Evening journal., 1915-12-14
SUBS WILL Assist
ON HOLIDAY MAIL
9ostoffice Prepares for Rec
ord Volume of Business
This Year
GIFTS PILE UP
IN OFFICE EARLY

Postmaster English, in anticipation
Of a large volume of Christmas mail,
mas already taken up the matter of
additional facilities for handling the
rush and TO prevent congestion during
he holiday period. Substitute clerks
and carriers will assist in these two
departments during the week previous
to Christmas.
That the holiday mail handled last
Christmas will be greatly exceeded at
the Wilmington postOtiice this year is
confidently expected. Judging from the
increase in volume during the past
month. Big gains have been mani
Tested in the parcel post business and
with corresponding gains during the
month Of December. It is expected
that the month will show a total OF
at least 100000 parcels.
The postoflice department has ad.
,ised each postmaster TO devise extra
ordinary measures according 10 the
special needs and conditions of his
community. TO prevent any delay in
ehe dispatch and delivery OF mail dur
ing the Christmas season. and ar
rengements necessary 10 this end are
being Perfected well IN advance of the
big rush Cards. calling attention to
the public TO mail parcels early, and
giving other information, have been
posted In the postonice lobby. The
information given is as follows:
Christmas parcels, 80 pounds. 1850
miles, $50 miles. 20 pounds-every-
where. Mail early. Wrap securely
Address plainly. Parcels may be
marked, do not open until Christ.
mas
Instructions have also been issued
10 the clerks in charge of the sub
stations throughout the different sec
tions of the city, preparatory TO the
holiday rush, and every effort will be
made to handle the mail promptly.
The large volume comes TO the main
office through these sub-statlons.
The basement floor of the postOfice
which until now has been used more
OF les sas a storage for sorting of
incoming mails, is being put TO a new
use An entire section OF the base
ment has been portioned off into
seven bins, each representing Il dis
irict.
AS soon as q wagon or load of mail
out of the city, the wagon or truck
upon which it is brought to the post
office is backed up against the build
Ing and the parcels emptied into a
window leading into the cellar. From
this window force of carriers take
and sort out the packages and place
them in the different bins and from
the opposite side of the bins another
force of men separate the packages
so that they can be packed into wa
gons ready for delivery.
The packages are then placed on
tables and numbered as to how they
are to be delivered The average load
OF a mail wagon comprises about 175
parcels, while sometimes the number
runs up to 250
With this new system of working
off the incoming parcel post i'm the
basement great deal of space is left
for the handling of iirst-class mail
matter on the main floor. where all of
the work vas done before.
After the parcels are all placed in
rotation on tables, a new stunt, which
was originated by Postmaster Eng
lish. consisting OF a long shelf made
with sides on three sides Is placed
alongside of the table and the pack
ages pushed onto it. After this is done
two men carry the shelf with all of
the packages loaded on it out to the
wagon from where il is taken and
placed ready for the last item. that
being the delivery to the homes Of
the addresses.
This new idea of using the base.
ment was tried for the first time Sun
day night Not only did il save the
work OF great many persons that
ordinarily would have had to be used,
but IL also saved time. as the wagons
were all loaded and the men started
out on their route a full hour earlier
this morning than iheN nsnnllN do