Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-11-02
MRS. PATTERSON
IS CLICKED OUl.
Aier 1ixIern Years as Posi-
hi IrtSS ul OlSInoICk she
Krllr.S IL rrIydic Lite

son retired TO her apartments IN tne
Mex enzle hotel, she breathed sigh
OF 1elief, for She had laid aside the
uurdens OF PUBLIC once and ieured as
DOS .mlsIress OF bismarck, which posi-
ION she mad nela FOR 40 years, lack
ing one mouth. FRANK Reed, .he new
postmas .er, had been checked IN.
On the wall of her apaI lment hangs
a long frame which contains four COM
MISSIONS for the position of poslmis-
lress, the first OF which was issued
bypresident Mckinley; two issued by
President Roosevelt and one by Presl-
dent Taft.
Mrs. Paetterson's first commission
is dated Dec. 2, 1897, and in all that
time she has given her personal atten-
ton to the details of the office, max
ing out every report with The excep-
ton of one last summer, which was
necessary while she was in hospital
N Chicago.
When this business woman took the
office the receipts were $4,000 per
wear, and she received but 500 per
ear tor light, fuel and rent, and she
vas allowed but two clerks. Today
The receipts are $oo,OoJ per anndm
and the once has eight clerks, an as
s.s3ant postmaster and three city car
ilers.
In the big fire Of 1898 the post
office was burned, then being loca.ed
across the street south from the
present slue. Af.er the IRE Nj S. Pat
lerson located the poH,olnce for d
month in the sample room of the
sheridan ho.el, which building is now
known as the Industrial exposition
ouildlng and stood vine. e the North
,rn Pacific passenger station now IS.
AI.er this it was Ioca ed IN An ice
nouse east of the hotel and business
vas conducted over boxes, barrels
and planks, handling tle Christmas
.rade under these difficulties.
When the Webb block was built,
he post office was moved into it.
where it remained till short time
go when it was moved into the pres
ent $15O,00O building.
When the present site was purchas-
ed by the government, Mrs. Patter-
son was made custodian OF the pre-.
misses, collected rent from the build
ngs and looked after the property in
eneral.
The new building is in first class
uondit.on in every respect. Mrs. Pat
verson had to check-in all furniture
Ind fixtu4 es, and when she was check
ed out on Saturday, but two hours
were necessary in the work, includ-
ing all records, cash, furniture and
every p2inute detail. Every CORES
pondence and book was cleared and
were up to date, leaving clear sailing,
Or the new postmaster.
Not only is this an exceptionally
good record for Mrs. Patterson, but
It may be added that after five inspec-
ors had inspected the office, not a
ngle thing was found wrong.
In the stewardship just closed, Mrs.
Patterson has shown herself an ca
2eptiOnal business woman, and not
withstanding the fact that some may
have found occasional fault with the
Sc. vice, yet it must not be forgotten
that she was required to do an eX
ceotionally heavy volume of business
wiki a corps Of clerks which was by
far inadequate in numbers. For in
stance last April Mrs. Patterson ap-
piled fer extra clerks and another car
rier, but could receive no reply from
The department. Again in June the
applicati lion was made, and it was not
I'LL Oct. 16, just two weeks before she
left, that the extra help was supplied.
Mrs. -Patterson's commission would
no. nave expired till March 1, 1915,
but the cruel hand of politics inter.
fered, and ner term was cut short
by one year and four months. She Il;
a member of the Tri-state Postmas-
ter's association and has attended
most of the conventions of the asso.
citation held during her incumbency in
office.
Mrs. Patterson is to be congratulate
ed upon the excellent record which
she has made during these long years
in Office. In all this time there has
been no flaw in her record no short.
age or no irregularities have been
found, and upon her final accounting
to the government she was released
with an absolutely clear bill, and the
Office was left in condition which is
an exception. Her many friends will
Join in extending hearty congratula-