Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-04-01
POSTMASTER LETTERS RETIREs
Has Held Office Over 20 Years. and
Under Five Observation-Disclosures
by Cleveland in 'e4.

BY Cleveland in '94.
Postmaster Frank g. Letters. who
will retire today after more than 20
years at the head of the postal ser
vice in this city, is entitled to be rated
one Of the most efficient postmasters
in New England. He has. given Put
nam the very best service possible at
all times. and during the early days of
his incumbancy did not hesitate to
provements that would facilitate the
collection and delivery of mail. He
has held, /the office under five
presidents, republicans and democrats,
and appointments from administra-
tions of both great political parties.
Under Postmaster Letters the Put
nam office developed its rating from
third class and with business of
approximately $4,000 a year to its pres
ent standing with a business of more
than $4,000 during the last fiscal year.
No administration that preceded Mr..
Letters was marked by such growth
or expansion and addition of depart
| ments, and conditions were such, as
to widening of the field of operations
| of the postoff1ce department, during
| his years in office. that it is not likely
| that as many and important changes
will be witnessed under any future adj
ministration, excepting as to growth
of business, which may be limited only
| by Putnam's own growth and develop
ment.
Under Mr.. Letters the city delivery
service, the rural free delivery service,
| the postal savings department and the
parcel post were instituted-four great
development steps. Today the Putnam
| office is the hub in a web of mail de-
| livery lines radiating from this city.
| The years that marked the ending
| of Mr.. Letters long term OF, Office also
witnessed the forwarding of the move
ment. as well as it's inception. for the
| building of a federal post office build
| prevented the construction of the
| building for the time being.
| Mr.. Letters received his first ap-
pointment as postmaster, as a demo-
| crat, from President Grover Cleveland,
August 2, 1894. He took charge of
year. At that time, the office being
of the third class the postmaster was
expected to furnish the Office equip
ment. Mr.. Letters purchased the old
| fixtures from his predecessor, removed
| them and installed new and up-to-
date equipment containing about 1000
| lock and call boxes. with separate
| windows for the transaction of money
| order, registry, box and stamp bust
| ness.
During the first year of Mr.. Letters
administration a. city collection system
was installed. Twelve street letter
boxes were erected and maintained at
| the postmaster's expense and addition
al clerks secured to facilitate the de-
livery and despatch of mails
Mr.. Letters was reappointed by
| President Mckinley, January II, 1899.
again by Theodore Roosevelt, February
4, 1908, and again by President Roose-
welt February Z. 1907. His fifth COM
| mission as postmaster was issued by
| President William Howard Taft, Feb
v-,Ya hi 1oc nir,fF nT1f
has carried Mr.. Letters through the
first half Of President Wilson's admin
| istration.
Rural delivery route No. from the
Putnam post office was among the
| early routes started in Connecticut,
being instituted June /, 1901. Always
keeping a watchful eye on the Office
and it's business, Mr.. Letters awaited
/ the opportunity, for the establishment
of route No. 2. which was brought
about on February Is. 1905, followed
No 4, December /. 1908. and making
this city an important mail center for
the district. The rural routes serve
| 515 families composed of 2,158 persons
and cover a distance north, east, south
i and west of 102 miles. The carriers
/ on these routes handle approximately
$4,000 pieces of mail matter monthly
i July l, 1902, city free delivery SER
i vice was inaugurated with four car
rierS ana two substitutes, making three
daily deliveries in the business Sec
| ton, and two in the residential sec
1 tions and three collections. This
| branch of the service has been in
creased so that 1t is now necessary
to employ the services Of two auxiliary
| carriers.
/ At the present time the post office
force under Mr.. Letters includes ar
assistant postmaster, five clerks and
an auxiliary clerk, four regular city
rural carriers, two substitute rural
carriers, all of whom are civil service
i employees and young and active.
i In 1902, when the city delivery ser
vice was established, additional room
was taken on at the post office, which
was remodeled to meet the new re-
quirements. A new room was added
for the transaction of the much in
i creased money order and registry bus
J mess.
The postal savings service was es-
talblished in Putnam coincident with
the introduction of the system ani
there are now more than 800 open ac-
counts here and deposits of approx
} mately $4,000
During the little more than two
} years since the parcel post was estab.
lished, this branch of the business has
} grown rapidly at the local office ant
at times two or three deliveries arr
made daily, the first Immediately af.
ter the arrival of the morning mail
and, by special carrier, reaches the
!; merchants before 8 O'clock.
4 Mr. Letters has been one of tn,
most successful Dostmastars ia Man