Year: 1864

From The U. s. Mail.


The law providing for the free delivery Of
letters by carriers the houses or places Of business of
the persons addressed contemplates a curtament Of
the deliveries from private boxes This latter mode In
popular especially with merchants and other business
men, and may not be suddenly changed. They regard
1t as necessary appendage to every large post Once
would be tantamoun to stopping the mails. This feel.
ing has naturally grown out Of long habit Instead OF
waiting hour after hour for postofce carrier, and
then paying him certain fee each letter and paper
under the Old law still worse instead OF miDghng
with the crowd, md taking turns at the general
delivery window, it convenient and comfortable for
the merchant to send messenger. who could Dy tap
ping special window command the attention OF the
boxclerk and Immediately obtain his employers mail.
This operation could be repeated on the arrival OF every
mail and man would only have to ask Tor what ne
might see In the box.


Such is the main argument in favor Of private boxes


The holders go send often as they please, and
get whatever may appear in the boxes without unnec-
essary delay Another argument, however Is that the
security OF letters Is thus promoted. merchant is
constantly expecting money letters, and be hesates to
trust them 10 tie care OF common carriers lie wants
them by the hands Of his rsty clerk or errandboy or
porterpersons known and responsible TO him. and IN
whom he has confidence. Again. the letters and papers
being set apart conveniently and exclusively the
box holder feels assured that none have been overlooked
but that his fall number Ia there without mistake such
may have had force in old times when there
were but few carriers and few private box holders
compared with the present number But let US look at
facts they exist under the new laws and the
vastly.increased number Of boxes


First the force of carriers such that letters are de-


yercd regularly four times each day from the larger
oiccs-n New York five times, and at least three de-
lycrcs being within the usual business hours Thus
person may be Of receiving letters without the
| trouble Of sending for them.


But is claimed that there Is lack Of security about
thess common carriers. merchant has not the same
assurance Of receiving his valuable letters If he sends
bis messenger Tor them. This is favorie idea,
hut Il is utterly falacious. What are the factsi The
records II the PosOce show more robberes by these
special messengers than by letter carriers or clerks
Moreover IL must be remembered that letter carrier
being sworn officer under the PostOce laws, If he
steals is guilty OF felony. and Is se1t to the Penten-
tiary Private messengers have frequently been de-
tected In stealing and employers In this city can testify


tho and to the further fact that they have not
been punished.


TIE other reason in favor OF private boxes, that the
assortment Of letters into them prevents mistakes Is
founded on the ignorance Of the inside working OF
large post.Ohice. A few figures will show how DIM.
eult il (and indeed next mpoSsiby) to avoid
mistakes in boxing letters.


In the Newlork Office there are In use nearly 0O0
private boxes, and a proportionate number in other
large offices. Now, what with the several names
making up firm, the names of employees or even IN
diyidual members OF mans family, the whole list Of
names connected with these boxes in the New-lork
Office Is swelled nearly 3OOo0 It's not reasonable u
assert that human memory VIII grasp these JoVOO
names that each particular letter shall certainly ind


its apprc PIRATE place. lie assortment IS hurried; the
mails are often behind time applicants wait ouside
tr.o l. 10 time examine list of names The clerk
relies lis memory, ana the only wonder B that so
few mistakes occur.


Alter years of learning man masters this work In
degree and Ii is done perhaps perfectly
possible. Sometimes they are discovered whe hand-
u out the letters Letters for A, are found IN Bs box
The mistakes then corrected. but If has happened
TO call before b. his misplaced letters delayed and
he is none the wiser calling the second time. But 1t
may happen that letter is handed TO the wrong party
and then the temptation 10 the messenger to steal Is
great dishonest person, under such circumstances
viii be quick seize his opportunity, there being
hardly possibility OF suspicion, much less Of detection
in the case. =,


1t thus seems evident that the public can be really
better accommodated without these private boxes than
with them and t is the settled policy Of the Department
by all means TO discourage their use.


Letters being directed particular street and
ber and the city divided is into carriers districts
the work OF asserting is smpifed and deliveries viii
be made with regularity safety, and dispatch free OF
charge for carrying. Us the houses OF the owners.