Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-11-23
Uncle Sam Plans
to Handle Hsavy
Holiday Mails

| ceipt of a circular letter addressed to
Burleson, directing that preparations
be made at once for the quick and eff
| fective distribution of the largest bulk
| of Christmas mail handled in the his
tory of the postoffice department. The
directions include an announcement
that supplies of placards urging the
public to mail parcels early, wrap them
securely. and address them plainly.
| will be sent out for display In all post
Offices, and that parcels mailed early
| may bear the words. Not to be opened
until Christmas
Postmasters are advised that the
preparatory measures must be perfect
ed well in advance of the rush period.
Mail must not be permitted to accumu-
, late. and clerks and carriers should be
encourag ed to put forth their best eff
forts at this season. If necessary, ex-
ira clerks and carriers may be en-
ployed for mere than eight hours
daily. Careful supervision must be ex-
erclsed in order that the time OF the
whole force may be utilized 20 the best
advantage.
Patrons are vitality interested in
having parcels delivered on or before
Christmas day and every effort should
be made to accomplish this" says the
postmaster generals letter "A supply
OF piacards urging the public to mail
parcels early. wrap them securely and
address them plainly viii be sent you
and should be displayed in the main
office. stations, and elsewhere. and ev-
cry other means at your command
4
CO. Operate with the department to
avoid congestion by distributing the
mailings over as many days before
Christmas as possible. 1t should be adj
vertised especially that parcels may
bear the words Not 10 be opened until
; Christmas. or similar inscription. The
, timeliness of gifts depends upon their
being received on or before Christmas
day: early mailing will insure this.
whereas the practice Of mailing pack
ages late in the hope that they VIII
reach their destination on Christmas
day is likely to defeat its own object
thru unavoida BILE delay due to the con-
sequent congestion OF the mails"
At small city delivery offices substi-
tute carriers on foot will be employed
to assist in making deliveries whenecef
the regular carriers can not handle all
the mail Vehicles are to be employed
only when the number of heavy and
bulky parcels or the area to be covered
is such that ii Is not econom ical to use
substitute on foot. In some places
push carts. bicycles. and motorcycles
with baskets may be used 10 advant-
age When the volume of mail is too
great for these means horse drawn We
hicles driven by the carrier or substi-
tute will be employed. Autom obiles
Will not be used in the smaller offices
unless it is clear that deliveries can
be made by them at no greater cost
than by other means.
At the large city delivery offices the
carrier force and delivery equipment
will be specially organized for the eff
fective performance Of the task which
VIII be imposed upon the service. This
Is 10 be done In such a way AS to admit
of expansion from day TO day as the
growing business demands. Postmas-
ters must make out applications in adj
vance for necessary auxiliary allow
ances Special blanks for this purpose
are being sent out by the department.
Allowances for clerk hire may be asked
for by letter.
Last year" the letter concluded.
thru intelligent direction and the en-
thusiastIc cooperation Of all connect
ed with the postal service. 1he depart
ment successfully handled the largest
quantity of holiday mail in its history.
This year the volume will greatly ex-
coed anything heretofore known. and
it is confidently believed that the same
spirit will animate the force and that
all mail received at your Office viii be
delivered before the close of Christmas
day