The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-17
Topeka POstOffice Records Show
81, 800 People.
This Number Served by Local
Postal Carriers.
40 PIECES A MINUTE.
Mail Man Delivers More Than
5000 Pieces a Day.
Eight Stations, ~ Carriers, in
Topeka Now.

Now comes the Topeka government
postoff1ce records to show that Topeka
has a population Of more than $4,000
people. The announcement of the post
man weight and delivery records have
been. made by Postmaster Rodgers.
| So Few people in Topeka realize that
| the average mail carrier going down
| the street with his whistle in his mouth
delivers more than 40 pieces of mail a
minute and more than 5000 in his
daily rounds in the business and resi-
dent districts.
| A report Just issued by Postmaster
Rodgers, of the Topeka postoff1ce, gives
these figures. And it gives hundreds of
other figures concerning the daily du-
ties of mail carrier that will be a
surprise to the average citizen who
thinks it is job to go out the
front porch for his mail and mail a
letter in a corner. mail box.
This report of the work of the car
riers was instituted by the department
in Washington to find out just what
the city carriers were doing and what
work was placed on their shoulders. If
necessary additional men will be given
| to the postmasters in the larger o1cies
| in the country.
| The Topeka showing-although a day
was chosen which is considered the
| lightest part of the week and month
signifies the growth of the city and
the immense amount of government
postal business in this city.
There are eight postal stations in
Topeka. including the headquarters
postoffice, corner Fifth and Kansas. av-
enue. The others are in North Tope-
ka (station Al, Washburn college sta
ton b, Potwin (station c., Oakland
branch office, No. 1, at Kelley drug
store, in East Topeka. No. 2 in Crosby
Brothers store and No. 3, which will
be installed in the new Mills store
April l.
There are eight business mai: routes
in the city. 26 resident routes and five
mixed. making a total of 80 routes IN
Topeka. The postoffice employs AZ car
riers, six mounted men and three col
lectors. A little over eight square miles
of territory is served and the popula-
ton accommodated with mail service is
given at 1900. This is an increase over
the record made last year and is sig
nificant of the city's growth.
The number of people served by
each carrier is given at 1920 and the
number of pieces delivered per car
rier is figured at 354.4. There are
178 letter boxes, IT package boxes and
9 combination letter and package
boxes now in use.
A surprise was sprung at the post
Office when it was found that only 50
per cent of the residences in Topeka
are provided with mail receptacleS. In
the business houses only per cent
can be found This is the foundation
for the movement on foot to encour-
age the purchase of receptacles.
1t is figured by Postmaster Rodgers
that the carriers could make much
better time and do more efficient work
if the people would provide boxes or
catches of some kind for the receiving
of mail A campaign in this direction
has been launched by the everwatch-
full postmaster.
The average distance travelled by
carriers making collections is estimat-
ed at 1875 miles.
The weight in pounds of mail deliy-
cred by each carrier IS 17.15 of first
class matter and 91.25 second class.
The number of pieces 1852 of first
class and 1.135 of second class. The
average number of mail receptacleS on
each route are 1S5 and the average
number of stops by each carrier daily
32S.
Wednesday, March s. was selected
by the postoffice department as the day
for the compilation of these figures.
This is in the middle of the week and
not near enough the last or first of
the month to get the advantage of
heavy mail. In other words the fig
ures are low in comparison with some
days in the Topeka mali service. And
postmen report the lightest day in his
March 8.