The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-21
CROWDS INSPECT
NEW P0ST70Ff|Cf
Explore Uncle Sans New Home,
and Praise Style and
Equipment.
new KEYS FOR 0x-H0L DERS
Patrons Cannot Gain Ad;nittance
to Boxes in New Office
With Old Keys.
NEW KEYS FOR B0x-H0LDE

Visitors by the hundred called yes
terday to pay their respects to the new
post-office. 1t was an ideal calling
day and tie sabbath crowds could not
down their curiosity. The main en-
frances were thrown open early In the
morning, end until late at might
steady stream Of people poured In ana
out.
The imposing main corridor. with its
arched doorways and marble walls.
came in for large share OF the
praise. The more enterprising CLIMBED
to tie upper floors. as yet unoccupied
and Uttered with the refuse OF buiio-
ers and painters. Even in their bare.
unfurnished condition. the two UniteH
States courtrooms presented an I'M
posing appearance, subdued and 1of-
NAL in rich mahogany.
The Sunday closing rule. which has
been enforced in the Richmond once
for more than a year. prevented the
transaction of business. and VISITORS
satisfied themselves with peerlnS
through the stamp and delivery WIN
dows into the busy mailing room
where a hundred clerks and carriers
were busy putting everything in shape
for to-day's opening.
Old Building Not Deserted.
There are many post-office patrons
who either do not read the newspapers
or read them only specifically. From
this class was recruited yesterday
large number Of people who went as
usual to the old building at seventh
and Franklin Streets to mall letters
and get mail from private lock boxes
They found deserted pos'-onice
impaired the news that Uncle sam hao
shaken his old haunt for good.
In the new building there was no
hold-up because OF moving day. All
mails were sorted and dispatched on
time, The usual distribution was mace
TO the lock boxes. but none of these re-
sponded to the old keys. The new
post ONCE contains now more tfan -
600 boxes of firms and indiViouaiS
abou, twice that number that was III
the temporary Office
Reeintng this morning. holders OF
old boxes will be given ne" keys J."
exchange for those they now hoio- Inc
numbers for the most part Will remain
the same. although in some cases
change in number will be necessary
Where the number of patrons %.
has remained unchanged. change Oh
ke-s will nevertheless De hecessdiS-
Force works All Night.
large force OF clerks ana EN-
nloyes worked all day and throus
the night to put the mailing room III
order for regular weekday business
Such equipment as was moved from
the old building was hastily dumped
on the floors Saturday in order 10
complete the moving proper BEFORE
sunday. This was yesterday arrahs-
ed in form for business. and the once
will open this morning with p'aS
,ically permanent setting.
Those who came yesterday TO de-
,ogi, mail matter OF various KINDS
no,iced with favor that all the puphc
mailing chutes are located at the neao
~ the west aisle within easy access
~ -h. street. In many Of the large
,os,-ofices Of the country the maiilns
cbutes are situated deep in the p"iio-
10 20 shorten the distance TO the can
cling machines. The local arrange
1,s,, - a distinct Improvement ana
c,,,. down the walking distance.
The Federal offices stiii remain,hs
., ,bs old building will begin to-day
r. transfer to the new home. me
loving IT these is more OF problem
xince many Of the onices are
h.,ea with heavy safes