Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-08
Writing Letters to
Your Uncle Samuel
<<"H HE volume Of mail from individ

<<THE volume Of mail from indiyid-
ual correspondents from all
parts of this country and the
whole world. for that matter, addressed
to the different executive departments in
Washington which is, distributed daily
In Uncle Sans workshops is something
prodigious." remarked a postal Official.
"And the outgoing replies which fl
ter through the Washington city post
office, to be ultimately scattered and
dropped everywhere within the cir
cumference of the globe, is aggregately
Of equal gigantic proportions. A word
or two to those who have business with
the government will be found Of serv-
ice.
1T is astonishing the number of COM
munications the Post Office Department
receives annually from individuals who
write in about my letter. The INV
letter communication is about as enfg-
matIcal a proposition as experienced
and patient clerks can go up against.
There are billions of letters annual1v
transported through the mails, millions
go annually into the dead letter office
and more millions come annually ad-
dressed to the department upon all
sorts Of propositions and questions. Yet
n
pose that my letter. which may mean
a former communication which is again
inquired about, a letter which has gone
astray. or, in fact, any letter at all. is
the only communication the department
received. and is kept framed in a glass
case for future reference.
Correspondents should bear in mind
in addressing the Post Office Depart
ment, or any department in Washing
ton upon any business whatsoever ref
orc no fn ho
matter with which the previous COM
munication has to do. Then no mat
ter how deficient the communication
may be as to other particulars it will
er bureau or division for Identification
and reply may be promptly made.
And in writing about rural free de-
livery mail routes, don't simply say my
route. as many correspondents do. but
give the number of the route. as there
are about 10000 routes in this country
II you would inquire about a money
order don't write in about my money
order. as hundreds of people do in an
exasperating fashion every year. When
you buy Il money order. either domestic
or foreign. receipt Is always given
the purchaser. and this receipt should
be retained for future reference In the
event of subsequent inquiry. There
are $4,000 money order Offices in this
country which annually issue millions
upon millions Of domestic and foreign
orders. yet strange to say some people
imagine that a mere inquiry about my
money order can be traced in Wash
ing. evidently proceeding upon the sup
position that their Individual names
are sent on here to be recorded. The
name of the Office of issue and the
number and date of the order ought
to be furnished in all instances. as
the records of the department. are kept
under the office of issue and not under
the name of the remitter.
The Englishman Is much more exact
in this respect than the American. and
1t is rare that the department receives
an inquiry from England regarding u
missing letter or money order In which
full information regarding the mailing
OF the former and full particulars as
to the latter regarding Office of issue,
date, number and other essentials are
not furnished to enable a ready and
Immediate search and Identification on
this side of the water.
Some Fail to Sign Names.
Our correspondents. however. not
only frequently omit signing their own
names. but will omit their place Of
residence, or will give the latter and
omit the state, or will sign their names
only. emitting both office and state.
When it is recalled that there are q
score or SO of Washingtons. Spring
fields, Newarks, Centervilles, Middle
towns and other familiar names for