substitutes May Work Late.
The substitutes are permitted to make
as many trips as they please. so long
as the mail holds out. The last trip
yesterday afternoon was made at
o'clock. and IT is believed from the
way i'm which the mail is pouring into
the office today additional trips Will
uc necessary.
one Of the busiest corners Of the BIZ
gray building this morning was tht
registry DIVISION WltIe LlOlSELIllS o.
packages were being listed and register
Cd for delivery In the large force o!
clerks employed in this division each
was compelled TO sign for every pack
age which came into his OF her hands
There were 9.I16 packages sent out from
the FoStoffiCc ana 12.1E received. Al
uT these were turned over To- the regu
lar carriers with a few exceptions anC
those We're sent by special pOSmcn-
Tie scene at the PostOffice was almos
zaIeiJeScouic as the carriers worked
thousands OF packages were brOuSh
% in great sacks. dumped and distribut
p by "A force of workmen who stOO,
within a scmi-CiTCUldT wire screen whiCl
cid dozen or more large sacks. Eaci
ark represented a route and packag
ftcr package was thrown into the sack
-ith as much deXterity as a pitche
lrowS mis- balls. No body ever misse'
10 right opening.
Turned Over to Carriers.
When the sacks were filled they wer
Ined over 10 their respective carrier
no assorted them according TO tn
1nner of delivery. The long rows o
ay uniformed mail carriers stood be
re- their respective cages and as quick