San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-25
Letter Boxes or Door Slots
or No Delivery BY Carriers

thorizes the head of each department
of the government to prescribe regu-
lations not inconsistent with the law,
for the government of his depart
ment, the distribution and perform
ance of its business.
"Acting under the broad authority
Of this statute, the Postmaster Cen
eral has from time to time prescribed
certain requirements for the estab-
lishment and maintenance Of city de-
livery service. Some Of these require
ments are that there shall be good
continuous sidewalks and cross walks;
that the streets shall be designated by
signs and properly lighted; that the
places of business and houses shall
be numbered; that receptacles shall
be provided for the deposit of mail by
carriers; and that service viii not be
extended to sections in which less
than so per cent of the building lots
are improved and houses occupied.
Majority Make Provisions.
GAll of these requirements coQtri-
butte TO the efficiency of the service
and most of them have been in force
for many years. Private mail re-
ceptacles have been required as
condition precedent to the esta6hsh-
ment and extension OF city delivery
service since 1910. When this, re-
quirement was put in force, there
were. of course, many buildings IN
cities where the service was already
established without either a door slot
or receptacle. Since its adoption the
Department has constantly endeavor-
ed, through newspaper publicity and
personal solicitation by postmasters
and carriers, to have all buildings
equipped with receptacles. As a re-
suit of continued efforts, on August
10. 1922, more than 20 per cent of
all dwellings, in city delivery territory
were provided with a receptacle of
some character. Accordingly, on
August %. 1922. the following order
was issued:
"On account Of the delays caused
to carriers at dwelling houses where
no door slot or mail receptacles is
provided, and the fact that large
majority of dwellings are thus equip
ped already, it seems timely, within
a reasonable period, to require all
who are to receive mail by street car
riers at their dwellings to provide such
accommodations, the expense of the
same being small. Postmasters are
therefore thus instructed. The length
of notice should not exceed four
months, although>there may be excep-
tional cases where postmasters should
use reasonable discretion or ask for
instructions.
1T is not the Departments de-
sire, Of course, that any shall be de-
privcd of delivery by this requirement,
but rather it is earnestly hoped that
all will see the reasonableness of it
and its advantage to themselves as
well as to the carriers. But If it
finally becomes necessary, mail deliy-
cry will be discontinued where no
door slots (preferably) or mail recep-
tacles are provided
Carriers Time Is Watched.
AThis order is in the interest of
efficiency and economy. Without a
receptacle, it is necessary for the car
rier to ring the bell or knock and
await response. Though patrons in
general realize that prompt response
IS desired, frequently this is not con-
venient and the carrier must wait
several minutes. If there is no re-
Spouse, letters are either not deliver
ed, or. with the consent of the patron,
are slipped under the door, which Is
likely to result in loss. With n
receptacle the carrier NAV deposit the
mai, announce the fact by knocking
or ringing the bell, thus effecting an,
immediate and safe delivery, and the
housewife, or others, may secure the
mail at their convenience.
The demand for receptacles has
been SO great that manufacturers
have been unable to fill orders promnt-
y and, under date of November II
i922, notice was published nroyid.
ing that in all cases where postmas-
ters find that the patrons are de-
layed on account of their INABILITY 70
secure boxes or to have door Slots
made, they are authorized TO extend
the time within which they shall he
provided to such length as NAV seem
1, 1929 '""n "arcn