Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-12-23

Efficiently Handled at
Augusta Postofice

PrseAsaAjoee Ioe1o WSsass A1s and
Sesss1sleo pseparta 10 nAset RE-
qsissrBsnts - Any Quantity Of
MaiI--santA clAus' Listers. aent
Towards Nsstis p6ls, Come 10 Al.
asaska
A visit to tn Augusta poefonfee at
this seaxou IL an opportunity Of os-
ed in handling the mails Through the
courtesy Of Postmaster Plaisted rep
resentaftve OF the Journal was permit
ted yesterday 10 view the workings
frun ths INSIDE and witness the expe-
dieaey With winch thu Christmas mails
afe handled. any congestion at this
time voaaid cause much disappointment
TO the public and result in additional
bardens on the employees Every post
master Ia alert to the needs Of the SER
vice and always prepared for an emer-
eency By aptic!pating any conditions
that may af1se. The handling Of large
maiiingS In not an innovation at the
Augusta once, for mailfngs OF third
cizss matter are ffequsutfy made tn
lots Of 10000 TO several hundred thou
sAnd pieces. There in, however. no way
Of knowing ID advance the amount Of
Christmas mail TO be cared for each
season The maiiings OF Christmas
parcels are limited only by the amount
Of cash in the purses Of the public and
whea the dollars have BEEN spent there
Is always recourse to the purchase Of
Christmas cards which convey the same
message Of good cheer.
Weeks ago preparations were made
ard schedules prepared al the Augusta
cfice 70 meet the requirements OF any
quantity of mail that might be pre-
seated. with sucs care were the details
arranged that all mails are Being dis
patched from Augusta with the same
regularity that exists under normal
conditions A convenience much appre-
ciatei = the tables the postmaster has
provided IN the corridor for the use
Of patrons Who frequently ina heir
parcels have rot been PREPARED n ac-
ccriAnce with al the requirements OF
IRE reetai regulations. At these tables
TIE uarceis ma be re-wrapped- ad-
dressed and r1ai!sS without causing in
convenience for rnAileFs at the several
vtpdore AEdiiisaai windows are open
for the sale Of stamps ana the RECEIPT
II parcel ucss packages. Each clerk
On duty has tray with separations
for tie denominations Of stamps rang
ine ffcm ore cent 10 . dollar. ard by
perm sstcsr Of the postal department
Granted during the HOLIDAYS, The stamps
have been ure-eaneelea hefore being af-
Hxed - the parcels. Large Hampers
ON trucks are arranged at the rear u
Tire stamp windows ana rarceis re-
es4...i al .he windows are i-r,sa aIsat'
ete.n ufeiiminarv separation ~ Fe!Is-
riscea IN the proper hamper. Srsh rs
Massachusetts Maine teaEtf, Maine
fwest,, New YORK state The hampers
wren filed are Immediately sent 70 the
mailing division proper where TIE are
SORTED into direct sacks. or into sacks
'Asea,es % he terminal T. P o. Offices
wte%e the enai distribution is made.
Disuaseh Q. this Christmas mail Is
made NJ ali n. p q. trains both east
are west AM a sreeai car is being FOR
varsiAi dsEls with through mails 70
New York city for connections. The
SIZE ara shape o: the parcels IS 4 rev
e,a.ioa Of tte variety II Santa C'aUs'
gif,s 20 his favored subjects: candy.
toys books. clothing gifts for all are
included and MANY hearts will De made
happy b.. the arrival of Uncle Sans
pces men- on Christmas morning.
for dispatching mails from Augusta.
but more difficult still is the prompt
distribution Of the mails received
ThousAn0S Of cards arrive at the Au-
guSta effice the week preceding
Christmas which would make il in
possible fer the regular carriers TO
make their custemary trips. The
cards and letters are first distribur-
ed by clerks who must be familiar
with all the streets and names Of
patrons. The mail il separated by
theoe clsYks for all the carriers ana
each carrier then separates his mail
for delivery by small sections OF
streetk Auxiliary carriers are pro-
vsdsa and delivery is made without
delay.
I00 Au801t0 O4bGS EOCCabs SaSa
year Numerous letters addressed to
Santa Claus. not only letters mailed
By our own children who make their
appeals in this manner trusting in
the goodness Of thstr patron saint.
but letters bsar no other address
than Santa Claus" mail clerks.
mindful Of the reindeer and siedSe
usually associated with the veneFa-
BILE distributor 6 gifts naturally
start thess letters On their journey
towards the North, Pole reached via
tho State Of Maine. The Augusta Of
dee is recognised as the clearing
house for all mtSdifecfed matter and
so the letters come to our Augusta
postnasteR. Tbs good people OF the
oity havn for several years through
thsir oA3eiai Santa Claus" Mrs.
Charles T. Penney. undertaken
10 reply to all such communi-
cations and to supply the needs Of
deserving children. It is seldom
found that tn Santa Claus letters
contain ssif,sh requests more often
they are chfldish appeals for some
gift that would bring JOY to young
er brother or unfugeun1fe sister, or
leszsn the bufaens q mother. One
such lettsr Was Q request for rock
inn chair for ''Gfamrnz" which re-
AN -