The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-07
INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT OF
 PUBLIC INDUSTRY EFFECTS BIG
 SAVINGS FOR U. s. GOVERNMENT

Thousands or Dollars SaVeQ
 Annually Through Introduc- ton of Modern Methods In
 Handling of Great Volumes of Mails Under Federal Di- rectiOn.
 The inerest of people in public af- fairs is considerably heightened when Government are wisely and judicious- ly managed. A statement of econom- ical expenditure which is susceptible of proof will always attract attention and please the thoughtful reader.
 Among the varied industrial enter prises of the Post Office Department in Washington is an establishment devot- ed entirely to the manufacture of mail locks and the bag attachments used in mail transportation. When this ad- ministration came into power. the De- partment sorely needed an improved type of mail lock. The shop was im- mediately reorganized, placed on business basis, and its activities enlarg ed so as to meet this imperative de- mand. Within a very short time new and greatly improved lock had been devised and its production begun.
 The lock in use weighed 1-2 oun- ces; the new one weighs 4-5 oun- ces. As 430,000 of this new product have been put into service, the differ ence in weight (the Government pay ing as much for the weight of equip ment as it does for the mail itself) can be easily calculated. The locks re- placed by this new and better style cost 21 cents each to make; those now being manufactured cost 12 cents. direct and indirect charges consid- cred, the saving thus shown on origi- nal cost of production to date ann bunting to $53,750. Of the old style, 36,OOO were annually returned for re- pair at a cost of about g cents each. Of the new style, out of the great number sent into the service, but 906 have been returned, and as these new style locks can be repaired at cost of cents each, the annual saving on this item will amount to over $2,100.
 The Department has in this admin istration encouraged it's employees to give their best service to the Govern ment and many instances have recent
  ment has greatly prof1ted by this wise public policy. In the lock shop recent achievement in this direction is an improved cord fastener, the work of three of it's employees, for use on bags; also one designed for locking large quantities of parcel-post matter. protection. It can be made at a very ar;4 ri af a fewer number of operations. The significant part of this lies in the great number ,required in the service, be- tween three and four millions, the output being 500,0O0 annually. As the cost has been reduced by the new method from 1-2 to 3 cents each, it will be seen what a splendid showing this makes for administrative econo- my. ss
 Another valuable improvement has been the perfected locking cord fas- tener designed for use on tie sacks. something which the Department for years has, needed and vainly endeav- ored to accomplish. This device will be of great value to the postal serS and efficiency of mail bags to de-
 
 ern system of business methods and the proper encouragement of em- ployees to take an active and earnest interest in their work, both of which desirable features this administration of the Department has favored and put into practice, is responsible for the many improvements made and the ad- vantages gained.
 
 being made for the betterment of the service. For many years a tremen- dous expense has been the labelling of the immense quantity of mail bags in use. The form of label used in the past and still used by clerks all ov- CT the country is the doubling and re- folding of what is known as a fac ing slip" The preparations of these is an expensive proposition. yet there appears t9 have been no effort on the part of previous administrations to progress from the old method. Under present direction a perforated label in sheets and runs has been designed which is practically ready for use when furnished to employees. Every postal clerk in the country and thou
 
 this new method of great advantage and it will result in a large economy in the service.
 There have also been some other mo- table improvements made, viz, the substitution of steel where brass was formerly used. at g. very considerable lessening of expense; a device for fas- tening foreign mail pouches, doing away with the old-fashioned method of string and seal; scheme for saw ing twine by means of a simple holder which permits free and easy use with out waste, and a flexible stamp design. for which the contract price was 34 cents, but which will now be made at cost of but cents. A mechani- cal pickup or facing table for use in facing and stacking letters in first- class post offices has also been devel- oped and will soon be perfected. This device is considered superior to those now in use and costs less than one- third as much to manufacture. Those at present in use cost approximately $1,5O0.
 It will thus be seen that the activi- ties of the Post Office Department have been centered along lines which will not only produce large economies