The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-09-26
POSTAL SERVICE
CONTINUED from page niue)

ment has for twenty years or more
realized the necessity OF a suitable
receptacle for mail on business
houses, offices and dwellings as same
/ is evidenced by circular published by
| the Department about 1890, asking
| that they be furnished with a model
and description of mail box, neat in
appearance, to fasten upon the door
or walls of dwellings, without defac-
ing same, that would protect the con
tents from rain, sleet or dust and
against the removal of mail matter by
pilferers; this in order to facilitate
free delivery service and lessen the
cost of same.
whether the great mass of people
receiving the benefits of free delivery
service appreciate the advantages Of
suitable receptacle upon their bust
mess houses, offices and dwellings for
the delivery of mail is doubtful how
ever, there is but little doubt that if
the matter was brought to their at
tention in the proper manner, and a
satisfactory device offered, but what
large majority of patrons would
willingly consent to purchase mail
boxes and have same placed at some
convenient place on their business
houses, offices and dwellings
"The outlay for each individual is
so small and the advantage of know
| ing that their mail matter will be alb
solutely secure and will be delivered
at their office or residence daily,
whether office is open or anyone is at
home at their residence, that any
reasonable person would readily con-
sent to the small expense necessary
to protect their mail and improve the
service.
There are probably many instances
reported monthly to the postmaster
in cities having free delivery, in the
way of complaints against mail car
riers for not waiting a sufficient time
for the occupant to come to the door
and receive the mail and for leaving
mail matter when no one is at home,
on the porch, or attempting to poke
same underneath the door and various
places that appear to the carrier as
secure, especially if it is evident that
the occupant of the house is only
temporarily absent.
"The service could be greatly i'm
proved if the Post Office Department
would assume the task of providing
suitable receptacles and requiring an
approved box put up on each resi-
dence. The matter could be handled
by the Department at less cost to
the patron than in any other way as
each mail carrier could take orders
for the boxes, and could collect for
same. People pay from 81 to $12 Il
year for an ordinary lockboX at post
offices and could easily Day for a
small box for their dwelling in year
at the rate of 10 to 10 cents per
month for a box costing from $1.0O
to S1.75, erected on dwelling.
"The owners of houses in cities
having free delivery can well afford
the expense of mail boxes on each
dwelling owned by them as the es-
tablishing of free delivery increases
the value of their property to such
an extent that the cost of the mail
box is significant in comparison,
at does not seem that it would be
satisfactory to require the occupant
of rent houses to provide a mail box
for the reason that when moving, the
box would be moved also and the put
ting up and removal of several differ
ent styles of mail boxes would to d
certain extent mar the building.
There may be some objections to
requiring a mail box put up at every
dwelling within the free delivery
limits, but the only possible objection
that could occur to a reasonable mind
is the cost of the mail box, which is
insignificant in comparison to the
benefits derived from the free deliv
cry service and in comparison with
the increased efficiency, insuring
safety of mail and earlier delivery.
"Postmasters are probably the only
ones that fully realize the benefits
that would obtain by the use of suit
able mail box on each dwelling, as
much of their time is consumed ir
investigating COMP laints from pa
irons against carriers which could be
devoted to other matters if the use Of
mail box on each dwelling, as a con
dition to receive free delivery, was
enforced.
| GENa,,v individual al opuna fiTna ~