Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-22
HOLIDAY PARCELS
MOVING PROMPTLY
City Post Office Force Han
dies Immense Quantities of
Local Xmas Packages.
MUCH MAIL AWAITS CARS

Absolutely no congestion of Christ
mas parcels exists at the city post
office. according to a report made by
Superintendent w. H. Haycock to
Postmaster Chance today,
Banking of thousands Of sacks at the
east and west ends of the Union station
concourse has made it appear that
there might be more mail than the
force could handle
The sacks of mail piled up in the
Union station are sacks destined to
points south, including the various
environments. and are handled by the
railway mail service, it was learned
today
A. A. Fisher, superintendent of the
third division. railway mail service. with
many helpers. was in the concourse at
lit appears that Washington is sort
Of dumping ground for mail from the
north to the south.
Lack of Cars Hampers.
Owing to lack of mail cars. and even
freight cars. during the past few days
the sacks Of mail from the north. an
loaded here, have piled up at an alarm
ing rate. The railway mail service has
been unable to get cars enough to get
the mail out
City post office officials today detailed
fve employees to delve into the huge
piles of mail at the west end of the con-
course to pick out the packages des-
tined for this city.
1t was stated by officials Of the rail-
way mail service that it is not be-
lieved there is much Washington mail
in the piles In the Union station. Such
local packages as may be there are be-
ing weeded out by the city post office
employees.
Men from some of the environments in
the south have been detailed to assist
with the mail in the station, and pack
ages for the cantonments are being
sorted out as rapidly as possible.
Railway mail officials made no effort
to conceal their apprehension at the
unusual situation which has overtaken
them. 1t is declared that this Is the
first time the mail has ever accumu-
lated In such piles in the station, re-
curing that it be heaped in mounds
six feet high in the concourse.
Sacks Coming in Hourly.
The sacks from the north are coming
in hourly, and officials have no way Of
knowing when the influx will cease.
In ordinary times the separation Of the
Washington mail Is made in the cars, and
| the city post office has absolutely nothing
to do with that which comes in here from
by the railway mail service.
All parcel post mail, both outgoing and
incoming, Is being handled at the city post
office promptly as received. Supt. Haycock
reported to the postmaster today.
The report shows that yesterday 1872
parcel post packages were delivered in
Washington. as contrasted with $3.50
packages delivered December 81, 1916.
There were received yesterday. however.
but 2.692 sacks of parcel post mail, as
compared with 1924 sacks received De-
cember Il, 1916.
The apparent discrepancy is explained
by post office officials as due to the re-
cefpt of more large parcel post pack
ages-too large to go into sacks. The
smaller number of sacks by parcel post
this year is attributed to railroad con-
gestion-
Number Of Letters Cancelled.
Supt. Haycock's report shows that
yesterday 969,723 letters were cancelled
for going out Of town, as compared
with $4,000 cancellations made De-
terday totaled 1882, as compared with
11,410 last year. Sacks of mail collect
ed yesterday from contract stations to-
tailed 1893. as compared with 1.4s5
collected December Fl, 1915.
Owing to the increase in the mailing
of Christmas cards, letter mail Is run
ming exceedingly heavy. causing a
slight congestion in Its distribution,
pOtn incoming ana Outgoing, SUpt.
Haycock states.
This aggregation of letter mail was
cleared up by noon today. Inspection
of the big workroom floor at the CITY
post office proved that there was no I'M
due congestion at the post Office itself,
and that as far as the running machin-
cry of the big plant itself is concerned
the city's mail is being handled expe-
| ditiously.
Not All of Helpers Needed.
In fact. although 500 extra helpers have
been bonded for service and are ready to
step into the breach at a moments no.
tice. not half Of them have been en-
ployed so far.
Scores of parcel post packages are daily
being received at the post office almost in
pieces A detail of girls is working ON
such packages. wrapping them securely,
in order that they may be delivered in
tact.
Express companies report record busi-
ness this season. Cars of express are
overdue, in some cases. and 1t was said
at the Union station that many cars of
express goods destined for this city were
standing in the yards yet unloaded. No
confirmation Of this rumor could be had
today.