The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-08-19
MODERN METHODS IN
POsT0|F / Fl DEPT
Wilson Administration Saves
Thousands of Dollars Annually
By Intelligent Management.

The interest Of people in public af-
fairs is considerably heightened when
they learn that the revenues Of the
government arr wisely and Judi
ciously managed. A statement of
economical expenditure which is sus-
ceptible 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 de-
voted entirely to the manufacture of
mail locks and the bag attachments
used in mail transportation. When
this administration came into power,
the department sorely needed an inn.
proved type Of mail lock- The shop
was Immediately reorganized, placed
on a. business basis, and it's activities
enlarged so as to meet this impera-
tive demand. Within a. very short
time new and greatly improved lock
had been devised and its production
begun.
The lock in use weighed '5k
ounces; the new one weighs 24-5
ounces: As 100000 of this new pro-.
duct has been put into service, the
difference in weight (the government
paying as much Tor the weight of
equipment as it does for the mail it.
self) can be easily calculated. The
locks replaced by this new and better
style cost 81 cents each to- make;
those now being manufactured cost
81 cents, direct and indirect charges
considered, the saving thus shown on
original cost of production to date
amounting to $53,750. OF the old
style, $4,000 were annually returned
for repair at a cost of about nine
cents each. OF the new style, out Of
the great number sent into the serv-
ice, but 906 have been returned. and
as these new style locks can be re-
paired at a cost Of three cents each.
the annual saving on this item will
amount to over $1,000.
The department has in this admin
istration encouraged its employees to
give their best service to the govern
ment and many instances have re-
Gently come to notice wherein the de-
partment has greatly profited by this
wise public policy. In the lock shop
a recent achievement in this direction
is an improved cord fastener. the
| work Of three Of its employees, for use
| on bags; also one designed for lock-
ing large quantities Of: parcel post
matter, which has heretofore been
| without this protection. It can be
| made at a, very low price, requiring
less material and a. fewer number Of
operations. The significant part Of
this lies in the great number required
in the service, between three and four
millions, the output being 500, 900 an
nually. AS the cost has been reduced
by the new method from ~ to- 8
cents each, it will be seen what a
splendid showing this makes for ad-
ministrative economy.
Another valuable improvement has
been the perfected locking cord fas-
tener designed' for use on the sacks,
something which the department Tor
years has needed and vainly endeav-
ored to accomplish. This device will
be of great value to the postal service
at large by increasing the capac,s>
and efficiency Of mail bags to de-
gree difficult to estimate: The mod
ern system of business methods and
the proper encouragement of en-
ployes 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 advantages gained.
Active experiments are constantly
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 over
the country is the doubling and re-
folding Of what is known as a FAC
ing Slip" The preparation of these
labels by the thousands has been and
is an expensive proposition. yet there
appears to have ben 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
sands OF postoffice employees will find
this new method of great advantage
and it will result in large economy
in the service. H. -. ,.,,.~ :.
There have also been some other.
notable improvements made, viz, the
substitution Of steel where brass was
formerly used, at a very considerable
lessening OF expense; device for fas-
tening foreign mail pouches. doing
away with the old fashioned method
Of string and seal; scheme for saw
ing Irvine by means of q simple holder
which permits free and easy use with
out waste, and q flexible stamp de-;
sign, for which the contract price was
"a cents, but which will now be. made
at a cost. Of but. eight cents A me-
chanical pickup or facing table for
use in facing and stacking letters in
first closs post offices has also been
developed 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 approx
mately 1850. Il ~ e
It will thus be seen that the activi-
ties of the postoffice department have
been conferred along lines which will
not only produce large economies to
the people OF the country. but will
also prove great convenience to
those in; the service, During the past
ot>a>ot.| - 1,~n,f