Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-24
0STNIASTER EDWARDS
DOES BIG BUSINESS
Special Arrangements Made to
Handle Christmas Rush. Forty
Men on the Jump.


If your Christmas mail is delayed, do
not blame Camp Postmaster Il J. Ed
wards.
Probably THE busiest spot III all Camp
IIancocls--apd there are many of thefn-zis
ct the long building on Pennsylvania ave
nue., near the old cavalry infirmary.
just across the street from the postof-
flee is q large tent and Saturday after
noon large force Of men were singing
ard hammering at the same time, build
ing floor for the accommodation OF
surplus mail. This is but proof Of Mr..
Edwards foresight ard his desire to get
the Christmas mail into the hands OF the
soldiers as promptly as possible. II IS an
emergency tent and If the main building Is
overcroWied WITH packages from nome,
the new tent will he used
Under normal conditions there are
tweuty-nine civilian employees at the
camp Dostoffice Ten extra men win be
added for the Christmas rush and as
many more as may be necessary.
On Thanksgiving Day, there were more
than 3 DOC sacks Of mail received az the
camp postoffice and Mr. Edwards expects
this record will be exceeded greatly when
the bulk Of the Christmas packages ar
rive Nineteen trucks Of 16O sacks eacn
msde their way from the Augus s.. POSI-
giving Day ard this win give some con-
ception Of the enormous quantity Of leI-
tiers pest cards. packages, snecial deliv-
cry letters to be sorted and placed II
the proper regimentai pouches
There will be no holiday at the camp
postoffiee The windows viii be onen Ter
all forms Of business from . O'Clock -
q ii the evening Six boys are employed
for the despatch Of special delivery ist-
ters, four with automobiles one with .
motorcycle and ore on foot, the laetei
talirg the nearer letters.
One man does nothing but care Tor inc
poorly directed frail--ard there rs penny
Of Ii, although Mr.. Edwards says como
tioDs have Improved gfeatsx SINCE tne
first month Of the camp. Inc loss Oi
narishal1e goods has been reduced more
than rs ner cent because Of better wrap
ming ard more expeditions dellVefys LUIS
has been made possible by the Statisllcal
Denartnent OF Division Headquarters,
which has a special room In the postofLlce
building in which eight TO ten ordefles
are employed constantly. the Depart
ment is IN charge of Lieutenant Charles
10. sohi and whenever the address or
name Of a soldier is in doubt, reference
is FradesIo the card index Of the DIVISION,
where every mans name Is kept for quick
reference.
each north. the camp nostoffice re-
ceives and forwards from S250000 20 Sse0
600 in money orders. This is IN addlflon
to the thousands Of dollars sent nome
agencies in the camp. AT the present
time the pustoffice is receiving money
for the boys Ia camp, the folks Dack nome
giving Their sons cash instead Of presents
In many cases.
Recently. there have been annoying de-
lays I'M receiving the mail, all the trans
being from seven to ten hours iate. me
Atlantic Coast line is the principal car
rier and the two trains daily are away
behind time. An Nugustan returned from
New York few days ago and his tram
was eighteen hours late, This aDn0rlnat
condition IS due to the congestion on the
roads and the influx Of travel at this
season of the year.
Mails are despatched from the camp
postoffice twice daly-at 1880 9. M, for
the 2:15 train. and at 1880 p. M, for the
2:A5 strain.