The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-09-29
DEAD LETTER OFFICE STUFF
PREPARING FOR AucTioN--ALl
UNCLAIMED PACKAGES Hello
ONE YeAR-TAeN SOLD

fireworks are not more earnestly en-
gagged making ready for the Nulc.
tide season than the score or more
clerks In the property division Of
the dead letter Office OF the United
States pOstofrice department Since
the first Of last April these clerks
have been opening, examining. cata.
loguirg and rewrappiug the thous.
ands Of unclaimed packages which
have been sent to the dead letter
division Of the pOstOfTiCr dcpar mont
mt Washington since the last annual
auction sale Of such articles. The
meaning of this activity iu the dead
letter office IL preparation for the
regular Christmas sale Of unclaimed
packages which have bc,u collected
through the VarIous postoficos
throughout the country and sent 20
thr dead letter office because no
claimants called for them. Last year
there were nearly 10000 packages OF
this description from the sale at
auction OF which the postoflcc de.
partment derived approximately Sll.-
600. This money, or annual rcyeru'.
is sent TO the secretary of the treas.
ury, who places It to tho credit of
f1t,. ,.,.44 ..fgt,.. a..,xa ,,,.s.e
The handling. storing aud final
disposition OF the thousancs of I'M
claimed mail packages tnat find
their way to the property division
OF the dead letter Ofrict 20 Wash
inEton rs as serious and painstalinE
function OF the pcStofficc depart.
ment rs the proper circulation and
distribution ot mail matter OF the
first class. and getting ready for the
annual auction Is an occupation thai
involves lobor time and infinite pa.
ticnce.
After the unclaimed packages
have been held one year the clerks
in the property division begin the
task OF examining their contents.
After each article has been exam.
lncd appraised and catalOGued. |, Is
rewrapped and rcconsigned TO the
storage room. where Il stays until
called for by the aucuuncer. The
privilege OF selling the entire lot
| OF unclaimed packages Is given "a
the highest bidder. who must fur,
nlsh acceptable bond for the safe
| custody OF the packages and the de.
! livery Of the money aCcruirG from
their sale
Competition in the bidding is dcsir.
able for the reason that the depart
ment wants the articles TO bring
the highest prices possible. and a.
/ the dead letter division knows pretty
| Well the value Of the article. Il
/ demands that the auctioncer who
conducts the s.l, shall have pre-
/ yious placed tnr highest valuation
upon the whole stock. While many
Of the articles sol al loss than 81
II is the aim of the department tc
get as much above that amount as
possible Some OF the packages brinL
as high as $ij, but the average
range Of prices Is 81 10 81. Some
times II il necessary, In order e
make a package worth 81, TO plac,
two or more articles In q sinGl,
wrappcr--the idea being TO discour
age cheap bidding. 4 week befor'
Christmas day the packages ar'
placed somewhere about the ceute
of the business district Of the cit.
and the auctionecr opens the sale
Several thousand catalogues are dis
tributed among the buyers, who ar
thus enabled TO make their bids dis
cerningly. Personal inspection Of IN
article either before or at the tim
1t Is offered for safe Is 'orbldder
but II Is seldom that a purchase
Is dissatisfied with his purchase. 10
he made il With his eyes open.
II, after an article has been sole
the person 20 whom II was orig
nally addressed calls for II. the GOV
ernment RENTS him the value OF tn
article minus psotagc and the q
penscs attached to rs SAT-. Every
thing from a match box 10 cookln
utensils go 70 make up the stoc
Of the property division Of the dea
letter office. Wearing apparel prof.
ably dominates the character OF tn
miscellaneous collection which tac
makes the sale especially attractiy
TO bargain-seoking fenininity. III
salable articles such as fircarm'
poisons and candies are consignc
TO thief urnaccS In the postOffic
"A REATTI'IEI CnMpT EXInr