The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1911-12-20
EARLY SENDING Of
CHRISTMAS NAIL
AIDS POSTOFF|CE
Public Consideration Re.
lieves Department Of
Much Congestion.

Santa Claus has made an early visit
to Postmaster N. A. Merritt, and the
entire Washington branch Of the postal
service is happy. though very busy.
Postmaster Merritt wishes to extend
his thanks to the people of Washington,
for they, the people. have obeyed the
oft-repeated injunction. and though all
Of them may not. have shopped early,
the vast majority are mailing early.
There has been an unprecedented IN
crease In the early Christmas rush at
the Postoffice. and Postmaster Merritt
believes this will do away with the great
avalanche that usually swamps the
malls December 20. %, and "a.
An enormous amount Of mail matter is
passing through the hoppers at the
Postoffice. but with increased service
and facilities to care for It, the mails
are moving as usual. The main office
and the branch offices are not piled
high. as IL usually the case at Christ
mas. and there 10 no tie-up anywhere
along tho line. Consequently, there is
no delay.
Seven additional wagons began service
for the Postoffice today to help handle
the great bulk Of mail. Three are work
ing from the main office, two from sta
ton B on Capitol Hill, one from station
G on @ street northwest, and the other
from station r in Mt. Pleasant.
Handling Apartments.
Superintendent of Delivery Haycock
introduced an innovation In delivery to-
day that will effectually avoid much pos
sible congestion in his branch Of the
service Beginning with today. the
apartment house mail. both uptown and
downtown. will be handled in bags. All
mail for any given apartment will be
thrown into a sack. and as soon as this
sack is filled, It will be dispatched by
automobile direct to the apartment
house for which 1t is tagged. There the
carrier will pick It up and distribute the
pieces. This will greatly facilitate de-
livery all around and will not load the
carriers up like pack horses in such a
manner that they/will be delayed GOV.
ering their routes. Also the carriers
will not have to start from the office
| with all the mail for their routes, or let
some lay over for the next trip. They
will route their mail. and it will be de.
posted on their routes, say midway, al
designated point by an automobile
therefore will be able to make time.
Yesterday 2l2,000 pieces were delivered
in Washington. including 10000 letters
$1,000 papers, 1000 post cards, and 900
packages. This Is an increase Of rs pei
cent over pieces handled the same date
last year, and indicates that the people
are mailing early"
Innovation Aids Work.
There are many other causes that have
added to the expedition Of the mail.
and lack of congestion. Principal
among these Is the action of Congress
In permitting the Writing OF line OF
instruction on third and fourth class
packages. such as don't open until
Christmas" or a line Of greetings.
There has been an increase of about
| 10 per cent In the work Of the mailing
division In the last two days, and 1t IL
| estimated the total Christmas business
that Is. the pieces Of mail dispatched
from Washington to other cities and
run to more than 1000, 900 pieces.
Forty-two boys are working overtime
keeping the special delivery mail NOV.
ing. These boys are all from the regu-
cial messengers never worked before
Postmaster Merritt has given his ap.
| prevail to his scheme of letting the reg.
ular boys work overtime and earn extra
money. rather than to put on a lot OF
inexperienced youngsters who do no,
know the city and the system. Many
Of the regular boys are working in con.
| tinuous shifts from a. m. to II p. m
but they will have lots of Christmas
| money.
D., Santa Claus Helpers.
Few persons realize what a great aux.
Hilary force the little army Of posta
employees here Is. in the gigantic tasl
of playing Santa Claus to hundreds Of
thousands Of people.
Postmaster Merritt Ia SO pleased with
the promptness of his patrons that he
had few instructions to give when called
upon this morning. He did give the &C.
companying don'ts. extended his thanks
and asked that the 'early mailing" bt
kept up. There are many difficulties II
the handling of millions OF pieces Of
mall matter every day. and the force a.
the Postoffice is working under great
pressure carrying the Christmas spirit
to and from nearly $4,000 people in tn,
District of Columbia scattered as the,
are over sixty square miles Of terri
tory.
No private enterprise feels the rusf
1