The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-24
'POSTOfF|CE BUSINESS
BREAKS ALI RECORDS
In the History OF the Rich
mond Postoffice.
SERVICE HIGHLY COMMENDED
first Assistant Postmaster Congratu-
lates Postmaster Thornton and Men
Under Him for Efficient Work
Parcels Post Heavy.

Christmas malls handled in the Rich
mond postoffice dur.ng the past week
Is the largest in the history of the
city. The parcels post business has
shown a large increase over the cor
responding period of last December,
more post cards and letter mail have
been received and sent from the To-
cal ONCE. and the receipts for the
month will shatter all previous rec
biaily good month. but this month
Nas been a much better one.
According to Postmaster Hay T.
Thornton, more than $4,000 three
bushel sacks over the normal supply
ased were pressed into service during
The week to handle the large volume
~ parcels post business. This num-
per of additional sacks is unusually
hrgc. Despite the large increase In
mis- class Of business. all of the par
tels have been delivered without any
1elay and with little or no congestion.
All OF the outgoing packages have
Neen dispatched on schedule time.
II may 10 interesting to note that
935, 900 pieces OF first-class mater
were run through the cancelling ma
ohine during Friday. and the number
That went through the machine yes
Serday was almost as large. The av-
erage daily cancellation is 100, 900
pieces of matter. This Is merely ono
instance of the large amount of mail
that Is being handled In the postoftice
during the Christmas times
Stamp Sale Breaks Records
The sale OF stamps exceeds that of
any similar period In the history Of
he Office. Hundreds of dollars have
been spent during the past week by
Richmonders in stamps and the sale
mis- month will probably exceed
that Of the correspon one of 1915
by a thousand or more dollars.
Letters commencing the efficient
manner in which the malls have been
handled have been received during the
past two days by Postmaster Thorn
ton. The work has been going on IN
the Richmond postoftice with ma
chine-like precision and little delay
has been experienced in any OF the
departments. The work of the post
master, his assistants. clerks. car
riers and drivers Is commendable, and
they deserve credit galore for the
manner in which they have handled
the mails.
During the holiday season there
carriers, clerks and drivers, in the
posiofiice service. while thirty addi-
tional parcels post wagons were press
n into service carly in the week.
Announcement was made yester-
Va .hat special delivery letters and
parcels post packages will be deliver
Ell throughout today and Christmas
Day. but there will be no deliveries
by the carriers, Mail delivery on the
rural routes will not he interrupted,
HOLIDAY hours viii be observed In the
posto;'ioe. the stamp, registry and all
other windows being closed through
nut the day. There was an extra
force oF twenty boys to handle the
special delivery letters TODAY and to-
morrow.
Scrvicv. II Commended.
Among the letters commencing the
service in Richmond was one from
G.. u. Ellsworth, first assistant post
mas err general. He frequently visits
Richmond and is thor0 NY familiar
with the manner in WA'a1 the mails
are handled AT the focal postoffice.
The letter was n personal one to Post
master Thornton. and not one that
is sent TO all postmasters throughout
the country.
\ copy of The letter follows:
Zion, Hay T. Thornton. Postmaster.
Richmond, Va:
Ny dear MIR. Thornton. Please &C
cept from, me for yourself and for all
officers and employees of tho splendid
postofflce over which you preside. my
sincere congratulations on the efficient
service you are rendering to the peo-
pie OF Richmond, and my apprecia-
ton Of the whole hearted cooperation
you have accorded TO the department
3n the matters in which II has been
my duty and pleasure to serve with
you the interests of all the people.
earnestly hope that the coming
year will bring you, and each OF you.
4 full measure OF personal happiness
and the contentment that comes from
work well done and service cheerfully
rendered To this end, am deter
mined. as far as It lies IN my power.
20 contribute cooperation and en-
couragement to you and to all those
who are Immediately in touch with the
people and their requirements and
who maintain the far-fiung lines OF
the American postal service.
Very truly yours.
G. u. ELLSWORTH.