The Washington times., 1920-06-13
Served Uncle Sam 80
Years as Mail Carrier,
Holmes Will Nolu Rest

The youngest man" In the city
postonice is going to retire because
he 10 seventy years old
And because-he delivered and col
lected just about 100000 letters
periodicals and parcels. Travelled
distance in covering his mail routes
which would have taken him four
times around the earth; and there
fore he believes that since ne mas
faithfully served his Uncle sam he
is entitled TO some little time OF leis-
ure.
Called .Yosas MAN."
This young man." as he Is known
to his many associates and friends. Is
Alexander M. Holmes. Thousands Of
strangers who did not know his name
no doubt were acquainted with the
man because OF his familiar tricycle.
daily seen on the streets of northwest
Washington in quaint contrast with
the speeding vehicles of today.
Holmes is Washington's Oldest sc-
tive letter carrier. both In point OF
service and age. He entered the pos
tai service as a carrier on January ],
ployed as a postman since.
He has been the bearer OF smiles
and tears to hundreds of thousands.
During his thirty-nine years he car
ried to the homes of Washington peo-
pie messages of happiness and grief.
At Christmas time. like a Santa Claus
laden with gifts and surprises, he
went from door to door. And then,
among the millions of letters which
r. ALL
many letters telling of death. and
others epistles of Joy.
Ask Mr.. Hoime.-
II you want to know who lives at
No. 8 or 666 Blank street ask Mr.. Hol-
mes. He Is regular walking city
directory. He believes he must have
served every home and business house
in Washington. The guides on sight
seeing cars have nothing on him. Mr..
Holmes can walk out Connecticut and
Massachusetts avenues, or Sixteenth
or some other street. and point out the
residence OF every prominent public
official In this city. He should know.
because he carried mail to all Of them.
Holmes was born in Philadelphia
on February IL. 1850. He came to
Washington when he was Thirteen
years old. and when this city was
nothing but q mud hole" according
to his own recollection and descrip-
ton. Since that time Mr.. Holmes has
watched this city grow to the most
beautiful and important capital in the
world.
Watched Warrington Grow.
He we'll remembers in speaking of
"reminiscences. when the Rebel Gen
eral Early. on a foraging trip, came
as close to Washington as tn site
which is now Walter Reed Hospital
He can still hear the rattle of mus
kerry when General Early was en-
gagged with union troops and expelled
from this neighborhood.
Washington Is not the only thing
which Holmes saw grow. In 80 years
he also has had an excellent oppor-
tunity to observe the growth of Uncle
| Sans mail business. When post
, man carried 200 letters and rs period
| icals a day back in 1881 he was
| loaded" Today 500 letters and two
to three hundred periodicals for one
carrier Is a low average.
Holmes has interestingly calcula-
ted that he delivered and collected
| about 6.O0O, 900 letters, periodicals and
parcels during his thirty-nine years as
| a letter carrier. He bases this on an
average of about 500 pieces of mail
day.
From 1881, when he entered the
| service. until ten years ago, Mr..
Holmes delivered mail. Then, as
, special favor from the Postoffice De-
partment because Of his long service.
Mr.. Holmes was permitted to select
his own vehicle and collect mail.
SfAaAS to Tricycle..
Holmes chose his now familiar tri-
cycle, which is anything but pre-
scribed by postal regulations which
aim at speed and efficiency. But
, Holmes has ridden HIS tricycle. for
about so 900 miles. He is still travel
ing twenty miles daily. making four
trips of two hours each with a clock
like regularity.
In addition to this tricycle. mileage,
Holmes has estimated that he must
have walked approximately $4,000
miles in delivering mail.
Has Perfect Record
As for efficiency, Holmes record
is perhaps nowhere eQualed In the
Government service. He does not have
one demerit against him. and in
thirty-nine years has been absent
from his work less than week be-
cause OF sickness.
(Which shows that letter carrying
is a pretty healthy occupation" Mr..
Holmes remarks.