The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-05
From the Pittshnrg Post

Pittsburg office is no exception; but it
seems that there is no remedy and what
are you going to do about it?''
Thus spoke an attache of the Pittsburg
postoffice as he stood In the lobby of the
big, gloomy looking building in Smithheld
street watching the constant stream OF
men, women, boys and girls who applied
eagerly and expectantly at the windows
of the general delivery
1t was a startling remark. Could it be
possible that our excellent Uncle Sam
uel is always and knowingly. though
helplessly, contributing to the sum of So
cial evil through the medium of that an
eient and presumably honorable institu-
ton, the general delivery?
OF course, 1t is known that the mails
are being constantly used for the pro-
mitigation of Illegal schemes. They are
unavodably used for all sort of lille
Ultimate correspondence. But when
used for swindling connections the per-
petrators are usually quickly discovered
and forbidden the privilege of the mails
or are brought to legal book If there
be good ground for arrest and prosecu-
ton.
Little protection, however, can be
thrown around the abuse of the general
delivery. 1t will be used for clandestine
correspondence and with immoral aim
despite all watchfulness and safeguard
ing, for the barriers can be erected only
at a certain limit and beyond that limit
no authority may reach.
Minors Out of It.
I'VE do not permit minors to get mail
from the general delivery" said Post
master Davis when asked in regard to
the alleged conditions. Especially dc
we not deliver letters to young girls. In
the first place, we require identification
as to names. That is not always possible
but the clerks are men of keen judgment
of much experience, good readers OF
human nature, and can usually tell at a
glance whether the inquirer Is a legiti-
mate recipient of the mall he or she asks
for. In the case of minors we withhold
the mail, and, If possible, ascertain the
name of the parents, If there be parents
and forward the letters to them and let
them deal with the young ones as they
deserve. If we do not find the parents
or If mail is withheld for any reason, we
send the letters to the dead letter office
in Washington, and a mass of such cor
respondence goes there every year.
IT am told by postofflce agents and
inspectors who have travelled the coun-
try over that Pittsburg has the bulkiesi
general delivery of any city of the
country. In New York, of course, there
are numerous substations, and these
take the general delivery business from
the main office But it is asserted from
no other central office in the country
has so large a general dlivery as ours
This is due to the fact that vast
number of travelling men and transient
persons of all kinds stop in this city
and have their mail sent ahead of them
to the general delivery. Then there is
an immense number of men and womef
working In this greatest Industrial bee
hive of the country who live in apart
ment and roaming houses and who dc
not like to/have their mail go there
partly for the reason that it might be
appropriated by others and partly for
the reason that they may at any time
change their address. For these the gen
eral delivery is great advantage, and
1t is for such as these that 1t Is main
tanned. OF these transient and shifting
classes we have a larger percentage OF
population than any other city k1 the
United States.
Use Is Restricted.
For any person with a home, any
with a residence that can be called al
all permanent, there is no excuse fol
use of the general delivery. 1t is moi
maintained for them. Their service
and convenience led to the establish
11leHL anu SpltIulu NclOpliichl VI tils
free delivery system, and usually al
take advantage of this who expect to
have continuing address for any con-
siderable time. Thousands who have
not such permanence, for the reasons
mentioned, legitimately employ the ma
chinery of the general delivery. The
reminder of the correspondence, for the
most part that Is carried on through
the general delivery is what is termed
'clandestine. 1t would not bear inspec-
ton by any but the actors. Many things
path etic and many things that some
might call amusing occur In this con-
nection. We have sent letters of young
girls to their parents. and those pa
rents have come to thank us for saw
ing their children from possible harm
Letters so sent to parents have been
the means of discovering daughters
who have left their homes, and only
recently a mother came to us to give
heartfelt thanks for daughter whom
she recovered by this means, and said
that the girl was glad to get back
home and was doing well.
1--WE have had wives ask for letters
addressed to their husbands and hus-
bands for letters addressed to tn ell
wives, but the rule of the depart
ment is absolute on that. These re-
quests cannot be complied with. If
such correspondence is in progress
1t Is not q part of the plan of the pres
ent postal system of the United States
to contribute to martial broils or to
add to the arm of the divorced. / be-
lieve, however, that a smaller percent
age of the deliveries in our postoffice
is what may be termed 'clandestine
correspondence than in any other city
of the country, and for the very rea
son I have given why We have, as it
Is asserted by inspectors, the bulkiest
business. By far the larger number
of deliveries is made to men, and men
whose appearance, indicates infallibly
that they are engaged only in the
serious matters of life."
Romance at the Window.
To the worldly wise no eIairvoyance
is needed to analyze the mission of those
who come to the general delivery windows
for their mail. 1t is a study in varie-
gated human nature and an education
in easy mind reading to stand for an
hour or SO day after day and sean the
faces Of the patrons of that semi-sinister
precinct. Men and women come there
with anxious faces, clearly saying that
they are expecting remittances. Failing
to receive letter anxiety is often trans
formed into despair. A letter is passed
out, eagerly torn open, bill or check is
found, and there are at times almost
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chilblains last winter, or something like
that
Now, look a-here. dawlink,' he put
in at this point, you know perfectly well
that l wouldn't think of trying to tel
you any thing that wasn't
oh, 1 know, I know, Brighteyes, she