The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-26
HANDLED 100000
PACKAGES OF MAIL
Parcel Post Terminal Made
Record in Four Days and
Has Decks Cleared
BUSINESS STILL GROWING
Chief Clerk Elan Finds That
New Quarters and More Men
Are Badly Needed.

While the force handled 100000 par
eel post packages within the past -four
days. superintendent II. /. Valentine,
in the basement of the post office. re
ported last night that every single
package had been cleared. The rec
ord Is regarded as remarkable, in view
of the tremendous amount of business.
although it required the work OF
eleven trained railway postal clerks
under the direction OF chief Clerk r.
u. ELAN. In order to clear the decks.
Chief ELAN remained on duty with his
men yesterday, and had TO deny him
SELF the pleasure of going home for
Christmas.
There is only one terminal in Viz
ginia. IT is operated as II part of the
railway mail service. ana has no direct
connection with the post-o office proper.
except that the post-otcc must see
that the sacks are brought from the
trains and then sent 10 other trains
after they have been sorted and dis
tributcd 10y experts. The business Is
growing so rapidly that new quarters
must he secured and it is probable
that the working force will be in
creased TO NIFTY These men are
picked from the army tia, spent years
in postal cars. ana detailed for duty
AT the various terminals because of
their familiarity with the peculiar
duties of parcel post traffic
Gets All Virginia Stun.
Every parcel post package from any
city or state destined for any city In
Virginia OF Eastern Carolina is sent
direct TO Richmond" said SuperIntcn-
dent Valentine last night 1t is
dumped into the terminal. where orr
men sort 1t and pat IL on its way again.
Every package from city in Virginia
or Eastern Carolina comes here first
ana we handle it. The parcel post
uocs not come IN contact with other
inail' but all stun bound for Il far dis
tant point is put aboard 81 fast train
and at some other terminal is mn
aboard local trains for small town
distribution
In this way the public gets quick
service. y package for Denver. for in
stance. would not be started away from
mere on slow train. but goes on :,
schedule that q passenger in a hurry
would follow
During tho past week we have re.
cc'Ved about 1000 sacks "a day and have
sent out 1000 sacks a day which gives
some idea of the amount of business. OF
the 100000 packages handled within I'M,
of them had To be held up bccaus. Of
incorrect address or improper wrap
ping. Parcels sent out direct from the
Richmond stores conform 10 rceula-
tons, and this volume of business has
been enormous But there is just as
much coming in. for we get carloads OF
II from Chicago where the big mail
order houses are operating on a more
extensive scale than ever before.
Must Find bigger 0unrtcrs
The terminal, however, was not es-
tablished simply for the holiday rush.
IL Is TO be permanent institution
and Richmond was selected because it
is the logical place to have it, Pretty
soon We have got to find bigger quar-
terS. for as the service grows the term
inal force Will jump to about nifty men
and every DAY, previous to the holiday
rush. there was a daily increase in the
number Of sacks and packages. The
terminal here serves the entire state OF
Virginia and half Of North Carolina.
and when you figure that we have to
handle every package .'or that big ter
ritory YOU can get some idea OF what
this thing means"
superintendent Valentine was put in
charge of the terminal after II contin-
railway mall clerk on the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad. He is on his job.
Chief Clerk ELAN is rated as one OF the
experts in the service. and it has been
largely due to his fine work that the
terminal was able 10 move the carloads
OF parcel post matter without delay.