The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-03-16
THE NEW RULE WILL GO INTO
EFFECT ON THE FIRST
OF APRIL.
WAS PETITIONED BY CITIZENS
Hattiesburg First City in State to
Have Sunday CIosins-An Act
of Humanity.

Commencing on April /, the deliv-
cry of mail through the postoffice win
dows in Hattiesburg will be discon-
tinued on Sundays.
Postmaster Collins took up the mat
ter with the first assistant postmaster
general in February, on the petition
of number of citizens, and has re-
ceived a letter giving him permission
to make the change.
Postmaster Collins states that the
carriers and clerks of the Hattiesburg
postoffice are worked very hard, and
it is an act of humanity that they be
allowed a part of Sundays for rest and
recreation.
In speaking of conditions, Mr.. Col
Inns said:
Duties of Carriers.
MY five carriers serve an estimated
population of S,125; average weight
of mail carried per carrier is about SO
lbs; an average number of pieces
delivered per day per carrier is about
fS0; serving an average of 249 houses
per day per carrier, and the average
distance travelled per day per carrier,
about Is miles,
The postmaster accompanied the
carriers on their trips last week and
on one route the carrier travelled II
miles during the day. a pedomitor
being used to measure the distance.
Heretofore. carriers have been re-
quired to make one collection from
city letter boxes and work up all mail
for their route and make an hours
delivery through the postoffice win
dows on Sundays.
First in State to Close.
Detroit, Michigan, was the first to
get Sunday closing, and Hattiesburg
is the first in Mississippi
1t will be we'll for persons expecting
mail VII W request
that the same be sent by special de-
livery.
Postmaster Collins will arrange as
best he can for the dispatching and
distributing clerks to have every 9th
'er Sunday off, or at least the larger
part of the day, and hopes to secure
for them in the near future the entire
day off At present they are working
on long and short day basis and
thereby have the larger part of the
day off for recreation.
Petition Sent to Washington.
Postmaster Collins wrote the first
assistant postmaster general, request
ing the Sunday closing, as follows:
Hattiesburg, Miss, Feb. 10th, 1911
First Assistant Postmaster General
Washington. D. c.
~ Sir-I have ON file petitions signed
by eighty-seven professional men, two
hundred business men and firms, four
hundred six heads of families and
fourteen hundred twenty of the gen
eral public-ail patrons of this office
asking that the postoffice depart
ment discontinue Sunday service or
clerks as far as possible and to relieve
all carriers except special delivery
messengers.
/ have been requested by a commit
tee representing the petitioners to
recommend to the department the
closing of this office on Sundays, or
as nearly so as practical.
: The pastors of the different de-
nominations have preached several
sermons ON the subject, the local press
heartily endorse the movement and
the sentiment generally seems to be
favorable. There being no opposition
to the movement and believing 1t a
good and just one, most respectfully
recommend that this office discon-
tinue Sunday service as far as deem
ed advisable by the department.
w. A. COLLINS, p. M.
Reply in Part From First Asst. p. M.
General.
Washington, D. c., March 5. 1911.
Hon w. A. Collins, Postmaster, Hat
tiesbqrg, Miss.
my Dear Sir--In reply to your let
ter of the 18th ultimo, you are inform-
ed that in view Of your reeommenda-
\ tion based upon your opinion that io-