Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-07-22
MANAGEMENT OF A
PUBLIC INDUSTRY
Thousands Of Dollars Saved Annual.
~ BY the Introduction Of Modern
Methods.

~ BY the Introduction of Modern
Methods.
The interest of people in public
afairs is considerably heightened
when they learn that the revenues
OF the government are wisely and
iudiciously managed 4 statement of
economical expenditure which is sus.
ceptible of proof viii always attract
attention and please the thoughtful
reader.
Among the varied industrial enter.
prises Of the Postoilice Department
in Washington is an establishment
devoted entirely to the manufacture
OF mail locks and the bag attach.
ments used in mail transportation.
when this administration came into
power the department sorely needed
an improved type of mail lock The
shop was Immediately reorganized,
placed on a business basis, and it's
activities enlarged so as to meet this
imperative demand Within very
short time a new and greatly lmprov-
ed lock had been devised and its
production begun.
The lock in use weighed 5 -
ounces: the new one weighs as
ounces. As 100000 of this new
product have been put into service.
the difference in weight (the govern
ment paying as much for the weight
of equipment as It does for the mail
ITSELF can be easily calculated. The
locks replaced by this new and better
style cost u cents each to make;
those now being manufactured cost
s IL cents, direct and indirect
charges considered. the saving thus
shown on original cost of production
t. date amounting to S53750. or the
old style, $4,000 were annually re
turned for repair at a cost of about
$ cents each. OF the new style. out
of the great number sent into the
service, but 900 have been returned.
and as these new style locks can be
repaired at a cost of 3 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 gov
eminent and many instances have re.
Gently come to notice wherein the
department has greatly prohted by
this wise public policy In the lock
shop recent achievement in this
direction is an improved cord fast
ener, the work of three Of its EN-
ployes, for use on bags; also one de-
signed for locking large quantities
of parcel post matter. which has
heretofore been without this protee-
ton 1t can be made at a very low
price. requiring less material and
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 100000 annually AS
the cost has been reduced by the
new method from IL to 3 cents
each, It will be seen what a splendid
showing this makes for administra-
tive economy
Another valuable improvement has
been the perfected locking cord fast
ener 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 sery
ice at large by increasing the capac-
ity and efficiency Of mail bags 10
degree difficult to estimate, The mod
ern system of business methods and
the proper encouragement Of employ
es to take an active and earnest in
terest in their work, both of which
desirable features this administra-
ton 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 ire
nendous expense has been the label |
ng Of the immense quantity Of mail |
bags in use, The form Of label used |
IN the past and still used by clerks |
al over the country Is the doubling /
md refolding Of what is known as /
, facing slip" The preparation Of |
T. se labels by the thousands has
)een and is an expensive proposition,
yet there appears to have been no
sfiort on the part of previous admin
TO progress from the old
Method Under present direction
perforated label in sheets and runs