Year: 1876

To the Editor Of the Transcript:


Considerable sensation was created
bv the circular of the Secretary of the
Treasury to the Postofice aud Custom
house, stating that owing to lack OF
appropriation to cover such expenses,
the supply Of coal, water, and gas to
these buildings must be at once discon-
tinued. 1t may not seem SO great a
thing to be deprived Of the commodities
for few days, excepting for the incon-
nicnce to clerks, but its seriousness will
be realized at once if one r. fleets for a
moment on the commerce of New York
city, and through it to that. Of the
whole country. So perfect and regular
have become the workings Of our postal
system, that our banks and merchants
have come to rely as implicitly upon the
punctual arrival of their mail remit
tance to effect clearances and meet OBJ
legations, as though the cash was being
hurried to them by special messenger.
So true is this, that the detention for
an hour or two Of European or other
important mail, will crowd the office
with anxious business men clamoring to
know the reason of the delay, and i'm
ploring the utmost dispatch possible.
The largest portion Of the clerical work
which renders possible this prompt and
efficient service, is done at night or in
parts of the building where gas is a
constant necessity. With these points
in mind, one can easily imagine the
CONSERVATION and distress which the
closing Of the Postoffice for even one
night would cause and that if such in
terruptions should be continued for a
single week, numerous failures must
result.


But Just this was what the order from
Washington meant. and as no disar
rangement of mails had followed. your
correspondent called at the Postofice to
learn how the difficulty had been sur
mounted. Here in his elegant Office he
found Postmaster James, strikingly
6ne-looking man, with short IRON grey
hair, dark eyes and moustache, a hearty
voice and a cordial manner, with execu-
tive ability written all over him, and
from himself and his secretary learned
the following facts in the case


The Postmaster also holds the posi-
ton Of Custodian of the Building, an
Office in which his immediate superior
is the Secretary of the Treasury, and
which, while it involves immense addi-
tional responsibility and the giving Of
extra bonds, is filed by Postmaster
James, without salary. 1t was in this
capacity, therefore, that he received the
aforementioned circular. His reply
was prompt. and to the effect that as
Custodian he should carry out the
orders at once As Postmaster, how
ever. his course was very different,
and consisted simply in becoming per-
sonally responsible for the indispen-
sable supplies, Of which gas s,of course,
the main item, amounting to something
like 800 per day. and he remains so at
the present writing. This prompt action
on the part Of Mr. James, which averted
losses and damage to trade which would
have cost US dear, is fully appreciated
by the business community, and the
Office is in receipt of numerous letters
testifying its gratitude. Through the
courtesy of the Postmaster, your cores
pendent was also afforded an oppor-
tunity Of inspecting the building from
sub basement to cupola, and also the
interior workings of the different depart
ments. Many of the particulars, when
learned, would be of interest to your
readers, but must be reserved for another
letter.


At the Custom House little trouble
was experienced. there not being the
same necessity there for night work,
and everything there is running as
smoothly as possibly, considering the
recent cutting down of the force which
was rendered necessary by the spas
modic economy Of the government
Sixty employees have been discharged
this month, and the Collector states that.
as a result, the government is being
cheated of ten times the saving thus
effected, through the insuficiency of
the remaining force to watch the i'm
porting business.


A very graceful and humane act has
just been accomplished by the wife of
our Secretary of State, Mrs. John
Bigelow. On recent visit to the PEN
itentiary on Rlackwell's Island, she
saw among the female inmates, a young
girl, whose romantic history and appar-
ent slight insanity, caused by disap-
pointed love, together with her seeming
truthfulness in asserting her innocence.
awakened her deepest sympathy. Being
a woman of unusual independence and
energy, she Immediately assailed Gov
ernor Tilden on the subject Of pardon
for her protege. Such documents are
not easy to obtain, but woman's wit will
surmount almost any obstacle, and thus,
aided by it and innate gallantry of our
batchelor Governor, the pardon was
finally obtained. and handed by the fair
interoessor herself to the recipient,
whose blessings upon the benefactress
were brokenly joined by the aged father,
whose grey hairs had been brought
well-nigh to the grave by the misfor-
tunes of his child


From Philadelphia We hear that the
force Of the workmen on the Centennial
buildings and grounds has been doubled
in order that as many Of the finishing
touches as possible may be put on be-
fore May 10th. and the Exposition
opened in as complete condition as pos
sible. The appearance of the streets is
already as much European as American
owing to the great number of foreigners
composing and connected with the diff.
ferent commissions In walking single
block, one day last week, gentleman
heard five different languages IN the