The Holly chieftain., 1923-04-26

collected. Rural route carriers were also given
permission to assist state authorities In distribut
Ing food to starving birds.
More than $4OO,OOO,OOO out Of $3.50 100000 worth
of war savings stamps maturing January 1, 1928,
which have been redeemed thus far have been
handled by the Post Office department. OF this
amount about $65,000OO0 worth were exchanged
for new treasury certificates. More than $4,000
cases Of redemption requiring special procedure,
such as claims on account Of lost registered GER
tfcates, payment of certificates belonging to de
ceased owners and forth, have been adjusted
to date. During the calendar year $3.50, ,232 40
worth Of treasury saving certificates has been so
large as to nearly overwhem the postal service.
causing both postmasters and employees in the
field and the department to work many hours
overtime
The worlds greatest mail terminal-two blocks
long, six stories high, and 80 feet wide-was
opened In Chicago at the beginning Of 1923 to con-
solidate the mail activities Of this important trans
portation center of the nation. This new terminal
has equipment capable of handling the postal busi-
ness for the present and for years to come Four
miles of belt conveyor, the longest system ever in
stalled rapidly carry incoming mail to distribu-
tors and deliver sacked mail to spiral chutes lead
Ing to the mail cars 1t is conservavely estimated
that 900 per cent increase In efficiency chiefly
through the use of machinery adapted for parcel
post is effected In Chicago postal operations In the
/, new building The new. specially designed dis
tributlon system constitutes revolution in the
methods of handling parcel post and when In full
operation has capacity of 100000 sacks an hour
On the track over which the terminal is built AZ
cars receive mail at one time.
No steps have been left untaken In extending the
benefoences of rural mail delivery to the farming
populations of the country total OF TAI new
rural routes were added during the past two years
giving daily mail facilities to 3S1 900 people In
addition by the lengthening and readjusting of
over 1900 existing rural routes some 283,0OO in
habitants of,farms were provided with increased
service. These changes had the direct effect of
giving every modern postal convenience to more
than 100000 persons, bringing the number of rural
routes in full operation to 44.1S8, supplying mail
TO approximately 6,425.O0O families or 20,74o 600
individuals living In rural districts. Particular
efforts were also made to supply mail to farming
sections lacking in transportation and railroad ad-
vantages by horse-drawn and motor vehicles, with
the result that the number of star mail routes was
increased to 10715 involving an annual travel ag-
gregnting S320S. 656 miles,
A successful movement to facilitate the delivery
OF mails was the campaign for the installation by
householders of mail receptacles at their front
doors. Started in the summer Of 1922, this cru
sade was pushed energetically by the Post Office
department through postmasters Hundreds of
letter carriers also succeeded In inducing the pa
irons their routes to provide these conveniences
Estimates compiled and submitted to the public
during the course of the campaign showed that the
sum Of S5350,0O0 would be saved In the time of the
$4,000 carriers formerly wasted In stopping at
front doors. ringing door bells, and waiting for re-
sponses from householders Another advantageous
feature Of particular appeal was the elimination
OF tho necessity Of patrons going to the door every
time the mail man called. Practically every home
throughout the United States is now equipped with
mall box or door SLOT