The Brunswick news., 1909-07-27
FINE MAIL FACILITIES
FOR ST. SIMON PEOPLE
POSTMASTER ADDS Optional TO The STA
rloN At THE ptER-HE TELLS THE EXCELLENT
SERVICE THE

I Wnen interviewed Dy news re-
porter yesterday regarding the pos
tai facilities at ST. Simons, especial
ly during the encampment of part of
the national guard of Georgia, Post
master Smith said
st. Simons rural station, which is
branch of the Brunswick postoffice,
Is handling the mail and money or
der and registry business of the
/ troops as well as other visitors, and
| am sure is giving excellent serv-
| ice. A mail is received from this
once at 10 a. m. and one is dis
| patched at 1870 a. m, another is
received from Brunswick at $50 D. m.
and one is dispatched at $50 D. m.
Through the courtesy of Manager J.
b. Wright, of the st. Simons Tran
/ sit Co., the evening dispatch of mail
Is now being made via the steamer
Hessie at $50 p. NJ, instead of on
the Attaquin at p. m. Mr. Wright
l-havin& agreed, had the change made
on Saturday in order that additional
time in the afternoon might be af-
forded people on the island to get
their mail into the station.
During the period of the encamp-
ments have detailed an experienced
clerk from this office to assist the
clerk in charge of st. Simons rural
station. the amount of mail being
handled necessitating additional help
| there. This clerk will stay at the
| station until the end of the encamp
ments."
When asked to give some facts re-
garding the nature of the facilities
afforded by the station and it's estab-
lishment, Mr.. Smith said:
"St. Simons rural station was es-
tablished by the postoffice department
July 1, 1908. The idea of securing
first class postal facilities at st. ST.
mons Mills, the nearest postoffice be-
ing nearly three miles away at st.
I-Simons Mills, was suggested to me
during the summer of, 1905, shortly
after | took charge as postmaster. by
Mr.. F. d. Aiken, president of the ST.
Simons Transit Co., while We were
coming from st. Simons on one of
the company's boats. Mr. Aiken ask
ed me to try and secure the estajb-
llshment of postoffice at ST Simons
Pier, stating that postal facilities
were badly needed there by the peo-
pie, from both Brunswick and the in
terror, spending the summer on the
beach. He informed me that he had
taken the matter up Sefore, but that
no effort was made on account of the
fear that facilities at ST. Simons Pier
would detract from the st. Simons
Mills postoffice. told Mr.. Aiken that
a station, or branch, of the Brunswick
offlce would have better eolipment
and give better service than it would
be possible to get from separate
postoffice which would necessarily be
in charge of some one engaged in
some line of business which woulf
he sure to take up the postmaster.
first attention.
During the two years that followed
J attempted by correspondence with
! the department to get a station es-
taOlished, but without success on ac-
| count OF objections made by the de-
partment due TO restrictions of law.
In November, 1907, I went to
WASH ngtOn and secured the promise
IRON the first assistant postmaster
general to send an assistant superin-
tendent from Washington to look in
to the situation with the view of es-
tablishing what is known as a city
station II 1t could be done in accord
ance with the existing law. He ar
rived within week and went over
the island with me, bat was obliged
to report adversely as the law gov
erning the establishment of city
stations requires that the town or viii
laSe it is proposed to establish one
In must be not more than five miles
from the corporate limits of the city
in which the main office is located
and must contain, also, not less than
l,50O population. st. Simons beach
is within two hundred yards of the
corporate limits of Brunswick, but.
considered as town or village, does
not contain permanent population
Of 1,50o. In January, 1908 a post
Office inspector, in talking the matter
over with me, informed me that it
might be possible to establish rural
station without violating the law.
took the matter up again with the de-
paptment and succeeded in getting
the same inspector detailed to report
on my request for the, establishment
Of a rural station. He made the in
spection in May, 1908, reporting fay-
orably end the department authorized
me to establish st. Simons rural sta
ton of the Brunswick Office, effec-
tive July I, 1908. This station. how
ever. is the only one in the United
states to and from which the mail Is
! carried by steamboats, under contract
instead of being supplied by a rural
Ik.a 1rr.I