RE FA E P C .

Among the varied and complex activities of our busy life , there is doubtless no other work or occupation about which the n e n o average person has so little i formation , and p rhaps oth er s ervic e so vital to social and business interests as the R S r o f the P O f D ailway Mail e vice , a division ost fice epart The ment . twenty thousand railway postal clerks engaged in this s ervic e are variously misplaced in the m inds of most peo

e o r f ple as railroad mployees , as post o fice clerks detailed to e n o t this servic , and are known in their real capacity , that of

- o - v semi pr fessional , semi technical public ser itors in the clas ified e s . civil servic of the government .

o e t o e e Any ne can und rstand , some xt nt at least , the work the of professional man , such as the lawyer or doctor, and can

o f neces partly appreciate the skill his calling, which , while sitatin g more initial study , requires less constant study and application than that o f railway postal clerks . The latt er use

e o f the mat rials for study that are no value to anyone else , as e o f the who read r will observe when reading the account thief, ’ e the o f thr w away contents a postal clerk s traveling bag,

he f W . which un ortunately stole hile robbing a house ‘

The Railway Mail Service was founded within the memory the of oldest clerks now in that service , and its origin , instant growth , and later development , together with many interest in the g incidents of the work , form an unwritten history in no minds of th ese men . Many interesting incidents will t be e e r lat d in this volume , because of the reluctance of these vet THE TRA VEL I N G PO S T O FFI CE

I erans to relate their experiences . have used only the most o w n s e representative yarns , and have employed my di cr tion as to retelling or inserting verbatim the material coll ected .

This volume is not intended for a complete and technical bu t t o treatise on the railway mail service , it aims right in the minds o f its readers the nature of the servic e p erformed in ’ S i P O f i ro fes Uncle am s Travel ng ost fice , to establ sh the p sio nal m the autono y of its clerks , and to preserve some of early r t o histo y of the rise of a peculiar service , and , if possible , depict an unwritten phase of American life .

e To those clerks , who have furnished me accounts of th ir

I t o w ho e experiences , am much indebted , and all hav aided I me in other ways , am very grateful .

L L DE N N S . WI IAM J . I Des Moines , Iowa , 5 1 91 6. April , C O N T E N T S

Part I — Hist o ry o f t he R ailw ay Mail S erv ice Pages Introd uction 5-6 P CHA TER I . m i P A er can osts. The n ew Rep ublic Post co aches The advent of steam Pony exp ress

CHAPTER II . M i Dis i i Early a l tr but on . Distributing p ost offices R ou te agents Distributing post offices unsatis factory P CHA TER III . Th e i s i w P os ffic s F r t Ra l ay t O e . Distribution on wheels ad vocated h os h im T e Hannibal S t . J ep exp er ent

o B ms o . Ge rge . Ar tr ng i m i fii h s w os o ce c o to i o . F r t p er anent ra l ay p t , C i ag Cl nt n Organization Special training f or m ail clerks HA C PTER IV . i Rapid Development o f Railway Ma l S erv ice. h fi s M i T e r t Fast a l . Trunk lines become arteries of mai l Civi l S ervi ce Congr essi onal recognition Politics and civi l service

CHA PTER V .

The Work of a Rai lway P os tal Clerk . H ow app ointments are mad e Learning to be a mai l clerk 34-35 The scheme book Substitu te clerks Stu dy an d clerical work d uring week-off Examinations Desirabi lity of runs H C APTER VI .

Sp ecial Work . Special ability The Go ld Train The mail fo llows the fl ag C uba and the Phi lip pines Medals f or best examinati on record s . CH A PT ER VII . o ki W r ng Cond itions . Early p ostal cars Mod ern cars

Danger from wrecks . Mail cars were weaker than other cars S ociology Associations HA P C TER VIII .

Readj ustm ent . “ ” The gag order U n satisfactory working cond itions Maladmin i strati on The Harp oon Imp airing the service ’ Op p os ition to Hitchcock s p o licies Th e Tracy Pierre i ncid ent Congressi onal acti on

CHA PTER I ! .

Conclusion o f Part One . Ex tent of Railway Mail S ervi ce Ref orm measu res suggested Favored government service

Part I I — I n cide n t s o f t he R ailw ay Mail S erv ice M i d M i s R n M. y F r t u (E . art n ale) m h h To t e S ub . ob P , (R ert rat er) ’ Turner s Yarns (J ohn Turner) Another First Trip (Ru ssell Danneil ) S he (E x ) W u i s 91 A ager (V . C rt ) o B M i 91 -94 A H ld U p (A . . erv lle )

h 4- A Ri d e for N ot ing (Anon . ) 9 97 mi h A N ear Wreck (Alp ha E . S t ) 97 h w dd c . S 98 An O Cat (H . C te art )

- D . B . A Catching Problem (A . ) 98 1 00

h ms - The Warblers (C as . H . O l ted ) 1 001 01

- n f i w Pos ks W D . D o a . 1 02 1 05 ea R l ay tal Cler ( . J )

h o - A Good Catc (An n . II . ) 1 05 1 06 h i n - Parap ernal a (A on . ) 1 07 1 09 h M A Yarn (T eo . H . eyer ) 1 09 h P - Lu nching on t e S an ta Fe (Frank E . age) 1 1 01 1 1

h mb i - A Train Robbery (S . C a erla n ) 1 1 1 1 1 7 ’ ks D D - o W . . Ow The P s o . 1 1 8 1 20 ney, tal Cler g ( J ) d o f th e o wn ck in The S u v i 3 1 1 2 B 9 5 . 1 1 A alla T (Henry A ley, r ey, Ap r l , )

- E M. M A Remarkable Wreck ( . . ) 1 22 1 23

h h D - The Little Village C urc (W . . ) 1 24 1 25 I llu st r at io n s

Railway Postal Car at Panama Exp osition Facing Preface s M i i 1 1 P ns v i i s cin P 1 1 Fa t a l Tra n , en yl an a L ne Fa g age B ms o ound and i s G o . G S u e rge Ar tr ng, F er F r t eneral per inten d ent Rai lway Mai l S ervice ms o S ch oo hic o G o B . e rge Ar tr ng l , C ag N ew York and Chicago Railway Post Office S cim P N o h D ko S ch m e B o ok p e en age, rt a ta e Getting Read y f or a Case Ex amin ati on

dv c d Dis ibu io in i o d d s i 3 M. A an e tr t n Ra lr a Yar , Tra n ,

h i i I nteri o r Arrangement of One of t e F rst Ma l Cars . Albuq u erq ue L os Angeles Railway Post Office N o h i imi d ossi ch B id Great rt ern Or ental L te Cr ng Ar r ge, P u S t . a l L os Angeles S an B ernard ino Kite Railway Post Office P D of P os ks Pi . C . ohn . . J H tney, R , ean tal Cler Owney Omaha Ogd en Rai lway P ost Office Going Throu gh o U h cing P g Weber Cany n, ta Fa a e

M m i hu ch a B id N . Y . c d by A e or al C r , E gle r ge, , Ere te Postal Clerks an d Railroad Men

THE TRA V EL I N G PO ST O FFI C E

PA RT I .

H I STO RY O F TH E RA IL WAY MAIL SE RVI CE .

n o I troducti n .

The R o f ailway Mail Service , as a system traveling post ffi had ff o ces , an almost revolutionary e ect on the industrial o f history o f the Unit ed States . At the time its successful and 1 864 permanent inauguration , in , the country was undergoing N a remarkable expansion . The orth was successfully termi R nating the great ebellion , new states were being developed

V o u t in the Mississippi alley , others were being carved of

e . the West , and railroads were being extend d in every direction The expansion o f this period forms an interesting chapter in o f our history , and the consequent increase mail caused a per

l x i p e ng problem for the government . Up to this time the man R P ner of transporting mail was evolutionary . The ailway ost Of no t S fice itself did pring into existence suddenly , the full blown idea of one genius come to solve the problem of con gested mail in a growing country . This fact , however, should not discredit the work of the man o r men who developed a vague idea into practical use , perfected the system , and planned its organization . In order to understand the revolutionary

r process , about to be undertaken , it will be necessa y to con l sider its evo ution .

Fo o f rms of postal service , or means communicating by

e e . C the E writing, wer in exist nce centuries ago yrus , lder of

P 558 C . ersia , about B . , established a system of mounted mes sengers to bring him written reports from provincial gover 1 P . O e nors ther ersian rulers continued the syst m , and lat er ‘ Pos Offic Oc ob 1 91 4 . Railway t e , t er, 6 THE TRAVELIN G P OST OFFICE

R C the omans had a system of couriers , by which Julius aesar R was able to send a letter from Britain to Cicero , at ome , in

~ twenty eight days . The word post , with its several combina ” L o situ s re tions , comes from the atin p stationed , because lays were stationed at points along the routes of couriers .

Diocletian is credited with establishing the first public postal .

D . s i A . s s ystem , n the third century , The e ystems of couriers for those in authority came in vogue in many places , and were ff most e ective instruments of civilization . Theodoric and Charlemagne had postal communications with the various parts 1 o f P their empires , the University of aris maintained a system the for use , at first , by its students , but later by public , and in 1 764 L ouis ! I established post stations o n all the main roads F of rance . Marco Polo found a postal system o f some ten d C thousan stations in operation in hina , and the Aztecs are known to have maintained a swift foot - messenger system in

Mexico . E In what is now the German mpire , the H anse towns had M i ill . i i ax m an F z f a letter post and dur ng the re gn of , ran o Thurn established many routes throughout the realm o f C V o f harles , some which stayed in possession of the Thurn u 1 896 1 family ntil . In 1 5 6 p u blic posts were established in V L ienna , Berlin and ondon , the last o f which was the fore r o i s s s u d A s unner the fir t y tem se in the merican colonie .

H VIII s f s r o f P enry in tituted the o fice of Ma te osts , and C a 1 635 “ h rles I , in , issued a proclamation addressed to his Post ” “ . I s r i a Masters n thi p oclamat on he ordered running post , or two to run night and day between Edinburgh and L ondon , i a c ack s x s k to go th ther nd ome b again in i day , and to ta e with them all such letters as shall be directed to any post - town in ” or near that road .

1 N ew o k i Po Y r Even ng st. E THE TRA VE L I N G P O ST O FFI C .

H A PT E R I C .

Am e i an os s r c P t . E In ngland , the transition from the royal post to a g eneral public post was through a post for merchants engaged in for i L o e gn trade . etters t and from foreign parts were sent to a f central o fice , wh ence they were delivered to crown messen gers o r to outgoing ships . The first post in America was of 1 639 o f E C s this kind . In the court ssex ounty, Mas , ordered that all letters from beyond the seas shall be deposited with R F ichard airbanks of Boston , whose commission was one n of penny each for their delivery . O petition several mer t 1 677 H chants , the cour appointed , in , John oward , scrivener , “ ” to take in and convey letters according to their direction . O f ther colonies established post o fices in a short time . V irginia even passed a law , requiring each planter receiving a it communication , to pass along to his neighbor under penalty N e of forfeiting a hogshead of tobacco . w York soon estab lished 1 672 posts , and by a carrier was making monthly trips

a r from that city to Boston , the first post route utho ized by P colonial government . William enn established a post office P 1 683 N ew a a , C s . t hiladelphi in and started a route to ! a tle o ne This post made trip a week, after duly publishing his de ar r o n c c p tu e the meeting house door and other publi pla es . In Virginia a measure was presented to the Assembly to make N P V i Mr . eal , ostmaster General of irg nia and other points o f no t in America . This measure , course , could become ci fectiv e , and it shows , not only the conceptions of the size of r America then cur ent , but shows also the disposition of the c s s o i o f oloni t to prom te the transmiss on intelligence . 8 THE TRAVELING POST OFFICE

l In 1 71 0 the British par iament passed an act , authorizing f P an imperial post o fice system , with a ostmaster General in P L ondon and deputies in the colonies . The ostmaster General f N ew was authorized to keep o n e chief letter o fice in York , e and others in convenient places in each province . B nj amin P 1 737 Franklin was made deputy postmaster o f hiladelphia in , 1 753 D P and later, in , was commissioned eputy ostmaster Gen eral o f America . The business in America had yielded no rev e F £600 enu to the crown , and ranklin was to receive per year , Con provided he could make that much out o f it . Wh en the tinental Congress assum e d management of the postal aff airs ’ F e e of the colonies , it recognized ranklin s experi nc and ability, and appointed him Postmaster General of the colonies at a f 340 o fo r . salary a year , with $ additional a secretary E H F ’ In the work of benezer azard , ranklin s successor , we fii H e have a faint germ of the traveling post o ce . kept near o f C the headquarters the ontinental armies , and delivered let ters to the soldiers from a knapsack carried by a servant . The P service of this , the last colonial ostmaster General to Wash ’ in ton s e g army, is almost proph tic of the work of the railway C mail service at Tampa , hickamauga and Manila , when the e e success of the American armies was mor c rtain . H istorians state that when the new republic was launched, the chief difficulties it encountered were the lack of national credit and central authority . The post offi ce departm ent shared

s k s . I i Pr s as in the e wea nes es n h s report to e ident W hington , S O fi P amuel sgood , the rst ostmaster General , complains o f r i a a r s a inf ingement on the post bus ness by priv te c r ier , nd f fr f s ailure to obtain revenue om oreign letter . The N ew At this time th e re wer e but sixty post o fli ces Republic and less than two thousand miles of post a “ ro ds in the entire country . All the business of the Gen ” eral Post O ffice was transacted by the Postmaster Gen e ral , one assistant , and a clerk . By 1 798 these had in creased to seven hundred post offices and sixteen thousand

s f s r a s . f N ew Y k a mile o po t o d The post o fice at or City , t the time of our second war with Great Britain , employed but fo ur HI S TO RY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 9

. F men , who were boarded by the postmaster at half pay . ive

fo r years later , Boston had but two clerks who were relieved dinner by the postmaster himself .

During this time post rou tes were established as rapidly as the growth of the country warranted . A newspaper , in 1 826 d o ne i , note that ten stages and twenty ma ls departed

C . weekly from incinnati As the mail increased in amount , it was notic ed that its bulk consisted of newspapers . This fact prompted a N ew H ampshire senator to propose an amend ment to the postal laws , making newspapers unmailable . The

an d north south mail , passing through Washington at that

o f time , amounted to from ten to twenty bags , one which would have h eld the letters . In the light of the present ton to nage , the proposition eliminate newspapers sounds amus ing, yet they constituted a problem that agitated the govern ment until recent years .

The Post O ffice Department was constantly confronted

o f and with the rivalry private express , at one time it was necessary to maintain a speed of fifteen miles an hou r o n som e

u i ilan ' w a of the principal ro tes . V g ce s required in order t o compel the contractors to observe their agreem ents an d obey

n . i structions In some instances , in order to Pos t Coaches accommodat e extra passengers picked up along o ff o f the route , stage drivers threw sacks mail before reach

. O ing their destination ccasionally , in times of bad roads , pas sengers made u p the amount of the fines that would be im o n posed the contractor , and he left the mail behind to lessen ‘ the burden o f the stage coach .

E n the in ve in infant days of mail transportation , those charge appreciated its importance and strove for its better D C ment . uring the first half century , ongress enacted very

e e little postal l gislation , and , cons quently , practically all re sp o nis bility for postal affairs centered o n the Postmaster Gen f H who e . eral , was not yet a cabin t o ficer uman nature , at l e east in r spect to newspapers , was much the same then as f the P O f D now . An o ficial of ost fice epartment wrote to one 1 0 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE o f the mail contractors : If a newspaper to an editor should ‘ d t o be etained , it would make more noise than leave behind a

d o n L et hun red letters commercial business . the public in ”

d an d . every hamlet and ell be gratified , every editor be pleased o f That zeal was employed in the protection the mail , is cer

t o tain . A driver was subj ect a fine of twenty dollars for e leaving mail exposed to the elements , b ing authorized to

o r cover it with either a bear skin oilcloth .

O n the other hand , zeal in the performance of the postal i o f . O service , extended even to the drivers the post coaches ten in rainy seasons the coaches were literally dragged miles D on their axles . When ickens visited America , he said , when “ “ telling of a ride in a stage coach over a corduroy road , it would be impossible to experience a S imilar set of sensations u m t in any other circ stance , unless , perhaps , attempting o go ’ ” u t o t . P p the top of S aul s in an omnibus .

The stage coach , however, was a tremendous factor in the d u early evelopment of the co ntry . Apart from its function o f i i i carry ng the ma ls , t was the medium of passenger travel , an d regu larly brought a whisk of romance to each village an d i i i town through wh ch t swept on ts ceaseless j ourneys . The fou r post horses are soon startled by the snort o f the iron i fi horse , wh ch , after a contest , at rst about equal , and later to u overwhelming , is s persede them as conveyors o f the na ’ tion s mail .

The advent of the steam engine , in the field o f transporta 1 tion , marks an important epoch . The first l o comotive in A i D H C mer ca ran on the elaware and udson anal Co . Road H P a . 1 829 at onesdale , , in August , . A month later the South C i C i i arol na ompany adopted the locomotive for ts ra lroad . no t t The horse was o be deposed immediately by steam fo r , th e following year a powerful horse , belonging t o a stage u ’ i , P C dr ver o tran eter ooper s engine , Tom Steam u E Th mb , at ndicott Mills . But soon steam became more successful . At a contest at Baltimore the next P year , a locomotive built by hineas Davis attained a speed of

1 is o o f v in m ic . 9 P 56. H t ry Tra el A er a , V , .

HIS TO RY O F THE RAILWAY MA IL S ERVICE 1 1

u O f o the fo r thirty miles an ho r . c urse , average speed , even

d u V o f a short istance , was m ch less than thi s . and in iew the

d S r scattere ho t stretches of railroad , the stage coach was , for many years , the more important factor in transportation .

1 2 Mr ffi D 83 . . P e O . O I n B Brown , of the ost ce part m N ent , wrote to athaniel Green , postmaster of Boston , concerning t he carrying of mail a part of the distance be

i R R . o u C . tween these cit es the amden Amboy , when it should be completed . Three years later the govern

o r e t he S S r ment auth iz d contractors , tokes tokes , to t ans port the mail from \Vashingt on to Baltimore by railroad during the remain der of their contract period . Although

d e 1 836 a contract was ma e in the lat r part of , directly with a

the e m et the railroad , practic for any years y was to let con o f tract to stage companies , who sublet parts the work to rail

P o f roads . ostmasters were required to keep a register the

iv d e r arr al and parture of all mails , and to fo ward these rec ords to the Postmaster — General weekly from those offic es lo cat ed e u on the stag , steamboat , and railroad ro tes , and monthly d from those located on horseback an sulky ro utes . The first trains ran only in the daytime , so that evening stage coaches

ff o e e fo r art icu still a rd d b tter accommodation the day mail , p larly for the newspapers of that day .

The eve r- increasing d emand for more rapid means of com mu nicatio n e e , pr c ding and heralding the telegraph and fast mail train , brought about the establishing of a romantic and

o r - l e e e - r sh t iv d pony xpr ss . This picturesque , wild riding se v

e o r e o e u e the e ice last d f u t en m nths , b ing s p rseded by tel graph and the Union Pacific Railroad ; but it is worthy of considera tion in itself, as well as in connection with a history of rapid 1 869 transportation . In the stat e of Califo r The Po n y i r r nia , together w th adj acent te rito y , contained E x press e . A to i E half a million peopl dd th s ldorado , her military and political possibilities , it can easily be seen that Califo rnia was m u ch valued by the N orth and coveted by O n t o h the S . i outh wi g vast mounta nous stretc es between , many p ersons doubted if the Pacific coast could ev er become 1 2 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

R a valuable and perfect part o f the nation east of the ockies ,

' owing principally to lack of regular co mmunicatio n . The pony express was advocated and started largely

F cklin ff f . . re through the e orts o B B , general superintendent K n L a . o f a stage and freighting company at eavenworth , I t f C who had the backing o Senator William Gwin , of alifornia , made an unsuccessful attempt to secure fo r it a government

o f mail subsidy . A number western stage and freighting com

anies a d p pooled interests , n the enterprise was finally launched 1 O n 3 860 . on April , 1 , amid much enthusiasm and ceremony

t . that date a rider left S Joseph , Missouri , on the arrival of E the train from the ast , and amid the flare of bands dashed to the river , was ferried over , and raced madly westward with o K F his saddle pouch f mail . Across ansas by the way of ort K o n L S L C earney, by the way of aramie , Great alt ake ity , C C P S e arson ity , lacerville , and acramento , r lays of riders O raced at full speed . ver vast plains , through the rugged R ockies , through the alkali desert of N evada and the snow S — speaks of the ierras , a square shaped mail pouch with its four padlocked pockets was carried in ten to twenty —fiv e- mile re lays over the nineteen hundred and sixty - S ix miles in nine days

- and twenty three hours . This time was fully ten days less o f than that the best stage coach . It was a wonderful event fo r the West , and , although the messenger arrived in the mid San F dle of the night , rancisco turned out and gave him a rous ing reception . The mail pouch , which had cut ten days off the s i c a previou time required n crossing the continent , ont ined about eighty pieces of mail , including a congratulatory message Pr s B r f Ca f a from e ident uchanan to the governo o li orni . The regular schedule at first allowed ten days fo r th e trip during s eight month of the year and twelve days during the winter . L s s i a s s c ater thi wa lowered to e ght and ten d y re pe tively , whi le L incoln ’ s inauguration address was carried in the still shorter of a a d r time seven d ys n seventeen hou s . Twenty pounds of mail could be carried in the mochila or , saddle bag, and the average was about fifteen . The rate at ,

Pony Express . HI S TORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 1 3

5 o e to first , was $ a half unc letter , but it was later reduced 1 $ . The pony postage on a business letter often amounted to

25 o n - u $ , and each east bound trip an average of abo t three H hundred and fifty letters was carried . owever , the pony ex ’ fo r r press didn t pay . The amount necessary the pu chase of

o f horses , maintenance stations and roads , and for the salaries I n of the eighty riders required , along with the expenses of dian depredation , spelled its financial doom . A daily stage

e t 1 861 R servic was ins alled in July , , across the ock Mountains , O and a telegraph line was completed in ctober , at which time

an d the pony express service was discontinued . This short spectacular service holds an unique place in the history of communication . The faithfulness and skill of the racing mes m sengers is remarkable . A ong these messengers are the names o f F many historic western characters , including William

C the ody , celebrated scout . Mark Twain , describing a trip “ to C by stage alifornia , says of the passing of a pony rider , a whiz and hail , and the swift phantom of the desert was gone ” S o o u t o f . before we could get our heads the window , after c a short and romantic existen e , neglected by the government , ff whose history it had so vitally a ected , and beaten by the

o f su science the telegraph and steam , the pony express , the preme achievement o f the hors e and forerunner of the fast

d e mail , passe out of exist nce . CHAPTE R I I .

E A RL Y MA I L DI STRI B U TI O N .

e In colonial days , the few l tters sent by post were placed

m n eau the loose in the p ost a t or saddle bags of carrier, who picked them out and delivered them either to the postmaster “ ” o f e r rs as c . As a s , o , at fi t , dire ted the mount letters incr a ed those for separate towns along the route were wrapped into

e o f . packets, on which was writt n the name the town When the pouch , which later came into use , was received at a post offic e from the post rider o r stage driver, the postmaster took f d out the packet fo r his o fice and place outgoing letters within , completing the exchange while the carrier changed horses . Since outgoing letters were not all destined for ‘ Distri but i ng ffi the same place , certain o ces , usually the Po st Offices ' ' ' 1 e e5 1 d1 3 n b ti n arger ones , w re d gnated as t u g points , to which all letters for that region and beyond were f r P e f r sent o redistribution . hiladelphia mad up a packet o

N ew N ew o . York direct , and another for Y rk distribution

N ew Dis. The latter packet , called York , contained letters the for points near and beyond that city . With growth of

r C 1 8 1 0 - fiv e distribut the count y , ongress , in , established thirty f the o P ing post o fices , and later increased number t fifty . ost masters received a commission for redistribution at these dis e tributing points, which greatly incr ased their salaries . There was little change and less regulation in regard to the 1 5 manner of mail distribution until 8 0. When steam entered o ld the field of transportation , the stage coach methods , natur

e at t . ally enough , w re applied first o railroads In making ar rangements for carrying the mail from Philadelphia to B alti

fo r P fi De more by rail , the agent the ost O f ce partment stat ed that the Department wished the mail to be carried in a strong M S 1 5 HI S TORY OF THE RAILWAY AIL ERVICE .

a the box or chest , th t could be taken from the trains at terminal

f H e o and conveyed to the post o fice . suggested that a r om or apartment might be provided in the baggage car , and that an agent o f the d epartment should unlock it at stations and ter minals O t o o f . wing the lack night trains in the first days of d m railroads , the agents also suggested that the railroa co panies permit the government t o own and run a mail coach over L their road at night . ike proposals were made to the other railroad companies . All refused to consider allowing the gov ernm ent o n f the to run a coach their road , but one o ficial ,

R R . o f P . president the hiladelphia , Wilmington Baltimore , offered to grant the government a perpetual free mail fran Chise on his ro ad if the government in return would tak e a ’ million dollars worth of stock .

O n o f P - recommendation the ostmaster General , Congress , Th 1 838 . e P in , declared all railroads to be post roads ost master- General had also recommended that the governm ent

should subscribe stock in all the railroad companies , and se

cure in retu rn a perpetual mail rout e o n those roads . U m C e fortunately ongress r fused to do this , when it could have

— e been done easily , and left a bone of contention , the qu stion

— of pay to railroads for transporting the mail , for future legis lators .

The method o f carrying the mail on railroad trains was

o r at first very unsettled . The use of a box chest originated

rac from the practice , then current on steamboats , and the p n tice continued in a small way o railroads . The box was dis

e — placed , how ver , by the pouch , the same pouch used on the

e . stag coach In a few cases , at first, postmasters came to

the e trains , open d the pouches and exchanged Route A gents packets , but this practice was soon discon

i ed m en e t nu , and called route agents were plac d on some of the trains . The route agent at first dispatched at each station a pouch which had been made up at the distributing post office

H e at the en d o f his route . also loaded and unloaded the mail fo r o L and acted as an escort its safe c nduct . ater , route agents 1 6 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE were provided with small letter boxes in a part o f the bag

en o u gage car , where they opened the pouches received r te , took o u t all mail for way stations , and put in them the packets for those offices . All mail going to points other than

o n u f those their ro te , they gave to the distributing post o fice at f the end of the run . Important distributing post o fices made up pouches fo r other important offices beyond the end o f the run of a route agent . These pouches were provided with brass locks , to which the route agent had no key , his only concern

e being with the local pouches , which wer provided with iron d u locks . This local istrib ting by route agents was not so

u n o w fo r en important as it wo ld seem , there were few towns o e r ut and little local business , yet it was a forward step in the handling of mail .

and The delay expense , connected with the system of dis f D tributing post o fices , caused the epartment no little trouble .

D f had ci istributing post o fices not been well regulated , and d forts were now ma e to systematize them . A general scheme for making up mail into through o r direct sacks and packets u i for a place where the q antity warranted t was prepared , S howing also to what distributing offices mail should be sent for certain towns . Thes e distributing offices were located at junction points , and were to be used because they were on ’ the direct route to the mail s final destination . Copies o f this scheme of distribution were sent to all postmasters at distribut f 1 857 ing post o fices . In the Department ord ered the dispatch

i ba a em en o r of pouches , n care of gg g expressmen , to points f beyond the nearest distributing post o fice , perhaps to the farth est one , saving the time and work o f redistributing at each f intervening distributing post o fice . These efforts expedited the delivery of mail somewhat , and resulted in the discontinu i i i f i 1 859 ng of th rteen d stributing post o fices n . i i i The matter of d str but on continued to be vexatious . The principal trouble of the system was set forth at a meeting of S pecial agents of the post office department at Cleveland O , hio , 1 863 “ in , in the following language : The emoluments d erived by postmasters at distributing offices consist o f a commission

CH APTE R III .

E TH E FI RST RAI L W A Y PO ST O FF I C S . “ i E ngland an d France had a system of traveling post o ” 1 0 o f fices prior to 84 , but little is known of the nature the P e work which they performed . Mr . George l it was s nt to E urope by the Post O ffice Department t o investigate postal

H is 1 840 E ff . a airs there report , in , indicates that the uropean traveling post office system was similar to our route agent i i system , but that the tra n serv ce was superior , and that the railroad companies furnished better facilities to the govern R H e F E . S . ment . ight years later Mr . obbi , irst Assistant

P - E n ostmaster General , investigated the postal systems of g F t o land and rance , but had little report concerning their

f H e no t traveling post o fices . was evidently impressed very favorably with their adaptability to conditions in America , “ particularly since o u r cars do not run steadily enough fo r so ” much clerkly work .

w ho There was in Washington , however , a man became

o f ffi H e thoroughly imbued with the idea traveling post o ces . w as P O fi D H the topographer of the ost f ce epartment , Mr . .

. ma 1 8 53 A Burr , who had prepared a post route p , and in had revised and completed a general scheme o f instruction for use d u f in istrib ting p ost o fices . Mr . Burr also had observed the the E F work of postal service in ngland and rance , and main t ain ed that a system o f traveling post offi ces could be devised for use in America . While preparing the distribution scheme , he became convinced that so long as mail was Di stri bu ti on S topped i n t rans1 t at di str1 bu t1 ng post offi ces O n W heels , no scheme cou ld be devised that would prevent passengers and express from outstripping it . This last fact had brought much criticism on the government mail service . HI STORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 1 9

H e e maintained that in order to secur the fastest mail service , fi it was necessary to abolish distribution in post of ces , and to “ ” i ‘ i . d e n transfer that work over the car wheels M r . Burr d 1 863 to March , , after living see a trial of his theories , which to trial was partially successful , and strange say, was coin i n c de tal.

At this time the overland mail to California was carried by St w train to . Joseph , Missouri , hence it was transferred to

. St u stage coaches The overland stage left . Joseph abo t three hours aft er the time of the arrival of the Hannibal St . Jos e h E p train from the ast, which was often late , and thus caused E the mail to miss the stage . ven when the train was on time , it required fast work to sort the mail in the distributing post ffi t C St . o o ce at Joseph , and get that for alifornia out for the i C o t . d s overland stage . The lerk in charge f the S Joseph D f . . o f tributing post o fice , Mr . W A avis , conceived the idea transferring this d istribution to a car on the The H St . annibal Joseph train , so that on its ar ose h Mo . St . J p , , i i i i d St . r val at Joseph , the Cal forn a ma l wou E xperiment l be ready to be conveyed di rectly from the trai n D th . t to the stage Mr avis , after consulting postmaster at h St . s . L . B s s Jo eph , J ittinger, wrote to Wa ington , etting forth o f his plan of gaining time on the overland mail . In spite the well — known conservatism of the Post O ffice Department the 7 1 862 Po stm as plan found favor, and on July : , the Assistant

- McClelland ter General , Mr . G . W . , took the first steps toward esablishin f t g a railway post o fice , and entrus ed the details of the plan to A . B . Waller , special agent at Washington .

That the primary obj ect o f the enterprise was to avoid the t D e o f S . d lay redistribution at Joseph , and that the epart ment had no idea of a distinct and separate railway mail serv the P ice, is clearly seen in letter from the Assistant ostmaster

General to the Postmaster of St . Joseph . The letter is as “ follows : With a view to ex pedite the transmission o f mails P - l by the overland California route , the ostmaster Genera has h directed that t e separation , distribution , and bagging of these ffi e St . mails , now don at the post o ce at Joseph , be performed 20 THE TRAVEL ING POST OFFICE

R R. hereafter on the cars of the Hannibal St . Joseph . by a i o f i o f clerk . deta led for the purpose arranging the deta ls this

o f D . A . . , duty Mr . B Waller , a special agent the epartment has been directed to proceed over the route and visit your office and

o u t o i i i in others , and y are requested furn sh h m all the a d and form ation in your power, tending to make the arrangement as be complete as possible . It is designed that the work done as a part of the business of your office ;the car for this purpose to be co nsidered as a room in the office ;the bills to be made out and the accou nts to be kept as at present in the name of the f o fice , the usual distribution commission being charged as is d f o f now done , and the monthly returns ma e to this o fice let ters and papers sent and received as practiced fo r the year ” past .

o ut H . Temporary mail cars were fitted at annibal , Mo , and 1 2 D o u t o n S 86 . eptember , , Mr avis commenced sorting the

H St Pal California mail on the annibal and . Joseph train at

H e St . myra , Missouri . was accompanied by a clerk from the f o stm as Joseph post o fice , Mr . Guy Barton , representing the p C St . . S ter at Joseph , and by Mr Thomas lark , uperintendent of N ew f w ho e distribution in the York post o fice , was consid red o f a sort national authority on sorting mail . The experiment

u to was altogether s ccessful , saving the frequent delays over d H m t . S . lan mail at Joseph owever , it merely conte plated the

f so work of a distributing post o fice , and , far as is known , per no D formed distribution for towns along the line . uring the 1 863 spring of , the service was discontinued for some reason and St f taken up again by the . Joseph post o fice . These facts u H precl de the annibal St . Joseph from being the first rail f S way post o fice in the United tates , but the experiment estab lished o n firmly the principle of sorting mail trains . The spring of 1 864 found the Post O ffice Department tak f E ing steps to start traveling post o fice service in the ast . Mr . “ N ! A . . evely was specially charged with the duties o f o r

an iz in f an d g g the business of traveling post o fices , notified the Finance Division that he expected to have lines established

N ew N ew between Washington and York , and York and Cl ev e

rms t ro n — Pe rma ne nt n Geo rge B . A g Fo u d e r a nd Fi rst

n r r nt n e nt Ra w a M i rv Ge e a l S u pe i e d il y a l S e i ce . HI S TORY O F THE RAILWAY MAIL SE RVICE 21

b l st S land yJuly . everal railroad companies were asked to

e fo r an e e be provid cars xperim ntal trip , in which it could ascertained what equipment was nec essary for traveling post , f . . C o f N ew o fice service Mr Thomas lark , York , naturally was exp ected to have charge o f the details of sorting mail on the

. o f the cars The exact nature sorting, which was expected to e be don , was not clear, but it would n ec essarily be an adapta tion o f the methods used in distributing post eo B G rge . ffi e f o ces . Befor the new po st o fice cars were A rm st rong e the De a complet d , p rtment had considered

plans of postal reforms submitted by Mr . George B . Armstrong , d . n assistant postmaster at Chicago Mr . Armstrong ha bee em ployed in the Department at Washington during the time that f . s Mr Burr was revising his scheme for distributing post o fice , ’ and doubtless had heard o f the latter s ideas concerning travel H ing post o ffi ces . e had also b een stationed fo r a time as a h f e o f t e e e C . sp cial agent post o fic d partment at airo , Ill , f e when that o fic was swamped with army mail , and doubtless f had observ ed the auxiliary ma il service o the army . The con

o of fo r N e in gesti n the mail the orthw st , referred to in the

t ro ductio n e C , was a big probl m for the hicago distributing ffi e . e o post o c , and Mr Arm strong b came c nvinced that the only f e solution was a post o fice on wh els .

e reo r an Mr . Armstrong further compreh nded a general g iz atio n o f the postal se rvice o f the country on lines more in

t H e e e keeping wi h its progress . thought on th s reforms for e som time , and sent a prospectus of his idea in writing to the

P O f e D e 1 864 ost fic epartm nt at Washington in May, , after a e is th p rsonal interview there . H plan contemplated e simplify

o f - n ing post billi g, the discontinuing of wrapping packets with

t he f e paper, reclassification of post o fices , and the stablishing

of railway distribution for both local and through points . This

e e his a fo r his last f atur he considered the main part of pl n , in prosp ectus we read

th e But e main feature of the plan , which , aft r its d intro uction and final adaption to the service , would t he e h undoubtedly lead to most important r sults , is t e 22 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

out the system of railway distribution . To carry true o be i e theory of postal service , there should no nt rrup o e e tion in the transit f letters in the mail , and , th r fore , as little complication in the necessary internal machin the ery of a postal system as possible , to end , that let ters deposited in the post office at the last moment of the departure o f the mails from the office for near or distant places should travel wit-h the same uninter rupted speed as passengers to their places of destina tion as often as contracts with the Department for the

transportation o f the mails permit . It is well known

to the public that passengers , traveling over railroad o f routes, generally reach a given point in advance let e ters , when to that given point lett rs must pass , under ffi the present system , through a distributing o ce ; and when letters are subjected to a distributing process in fi more than one distributing of ce , as is largely the case ’ now , the tardiness of a letter s progress towards its

place of destination is proportionately increased . But a general system o f railway distribution obviates this f di ficulty . The work being done whil e the cars are in

motion , and transfers of mails m ad e from route to fo r route , and local deliveries o n the way as they are

reached , letters attain the same celerity in transit as ” persons making direct connections .

’ M r . Armstrong s ideas o f postal reform were heartily ap Mr ! proved by . evely . The latter was enthusiastic over the f f railway post o fice , as he now o ficially named the traveling ffi post o ce , and invited Mr . Armstrong to attend the confer c a s o f s s a s en e t Wa hington special agents , postma ter , nd di tributing clerks , at which the matter of distribution would be considered . Mr . Armstrong was authorized to test on a route or routes his ideas of postal reform , including the operating

fi H e of a railway post of ce . arranged with the Flf St Pe a rm N orthwestern Railroad Company for cars fur nent Rai lway , mshmg the i a s f i P s O ffice d agr m o the equ p o t -necessary desn d ’ e . ment he M r . Armstrong s railway post f o fice car , manned by two clerks from the Chicago distributing ffi L , . . ac a post o ce Mr eonard and Mr Bradley , and comp nied by Mr . Armstrong with a few commercial and newspaper ac

uaintances e i C i : q , mad a tr p over the h cago 8 N o rthwestern

24 THE TRAVEL ING POST OFFICE

t L o o n C 81 n d ; S . route ;the Chicago uis , the hicago Alto roa

o n C C the Chicago Centralia , the Illinois entral ; and the lin

the N . A i ton Boone , on orthwestern road l ttle later the “ ” traveling post office was reinstated o n the H annibal 81 St . o Joseph Railroad and performed regular distribution , b th local the c and through . The rapid growth of servi e in the West was to due partly to the ent erprise of the new country , partly the

f . liberality of the railroad o ficials and partly to M r Armstrong , H e who was very en thusiastic over the system . was appointed S A o f i as pecial gent , in charge the new service n the West , and ’

P E . . co n Messrs . Wheeler and arks in the ast Mr Armstrong s nectio n with the Chicago post office prevented friction arising f e between the post o fice there and the railway mail s rvice , and ff a ected his relation with railway postal clerks , most of whom ffi at first were taken from the Chicago post o ce .

The work of distributing mail o n cars wa s so successful

c 1 865 C o n e d i P that in Mar h , , ongress , r commen at on of ost

- e D f master G neral enison , recognized the railway post o fice and authorized the Postmaster - General to employ the n eces

t o e . sary clerks and w special agents to supervis the work . Mr P Armstrong and Mr . arks were selected for this work , the E former having charge in the West and the latter in the ast .

F e . o our y ars later Mr Armstr ng was given full supervision , h . T e with headquarters at Washington railway m ail service , f as distinguished from post o fice service , had its beginning

and with M r . Armstrong , the reforms proposed by him in gen eral mail distribution had a vital effect o n the postal affairs ! d to . a of the country . In his prospectus sent Mr evely , he v o cat ed discontinuing the use of wrapping paper around packages of letters and the simplifying o f the post- billing then

- fi in vogue . Instead of wrapping paper around twenty v e let ters for a given town , and writing its name on the bundle , his

e on idea was to tie the package with twine , placing a l tter the top showing the destination of itself and o f the whole

e w . packag as ell This is called a direct package , the making o f e which sav d much work and wrapping paper . Where the letters were fo r a distributing post office or railway post oi

The r s — Geo ge 8 . A rm t o ng S cho o l , C hicago Publ ic S cho o l r , N a med A ft e r t he Fo u nd e r f t he Rai w i o l ay Ma l S e rv ice . HIS TO RY OF THE RA ILWAY MAIL SERVI CE 25

fice e e to be e , th y w re tied with twin into a package, on top of which was placed a post bill , showing the name of that ffi railway or distributing post o ce .

For the purpo se of cc- ordinating and sup ervising the work o f n railway mail tra sportation , Mr . Armstrong plann ed an o rganization which was ad o pted by the Po stmaster- General 1 1 869 B ll v July , . y this plan a railroad mail ser ice , including

o e u and e r ute agents , expr ss ro tes , baggag mail , was merged with the railway po st o ffice service under the name of the R w ailway Mail Service . The United States a s divided into

six divisions for the administration of this service . The high est officer of the organization was termed General Sup erin t R S tenden of the ailway Mail ervice , while the O rganization Division O ffi cers were called at first Assistant D e . Sup rintendents and later ivision Superintendents . Mr

Armstrong was made the first General Superintendent , and 1 873 served until , when he resigned , and died a few days F e . lat r Many features , now in use , were originated by the irst S w ho ‘ General uperintendent , , by his successful trial of a ffi traveling post o ce , his advanced ideas of mail distribution , and his o rganization o f railway mail service into a whole is entitled to the name o f the F ounder o f the Railway Mail

Service.

fi e The railway post of c naturally found its mission , and gradually absorbed the work of distributing post offices which 1 872 logically belonged to it . In the fifteen month s preceding , the N ew York distributing post office discontinued fifty- seven pouch exchanges which it had maintain ed with towns over

baggage car lines , and gave the mail unworked to railway post fi O n the ew H a one of ces . N York rlem road , al , mail that

- had required the exch ange o f forty seven pouches , now was

i the dispatched n one pouch to postal car , which not only de

n o e N ew livered to the towns e r ut the mail from York , but f exchanged mail for all o them . About this time the Albany distributing post office discontinued twenty-fiv e pouch ex changes , some of which were twice daily . The railway post office now came to be a necessary and vital part of both mail 26 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T O FFICE distribution and transportation ; and as the railroads were ex o f ffi tended throughout the country , routes railway post o ces were extended apac e.

In the meantime the p i oneer offices of the railw ay mail ’ ” ’ service introduced the three R s o f a postal clerk s training e slips , schemes , and examinations , which thre later became e legion . Appointments wer at first political , and while a new t clerk was not expected o know the work at once , he was ex

ect e L p d to learn it . ittle or nothing had been done in the way of organized instruction for sorters o f mail since Mr . ’ ffi e Burr s scheme for distributing post o ces was s nt out , and each railway postal clerk was expected to obtain his own in formation . This could be had from several sources , principal fi and of which were from other clerks , from post of ces from 1 868 maps . In a regular scheme was intro S e al T a p ci r in duced D . uring the two following years the g ? “ facing slip fo r letter packages and examina fiai l Clerks i i n i t ons came order . The scheme conta ned the names of towns and showed o n what route or routes they were located . The first schemes were usually printed o n sheets of paper, but the later ones came in book form . The facing slip was , and is a small slip of paper , answering the double purpose o f a label fmor a letter package and an id entifi cation slip , showing the na e of the sorting clerk and the date m o f r and nu ber his train . By this slip er ors in sorting could

t o be traced , and it soon cam e be an important factor in de terminin f g the e ficiency of clerks . Shortly after the beginning " of road distribution , Mr . Armstrong suspected a few clerks of H lack of application to study . e called various on e s to his office for questioning and thus was able to det ermin e their s i intere t and informat on . The indolent ones were removed , and examinations became a fixture .

28 THE TRAVELIN G PO ST OFFICE

e S . ment was represented by the Gen ral uperintendent , Mr

t . Bangs , and the superintenden of the ninth division , Mr

e . Thompson , under whose jurisdiction the new service cam P H o n H e the . rominent guests included the vice pr sident , enry

P N ew C S H . . Wilson , Mr . arl churz , and G earson , of York ; representatives of the press o f all the largest cities of the E ast ;

f . mayors , postmasters , railroad o ficials , and other notable m en The train was c o mposed of four postal cars and one draw ing— room coach for the accommodation o f the one hundred

e er guests . The letter cars were fifty fe t and the pap cars sixty feet in length . All were painted white , trimmed in E cream color, and ornamented with guilt . ach car was named

r o f after the governo a state , the four on the first being Til Dix e den , , Allen , and Todd . The nam was painted in a large “ h P gilt oval , w ich also contained the words United States ost ” “ ” O fi The F f ce , above and below . ast Mail was printed in

S e e large letters along the ides , and on ach end in lik letters was the name of the railroad company . At the lower sides e OVals wer corresponding to those containing the name , in e e e which wer paint d landscap scene backgrounds , and in the

- d relief was an all seeing eye , beneath which was a pyrami

' ” “ L ! ! N o inscribed in gilt MDCCC V. and the motto v us ordo ” l - secu arum . The much adorned car also contained the Uni

- o i- ted States coat arms .

A picked crew of postal cl erks was assigned to the fast N ew — mail , and at York forty three pouches of l etters were e 663 rec ived , sacks of papers , and bundles co ntaining

— newspapers , making altogether thirty three tons . At Albany about one hundred and fifty sacks of mail were taken on from E Boston and the ast , and regular rec eiving was maintain ed

- h by catcher at way stations , so that the clerks ad to maintain

- fast mail speed in distribution . The trip of nine hundre d miles

- wlhich was made in twenty six hours , was about half the time formerly consumed .

The event w as a matter of general satisfaction and con gratulation , but the service that had started with such prom ise of - O , and had accelerated the delivery trans hio mail by HI S TORY O F THE RAILWAY MAIL S ERVICE 29

half its former time , was suddenly withdrawn in July the next

. 1 2th C year By an act of July , ongress reduced the rate of pay

to railroads ten per cent . The companies carrying the fast

o e mail had g ne to great expens for the equipment , the new

cars along having cost and each . These were so complete that the governments of E ngland and France re o i e nd quested copies th m , both exterior a interior . In view

of the extra expense involved , the companies concerned in the N ew Y k C F i i d i or hicago ast Ma l w th rew the tra ns , as did the Pennsylvania from a fast mail which was start ed to In dian li ap o s .

The question of mail pay is too long and irrelevant to be f th f treated h ere . Su fice to say e Post O fice Department based

' the on pay solely weight, but as extra room was required for i i s e i ffi d str bution inc the establ shing of railway post o ces , rail e e O n road compani s want d additional pay for space . the other C e e hand , ongress had b held pass nger and freight rates de

in ce t he o ne- e 1 845 crease some instan s to amount of half sinc , at which time the ton rate of pay fo r mail had be en established u he by law . They quit e naturally red ced t railroad mail pay

fo r h o f ten per cent . This move economy embarrassed t e ficials of the Railway Mail Servic e very much in their efforts e e e o an e to s cur bett r c nnections d mor through mail trains . L ater a special faciliti e s appropriation was s ecured with which to obtain special conc essions of s ervice from railroad com anies p .

he F n When t Chicago ast Mail was withdraw , a wail went e n o t up from the public . The servic was restored immediately ,

e however . By m ans of the special appropriation , concessions o f service from railroad companies were obtain ed regarding connections , so that mail was diverted to certain trunk lines , that became arteries into which t he lesser lines poured their the mail . In this way , and by natural increase it became worth few fo r the k f while , in a years , trun lines to establish ast E t o through trains . ven racing was later resorted by the N R Burlington , Chicago orth Western , and ock Island sys 30 THE TRAVELIN G PO ST OFFICE

ff N ow! cago and the Union Pacific Transfer at Council Blu s . , great fast mail trains span the continent and link together all off the principal cities , giving tributaries to Tru L i es nk n local trains which form a v eritable network B ecome A1 : of communication . The gilt and sentiment of ter ms of Mai l i o f the first fast ma l , and a few later ones , has disappeared along with the white paint and cream trimming, for practical economy has given fast mail trains an in con i S cu o u s . p appearance as to color and inscriptions Yet , one who realizes what is taking place inside thos e plain looking f t o nu mail cars , the high state of e ficiency required perform u e — der press re of time the complicated and en rgy eating work , and its worth to business interests as well as t o home and aw e ad social ones , cannot repress a feeling of mingled and miration as he sees a monster engine move o ut with a fast mail train , and head into the night across the continent . And if we can judge its impression o n others by the dramatic de scription by William (Billy) Sunday of the passing of the ‘

. . F th C . B Q ast Mail sentiment even for eexternal view of i the fast mail still ex sts . Civil service in the railway mail service is perhaps the fairest and least violated to be found in any public or private service . It had its early struggle , however , as did all federal P civil service . ostal clerks received their appointment at first

o f a through the influence politicians , sometimes backed by strong petition . The first few clerks were transferred o r de f tailed from post o fices , but they also were originally political appointees . The protracted agitation for civil service bore its fi C 4 1 871 rst fruits in an act of ongress on March , , but the commissioners , appointed to formulate rules , were not ready a wa s c A 1 72 8 . to apply them to the r il y mail ervi e until pril , Several superintendents had been virtually ap Civil Service plying such rules in their divisions , and had made it clear that they wished to retain in offi ce all employes ffi . n during good behavior and e ciency The new law, a d the s a rules formulated by the commissioners on it uthority , em bodied thos e ideas and provided rules of tenure by examinatio n ” HI S TORY OF TH E RAILWAY MAIL S ERVICE 31

and of promotion on m erit . The fact that promotion now de o u pended merit , tended to weed out those men of political w ho appointment did not becom e proficient . There was lit o r f tle obj ection to the law , at least little e fort to evade or change it as long as the same political party remained in o p wer, and it worked for the betterment of the railway mail service . The laws under which the railway mail service was first e organized had not b en very specific , and had left that work f 1 882 to the discretion of th e department o ficers . In , the serv ice was reorganized by law, salaries Were designated , a legal

au name was given to those employed , and the professional m t o no y of railway postal clerks was establish ed . This legal “ designation and recognition is as follows : B e it enacted by the S enate and H ouse of Representatives o f the United States o f C America in ongress assembled , that per L e al Re ‘ cog the railw a g sons in y mail service , known as rail f m f er O f s la s/I s way post o fice clerk , route agents , local

agents , and mail route messengers , shall , on and after the passage of this act , be designated as railway ” postal clerks , and divided into five classes , etc . The law was later amended as to classification and salary , but the date stands as the beginning of the recognition which is not yet so well known as most railway postal clerks would like , and which shou ld disabuse the minds of those who confuse them with railroad men o r politicians . The railway mail service was destined to have a little more oppositi o n before its place was secure and unimpaired . The in opposition came from two sources , both of which were

o f directly political . After over a quarter a century at the R national helm , the epublican party was de Po litics A nd C feated , and Grover leveland became presi C v Serv e i il ic 1 D in 885. dent emocratic politicians , of course ,

e e w r very pie hungry after such long abstinence , and most government positions were appropriated to satisfy them . A number of railway postal clerks escaped the deluge by peti e D R tions , s ign d by both emocrats and epublicans , because of 32 THE TRAVELIN G POS T O FFICE the inability of an in experience d man to do anything at distrib

— n o ffice ee e . ting mail , or through oversight on the part of s k rs O n 4 1 889 P C e e e January , , resident l v land issued a , classifi d 1 h r e o e ff e 5t . civil se vic rder, intended to becom e ctive March P e H e r sident arrison , however , postponed the dat until the e o f t he first of May following . This was done at the requ st civil service commission in order to allow it time to e stab lish examining boards throughout the country, and to prepare registers of those examined from which to make appointm ents .

P e ff revious to the tim the civil service went into e ect , 1 1 889 R b e May , , the epu lican reaction , with attendant xcesses , o D ccurred , and most emocrats who had enj oyed government positions but four years , along with some who had been in er R the s vice under previous epublican administrations , wiere R replaced with orthodox epublican clerks . The superintend ents of the railway mail service recognized these inj ustices , and together with the civil service commission , finally suc ceede d in retaining those clerks who should be retained . S ince that time there has been very little abuse of civil serv ’ o n ice rules , and a clerk s position now depends only his ability S and good behavior . o established have thos e rules become that they are hardly questioned . HA PTE R V C .

TH E W O RK O F A RA I L W PO S A L L E RK AY T C . Railway postal clerks are often asked as to the nature of their work . They frequently hear such polite interrogation “ ’ Y o u o ff o u as, put mail at the towns along the road , don t y “ ’ ?” You sort mail on the train , don t you and I know your E Doe . e postmaster, Mr . , etc v n the correspondence schools , whos e advertisements set forth the attractive features of em the ployment in railway mail service , say nothing of the na ture of the wo rk to be done . They can merely coach a man e fo r for the civil s rvice examination , after appointment a clerk begins his preparation for his particular duties . It is the pur pose o i this chapter to give a general idea of the actual work ffi o f a clerk in a traveling post o ce .

While it is not necessary to take a course of study prepara e tory to taking the civil servic examination , it is advantageous e in the cas of many persons to do so, because appointment is the made according to the scale of grades made . Upon t e e S C S e C quest , the U nit d tates ivil ervic ommission at Wash in to n g will mail a manual , containing sample questions and the necessary information as to physical quali H OW A omt pp ficatio ns e o f , togeth r with a schedule dates and m ent s e places where xaminations are to be held, pro A t e Mad e i di ng such exami nati on 1 8 to be held reason ably soon . A request is then made for application blank which is sent , and a physical examination blank as well . These blanks being filled o ut satisfactorily and returned to the co m

the x missio n , applicant is given a card , admitting him to e n e amination at a designated place , usually near the tow wh re he resides . 34 THE TRAVEL IN G PO S T OFF -ICE

e ed The examinatio n at present is not technical , but is d sign ’ t e e The to test one s fitness to begin o l earn to b a postal cl rk . o f e S e subj ects required are spelling, geography the Unit d tat s , a e e arithmetic , copying from plain copy, penm nship , and l tt r o o f writing . These are subj ect to change at the discreti n the commission . The grade necessary for appointment varies, as e can be seen . The examinations and the registers of eligibl s e are made by states , and, consequently, appointment vari s with the number of candidates and the number o f vacancies in 98 a state . In one state , an applicant with a grade of % o 85 waited six months , while in another, one with a grade f % n was appointed in two months . Si ce appointment depends on

o f o f a the grade made , the necessity a course preparation is p a th o p rent , unless one is very familiar with e subj ects f ex amination . C When a vacancy occurs , the ivil Service Commission se lects one name from the three highest o n the register of the

f r state where the v acancy exists , and certifies it o appoint r ment , as a substitute ailway postal clerk . The name is s ent to the superintendent of the division where the vacancy oc c curred, and later to the hief clerk of the district , who notifies the appointee that he has been appointed and asks him to report for instructions .

When the substitute reports for instruction , h e experiences H e a revelation . is not sent on the road at once , as he ex ect s ffi p , but is given an oath of o ce to have executed , a bond o f to have signed , and an assignment study . A map , a sebed

o f o f ule mail trains , a scheme book a state , and a copy o f pos s i s tal law and regulations are furn shed the ubstitute , and he how d is instructed to stu y the half state , in which are the oi ficers H he is assigned to learn . e is told to L ea n n r i g return in a while t o pass a case examination TO B ° A . o n the half state and a written examinatio Mai l Cl erk n a s A cas on the postal laws and regul tion . e resembling a miniature letter case will be used in the examina tion , and it can be secured from a supply house , or can be ’

. O f made at home course , one couldn t rememb er all tho se

ADAMS N O RTH D K A O TA .

' S I G N S .

ffi i n O ces prefixed arc junct o s . n is n Offi ces prefixed d hav e bee d co tinued . Offices prefixed A have been d iscontinued superseded i rural del very.

ffi s ffix e . h . are coun s a s O ce su d (c ) ty e t .

ADAM S COU NTY .

B ucyrus Cedar 8 " b Ch andler ! Cook ° d ! ls ra Gi t p A ber . Miles City 3 M H n cL au hlin S . Dak to Terr M n a e o . y s g , y, t b 3 Hettln er A Hendley g .

. b Ha nes. Hettingor (c. h. ) y

L h 0L em on 8 . Dak. eig , W L lo d (1 hite Butte 8 . Dak. A y , 8 l P ! Oran e etrel . Thunder Haw D k k S . a . Petre g . h h B Pierson " ucyrus.

Reeder l 1 7, 1 8 .

hn bl 1 6 1 7 1 8 . A Sc e y j , , Springbu tte Stowers ! Wei htm an 1“ Wol B u tte

S eci me n Pa e of a S che me Boo k of N o rt h D k p g a ota .

M offic s are no t on th e i o h any e ra lr ad . Alp ab etical references ind i t wh i cate a at ra lro ad town mail for the inland to wn i s d isp atched ; um ic l f c s ind ic which ai s su l the ow l n er a re eren e ate tr n p p y t n with mai . I f no f f re erence ollows the name of a to wn a ll train s d ispatch mail h t ere . HI S TORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 35

" instructions , but any postal clerk will h elp a substitute fix his e the cas ready for study , and latter takes his schem e and postal laws and regulations home and either resigns at once or be to gins study .

The organization and supervision of the service is of im e to mediat interest any one who has anything to do with it . The postal clerk may learn all that is necessary from his copy e of the postal laws and r gulations , which is called a black Th book from the color of its cover . e United States is divided into fifteen divisions and subdivided into more than one hun e f dr d districts . The sup erior o ficer of a division is a division i res o n superintendent , and of a d strict is a chief clerk , who is p sibl e to the sup erint endent of the division in which his dis e tri t is located . The division superintend ent is responsible to the general superintendent at Washington , whose work is under t he jurisdiction of the S econd Assistant Postmaster - Gen e eral . Thes positions are all filled by promotion under civil A ll t e r . o se vice rules communications , and from a cl rk , pass he through the offi ce of the chief clerk . T recommendations of o n e of these officers to his superior is usually followed out

in all detail matters and in most of the important ones .

The scheme of a state and the case and card system o f study and examination were invented and put into use by Cap e 1 866 1 907 tain James Whit , who , from to , served in all the ro ut e a en stages of promotion from clerk on the road , or g t ,

he su erin as it was called when was appointed , to general p

the ffi t endent . The scheme contains a list of all post o ces in

the are . a state , and route or routes on which they located An ffi o r o r o ce at the j unction of two more routes , railway post ffi fi . o of ces , is prefixed by a star An ce located on two roads , w . a no t junctions , is called a double supply An Io scheme shows Scranton on the Chicago O maha railway post o f

fice C O . Boone is a junction , being on the hicago maha , D De D F s . the Boo ne es Moines , and the ort odge Moines the C O Woo dbine is a double supply , being on hicago maha ,

D e O . The e re and Fo rt o dg maha , two parallel routes cl rk p 36 THE TRAVELIN G P OS T OFFICE

e O n o ne e of pares cards to learn thes facts . sid a card is ffi S o n the printed the o ce of cranton , and other he Schem e O n O . side, Chicago maha the back of the g00k Boone card he places a star, meaning that it

he o f the is a junction , together with t names three routes men tioned O n o f the oo he e above . the back card for W dbine writ s The o both Chicago O mah a and F ort Dodge O maha . b xes e e of the practice case are labeled to the . names of th s railway The o fii ces o . post , and one large box is labeled juncti ns clerk th e C o learns to throw Scranton into e box, label d hicag H O . e maha , without looking at its back may throw Wood o or the o ne bine in either the box labeled Chicag O maha, F D o H e e O . labeled ort odg maha , but must know b th throws the B oone into the junction box, but must know names of the the e three routes on its back , for when he is examined in chi f ’ ffi the he clerk s o ce , examiner will take out all t j unctions and h fi ask the names of all t e routes on each . A substitute rst f H he e e . e t l arns in what county ach o fice is located “ has name he o o r of the county on t back f each card , and has a box f each u co nty in his practice case .

A substitute postal cl erk corresponds in a way to an extra ne man in railroad service . O substitute may be kept fo r each the eight regular clerks in a state, but numb er varies some R . o r what egular clerks, who work six more days a week,

fift - e fi y two weeks a year, are giv n fteen days plus Sundays

. e vacation annually and their salaries paid These abs nces , to e s ca s e k ss acc a f r g ther with tho e u d bmy sic ne , ident , nd or pe sonal reasons , give employ ent to these substitutes , who are paid at the rate of a year fo r the time Su bst i tut e actually employed . Substitut es are usuallY Clerks o e given their first trips in runs with th r clerks ,

o ut o ne — but sometimes are sent on man runs . The exp eriences

r of substitutes would make a volume, and a few a e giv en in this volume . When a substitute goes o n a trip with other ffi clerks in a large railway post o ce , he can do little exc ept - u carry sacks and set p papers ; that is , he sets the miscel laneo us r papers so that the addresses a e up . After some ex HI S TORY OF THE RAILWAY MAI L S ERVICE 37

erience p running with other clerks , he may be sent out on a b run y himself, after having gone over the route with the man , e whose place he is to tak .

The mere knowl e dge o f location of offices is not sufficient e to enable a clerk to work mail . Th re are often several trains f carrying post o fice cars which run through a town , and it is

so necessaryto know how to send a piece of mail , as to con n ect , in the shortest time , with the train that connects the

to train which supplies the town . When a clerk is assigned

— work , he is given a schedule , which is a time table of mail trains , and a list of the dispatches of mails that each makes . A train connecting the Chicago Council Bluffs train number d fifteen at Albia , Iowa , woul not give mail to that train for many little I o w-a towns through which train number fifteen

‘ passes, because , being a night train , it does not supply them with mail . Mail for them is sent east on train number eight , which gives it back at Galesburg , Illinois , to train number seven , which , being a day train , supplies all the little towns . The question of wh ether a train supplies a town with mail is settled by the division superintendent on the recomm enda

o f e i tion the chi f clerk , the w shes of the people of the towns being usually complied with . A further knowledge , not often o f e require d o f substitutes , is required regular cl rks in making

f ~ up mail fo r a railway post o fice . This is learned from a sep aration list found in the back of the scheme . If a clerk had to work all the mail on his line before he came to the mail

h o et for t e first t wns out , he would either not g them out , or Fo r rea would have nothing to do the rest o f the trip . this 1 e . son mails are made up direct for the first town or two ; . ,

ff fo r the f already to be put o . The mail o fices along the first part o f the line beyond th es e towns is put in a sack o r pack

1 e N o . age lab el ed N o . ; that for towns farth r along is labeled

2 f the o f t he N o . 3 . , and that or rest the line in state Mail fo r C L ib made up by lines entering O maha the hicago , West erty O maha line must have that for Council Bluff s made e ffi up s eparat , that for all the o ces to Atlantic in a sack , or

e e C e L e O m if l ett ers in packag s , lab led hicago , W st ib rty aha 38 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

N o 1 O ffi De s e e (train) . . ces from Atlantic to M oin s are call d

N o 2 D s e e N o 3. . , and from e Moin s ast , .

Substitute clerks usually take the first regular appoint ffe e e ment o red, even if they particularly desir a c rtain run , e and then try to secure their choic by applying for a transfer . e In case of vacancy, a regular clerk , who had appli d, would e the e o e to be transferr d, and substitut would be app int d his R e place . uns vary as to tim , amount of work done , amount o f are salary, and other conditions . All main lines arranged ‘ e e o so that cl rks have regular runs to make , and regular p ri ds o ff to equalize the time in excess of eight hours that was re ee -on quired for the long trips . This accounts for the w k and - ff o f S e n week o clerks . om runs require two weeks on and o e o ff w e - The hil , many short line runs require six days a we ek . t th leng h of a line , the amount of work required in e yards e e before the d partur of the train , and the importance of the h line determine t e hours of work on a route .

o ff The fact that a clerk has a week , does ont mean that he has nothing to do . There are two things connected with he e his work that must do regularly at home , and ther are other things that he must prepare for . The territory or states h assigned for a clerk to learn , depends on t e length and posi

o ne - tion of his run , and varies from to six, main line runs , fiv e fiv e requiring or six . The or six schemes must be cor rected e regularly from a w ekly bulletin , which all clerks re ceiv e the e from superintend nt . This shows changes in time tables , and dispatch of trains , as well as all new orders or rules ff E a ecting the work . ach clerk must provide himself with

fo r . be slips labels These must arranged , and , if they are for o u ches t e o S ud A nd sacks or p , h y must be f lded to fi t t y ' ’ Cl erical the label holders, and must contain the clerk s W o e e o f rk name , train numb r, and dat run . The De artment f e p urnish s printed labels , but the clerks must arrange f r r a a f e So c rks them o the un , nd stamp up nd old th m . me l e , r s c r e s e e r s s a eek find on un whi h equir v ral hund ed lip w , it fi e pro tabl to buy their slips from supply houses , which make e a business of printing and pr paring slips . It is on th ese fac

Posta l Cle rk Wit h Pra ct ice C ase— Ge tt i ng Ready f o r a Case

Exami nat io n.

40 THE TRAVELIN G P O S T O FFICE cards from the junction b ox and asks the names o f the lines at each point , and asks how he would dispatch mail for that junc tion if he were on a certain trip . This examination is a part of the system employed to determine the efficiency record on

’ which a clerk s promotion is based . By the plus and minus i be e k i system , wh ch will discuss d later, a cler rece ves five plus if he throws 9 850+ of the cards correctly . Twenty to thirty pl u s may be made in answering correctly the o ne hund red w questions asked o n postal la s and regulations , which is a part in of the regular examination . In the tenth division , which

lu e N P . c d s Wisconsin , orth eninsula of M ichigan , Minnesota N D S D Se orth akota , and outh akota , during the month of p 1 91 5 298 m tember, , regular clerks were exa ined with an aver age correct percentage o f This is p erhaps a fair exam

fo r ple , this division contains both thickly and thinly settled territory as well as city and standpoint examinations .

Fo r 30 1 91 4 the year ending June , , about twenty thousand clerks were employed in the railway mail service . O ver four

- thousand mail cars were used , one fourth of which were full

o r cars , cars used exclusively for mail , and the rest were apart ment cars , or cars an apartment of which is used for mail . The small est apartment cars are used o n one - man runs ; the larger ones are assigned Wihere two or three men are meces sary , wh ile the full cars are used on the main lines , where

re . from four to eight , and even more men to a car a used The length and importance of a line determine the siz e of the l cars , and the number of men allowed to it . It is a so often

these bein the case that apartments are used on day trains , g large enough to accommodate the mail received at local sta tions , while on the night trains of the same route full cars i i o f i are necessary for the d str bution the through n ght mails , i which have been received from tr butary day trains , and from f the day mail from post o fices .

Clerks o n one - man runs have for the most part very de

e sirable positions , the most desirabl being those , whose time

o ff on duty allows a compensatory week , and those whose runs

‘ co nfined to o ne are state , a condition which mak e s it neces HIS TORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 41

O sary for them to be examined on but one state . ccasionally ,

r the hours of work are undesirable , but usually they a e such that the clerk has his nights and most of his evenings at home . e a f Befor going out on his run , clerk calls at the post o fice , to e receipt in p rson for the registered mail , which either has been e e left th r by other lines , or has originated there . In large cities and important junction points , a man called a transfer the clerk is detailed and placed at the stations , for purpose of

fo r handling this registered mail , and looking after all mail e about the station . Befor going to his car, the clerk signs

a book of arrivals and departure , and looks Desirabi it l y e e ov r the ord r book , the latter being a book in O f Runs which are posted all orders and changes aff ect t he e ing run . Upon being appointed to a run , a clerk is giv n a badge , mail key , and safety chain , and a commission which is a photographic pass , good only on the trains of his run . In the the e e car cl rk dons overalls , or other clothes suitabl for

o n e rough work , pins his badg , attaches his keys with the safety chain , and lays out pencils , labels , schemes , registry h t e . book , and other tools of trade If no mail is at hand , he e enters a description of the register d mail in his record book , and e e mak s out return receipt cards , to be dispatch d with reg ist ers F - e at . irst class mail and daily papers receiv the first e tention . The former is received in regularly schedul d locked pouches , and a record is kept of each pouch received and dis t hd e a c . the p The rest of mail , consisting of s cond , third , and

is fourth classes , handled in tie sacks , of which no record is kept .

If his mail has been well made up , and most mail is , the ’ clerk should have an interesting trip . The first town s mail

o r e . e . is , should hav been , held out , i , made up direct , ready 1 be o ff the N o . to put , and rest should be in separations of

N o 2 . S o and . , if there is very much from any one source , th w fo r by the time e engineer histles the first town , its mail 1 no t N o . is ready to be dispatched , and most , if all , the is

the . worked , while on some of easiest lines all is worked up

B h e the d e yt e tim secon or third station is r ached , all the m ail 42 THE TRAVELING POST OFFICE

o the e e no t started out with is w rked , and local mail rec iv d is ffi e usually of su cient quantity to rush one , so that the cl rk has a little time between stations to be aware that he is on a f ff e . O . train . course , there is a di erence in days W dnesdays , F e Thursdays , and ridays , the days when the county pap rs are o r on ev e published and exchanges are circulating, Monday

' nin s w hen S the e g , because there has been no unday train , ast bound letters are heavy ; on these days there is nothing much to do but work . When a clerk on a run of this kind becomes 1 e . well acquainted with his mail , . , knows what to expect , s know his connections well , and is familiar with his territory , he has little difficulty in doing his work well and easily .

S Conditions vary on these runs . ometimes fast work is required at the end of the run , owing to having received heavy mail at the last station , and to the necessity of being all worked

o f . up with letter packages tied out , and sacks out the rack There is always enough of the strenuous in places t o prev ent few e monotony , and there are , if any , sin cures in the whole

e service . Befor leaving his car in the evening, the clerk labels

fo r e up the next trip ; that is , he puts facing slips in the l tter ’ n ot boxes and labels in the sacks . And the day s work is entirely done until he has signed the book of arrival , delivered f the registers to the post o fice or transfer clerk , and has made out a trip report . This report contains the facts about the

: . trip viz , time of arrival and departure at j unctions , amount t o of mail worked , any failures receive regular mail , and other information called fo r on the blank r eports with which he is furnished . The motion of the train makes the work somewhat w tiresome , but the worker kno s that he has a rest coming if

are his hours are long, and on runs where they short , and he

to to has run six days a week, he looks forward a vacation of S fifteen days plus undays annually with pay . S o a clerk in o f o one of these small traveling post fices has a g od p o sition , a s z s better th n the average , and better perhap than he reali e . If a clerk receives an appointm ent on a full railway post

ffi i ff e e His o ce car, he is confronted w th a di r nt situation .

e chances of working up to a better salary, togeth r with the

S t . Pa u Des Mo ines Ra i w a Po s t ff T r i l l y O ice , a i n 3 (M nne

— apo lis S t . L o ui s Ra il road ) C rew Do i ng A d va nced

Dist ri but io n in t he Rail ro ad Ya rd s . HISTORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 43 e of e —off h c rtainty having a w ek period, is t e chief inducement .

O f o e e e h e n o ne o r e c urs , wh n he was a substitut , e l ar ed mor s e the tat s, but distribution of mail is more compl ex than that H on small runs . e is apt to be on e o f a force of seve ral men

. o n the o be in a crew If his run is a mail line local , w rk will

— o n one . O n similar to th at a man run , on a larger scale a e e e he e larg line , specially on a night lin , t work is mor sp ecial A iz ed . i e to ut o new clerk is usually ass gn d work o l cal mail , H e and always has certain states to work . e may hav to work but one or two states each way , or he may work a state going one way and work mail up for city carriers on the return trip . O n the largest lines one man may do nothing but hand le reg istere f e d matter, or may tend station , either o which would ke p o t him fully ccupied . The ma ter of assignments is arranged the ffi o r with least di cult first , graduating to the head clerk,

- - o e clerk in charge. This latter positi n is reached only after s rv

the r o fi . ing in all other assignments , and is a ve y important f ce The work of this position , in actually handling mail , is con e fined to working lett rs , and in some cases handling registered

The - in- mail . clerk charge is authority in the crew on all mat ters pertaining to its work not provided for by special orders The t e from the chief clerk . making out of trip and special o f ports requires considerable his time , and altogether he earns he e well. the salary receiv s above that of other members of the

To the e s o fli ce crew . say l ast , life on a full railway po t is very str enuous . VI CH A PTE R .

PE L RK S CI A W O .

Every profession or calling has or soon acquires certain traditions , certain charact eristics by which its men are dis tin uished e g to some degree from thos about them . The most o f e striking these qualities , peculiar to the railway mail s rvice ,

- are a high standard of ability , a high class citizenship , and a f th u discipline , almost military in e ficiency , yet free from e m o i D desirable features militarism . iscipline Special was o n e of the first qualities prominent among A i i b l ty . railway mail clerks , because the ranks were o f who e made up largely men had seen servic in the Civil War . A high standard of ability resulted partly from this personnel and partly from necessity ; a swiftly moving train is no place

o r for a sluggard a weakling . The high standard of citizen ship was increased , and is maintained by the civil service ex amination for admission .

h u e the The w ole organization has many military feat r s ,

the most prominent of which are written orders , Black Book , and the division system of officials ;and this efficient organiza tion has demonstrated its ability to cop e with unusual con ditio n o n r 1 2 s . 89 seve al occasions In July , , a number of clerks

ff o f E r e from di erent points the ast were su prised by an ord r , to N courteously called an invitation , come to O maha , ebraska , 29th an F on July and take a trip to S rancisco . It was explained to them that the Post O ffice Department wished to recognize

e their very excellent servic by sending them on this trip , and o n that the clerks the coast would be b enefited by th eir visit .

- These men , thirty six clerks and three division superintend ents , enjoyed the trip to the coast , and doubtless the coast

edified H e e clerks were much by the visit . ow v r , when time

46 THE TRAVELIN G POS T OFFICE

f the e e ake s Wyoming, the relief engineer or train f ar d to t hi S e e . run out , as he had been held up twic that day At h rman , D near the ivide , a number of knights of the road , vulgarly ‘ e e the call d hoboes , tried to tak passage on platforms of the train . When the doors Opened and the points of guns stuck out like the quills of a porcupine , the hoboes scattered pell

S d et c mell . In pite of several delays for broken raws , ., the

' - N ew the gold was delivered to the sub treasury at York , and ’ equilibrium of Uncle Sam s m oney bags was restored .

The Chicago fire o f 1 871 was another occasion on which e the railway mail service performed un u sual and useful servic . f e a The post o fice was destroyed by the fire , and mail servic p

ear d . p e to be paralyzed for that city . The superintendent , Mr u in Bangs , had large postal cars stationed at vario s points o n o ff and the city , called in the clerks who were their weeks ,

l m H e the de took care o f al outgoing ail . also provided for tour of mails for connections usually made through Chicago . In this way the people had as prompt dispatch o f mail from th e city as they had had before . Sim ilar service was performed on postal cars during the

- Spanish American War . When armies were assembled in the S C o outh , preparatory to the occupation of uba , the flo d of d d d f n mail which followe the sol iers , swampe the post o fices ear the camps . To meet this emergency , large postal cars were wh stationed ere they were needed , and were manned by crews d picked for a wide knowle ge of territory . The most important d e C C work was done on si tracks near amp hickamauga , F Georgia , and near Tampa , lorida . Mail from The Mai l o f the the armies , course , was worked same Fo llo ws w ay as is any other unworked mail Mail for The Flag the soldiers was worked up to companies , regiments , batteries and ships , which was quite simple work , except when these units were divided in loading transpo rts or in special detail . After the departure of the transports , all d mail for the sol iers , whose destination was unknown exc ept

ffi Ke F to the o cials of the army, was dispatched to y West , lor e e o ida , whenc it was lat r sent to Santiag . HI STORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 47

w When expeditions of our armies ere landed in Cuba ,

P R P i orto ico , and the hil ppine Islands , they were accompanied o r a w ho closely followed by postal gents , saw that the mail O ffi service followed the flag . cers and men from the railway ff mail service a ected temporary organizations in those islands , O and mail service followed promptly . ften the equipment was

. P crude , but it answered the purpose At once , army car enters V p made tables , and at Manilla , M r . aille succeeded in taking over the post office and native clerks without much

. S S trouble At first the panish clerks struck , but when the pan ish merchants saw that mail was being delivered without a E F hitch to nglish , rench and German merchants , and that no S one was being hurt but paniards , they induced the native f . O clerks , such as were wanted of them , to resume work d course , as soon as con itions were settled in the new terri ‘ o f e P O f tory , directors posts w re appointed and the ost fice Department made provision for permanent postal organiza R tion , and the work of the ailway Mail Service division was

c a . onfined to its normal state , the transportation of m il

O ne of the causes for the efficiency of postal clerks may be found in the fact that their officers were and are efficient ;that ffi they have attained their o ces by promotion , and are familiar E with the details o f the work performed . arly in the history no w of the se rvice, especially, and occasionally , a clerk has to be impressed with the fact that his work is o f a strenuous O n nature , and yet is not impossible of attainment . the other m hand , all human beings make istakes , and , if a service con f dition be unfair or impossible , the o ficers have not so far for gotten “the pit from which they were digged” as to refuse to n make a change in orders . O one occasion a clerk on the

O maha O gden , who had entered the service before it was well under the rules of civil service , complained that his work H was to o hard . e made this complaint to his chief clerk , who happen ed to be at the station at O maha when his train was

H e fo r about ready to start . said it was impossible any man

' to distribute the mail on that trip befo re reaching O gden . The chief clerk replied that he could distribute it before they should 48 THE TRAVELING POST OFFICE

o f N o cross the state ebraska , if the cl erk w uld dump the sacks S on the table and keep the full sacks tied out of the rack . end ing a note to his wife , the chief started to throw mail , and at

N P N . daylight at orth latte , ebraska , finished the distribution o f At various times , medals and other prizes have been fered d f Po stm ast er ~ Gen eral by ivision o ficers , or by the , for the best case examination , best check record , and other works

P - e ff of merit . ostmaster Gen ral Wanamaker o ered twelve gold

o ne fo r t o medals , each division , the clerk in Med a s l each who m ade the best showing in these con A nd Prizes 1 0 tests for the year 89 . The prizes were

d n et tin o ne awarded ami ba q u g and general festivity . In di vision , the clerk who won the medal , threw cards , m correct . The test took seven hours and one inute . This feat o f memory seems almost impossible and was very o f deserving the recognition it received .

irst Ma il Ca rs. I nte ri o r A rra nge me nt of O ne of t he F E I CH APT R VI .

W O RK N G C O N D TI O N S I I .

O n e of the most interesting phases of growth in the rail way mail service is the development in the construction of m u postal cars and the i p rovement of their eq ipment . Some

in o f times , the evolution of a movement , some part it moves

n eces much slower than other parts , and a near revolution is

v sary to give the evolution e en growth . This was the case

an d . in the matter of postal cars , thereby hangs a tale ffi d m At first the traveling post o ce occupie apart ents , often o f P very small ones , in the ends baggage cars . igeon holes or letter cases were made against the wall , and what papers or packages were received and distributed were sorted into u m boxes o n the floor . As the co ntry beca e more thickly set t led , and the amount of mail increased , it was E arly P o stal found necessary to use entire cars on the tru nk Ca rs f lines to accommodate railway post o fices . The 1 867 first full railway postal cars were used in . They were

o ne forty feet long , and contained in end pigeon holes or let ter cases , and in the other end boxes arranged against the

— wall in a semi circle , for the distribution of papers and pack ages . L ater the circular paper cases were replaced by wooden

o f racks , placed along the middle part the cars in which Open f mouth sacks were hung . The wooden racks consisted o

o f rows wooden bars , one foot apart and six feet long , placed o n to o f o r p supporting posts stanchions , and running length The wise o f the cars . bars contained hooks on which the sacks were hung , and th ey could be taken from the posts when

was not in use . There were four rows of sacks , and each row

n o n e four i ches higher than the in front of it , the rack being 50 THE TRAVELIN G P O S T OFFICE so elevated and the floor so raised as to accommodate the ele

o f fo r vation the rack . This left room a table in front , and an aisle along the side of the car . Changes were made later in L H both letter and paper cases . Mr . W . . unt , superintendent

L u o f , o f St . at ouis , Misso ri , had a rack made gas pipe instead d woo en bars . This rack was level on top instead of being ele w o v at ed fo r a a n . t the b ck rows , d was stationary These feat u t o d o f res were inferior the old woo en rack , but the idea using R H o f C d . . . iron pipe was ap propriate by M r C arrison , hicago , H who devised the arrison collapsible rack , which , with little H o r . no improvement , is in use at the present time The arri son o f racks , as seen in the pictures , accommodate two rows

o n racks either side of a center aisle , are entirely of iron , and

n o t d d when in use , can be fol e back against the sides of the

ee F . car or taken o u t entirely . (S rontispiece ) m There was ore variation in the latter cases , depending

r o n the size o f the ca . Some of the largest lines now have ex e u u l sive letter cars , and new f ll mail cars , in which both let

ma ter and pap er il is worked , have the letter cases placed in d the center, while sections of paper racks extend towar each d en . S pace is left , however , in the extreme ends of these cars fo r piling full sacks , and stalls are provided , in order that dif

ferent kinds of mail may be kept separate . Mod ern These letter cases are so arranged that the Postal C ars sam e box may be used fo r more than one town

r S m m an d o rou te . o e sections may be taken fro the wall

f r ff u d o . t rne around , and used di erent separations In other

d o n fo r cars a section is labele one side an outward trip , and

d fo r on the reverse si e the return trip . S ome cases are pro v id ed o f o f with revolving strip s in front the rows boxes , which d u can be labele four ways and t rned as desired .

u The other eq ipment of a postal car is inconspicuous , but t necessary to the work . The old open s oves o f early railroad d days were isplaced by Baker heaters , and later by steam heat L n . from the engi e ights were very important , owing to the

if u — d fic lt eye work of mail clerks , and , soon after the begin ning of mail distribution on the road , German student lamps

52 THE TRAVELIN G PO ST OFFICE

F 1 885 1 892 — ber employed of rom to , forty three clerks were killed and four hundred sixty — three were seriously in jured o ut of an average number of Some of these w recks m O n S were very re arkable . the alida Grand W ea Mal k l u i i i J nct on , the eng ne and ma l car went through Ca rs P the bridge into the Gunnison River . ostal Clerk Williams escaped from his car to some floating tim H e . e bers , and was rescued a mil and a half down the river received a cut on the right cheek four inches long , extend in g across his right eye and was injured about the hips . While m uch improvement in other equipment was taking

o r place , little no improvement was made in the construction R t o of postal cars . ailroad companies were permitted build cars o f material o f the same weight and strength as was used

d o f in the construction of passenger coaches , regar less the fact that the former were assigned to a more hazardous place

1 891 o . t in trains In steps were taken by the government , u n u erin req ire railroad companies t o furnish stro ger cars . S p m m tend ent James E . White appointed a co ittee o f three di

d u vision superintendents , to raw p plans and specifications m m d . o f D for car construction This com ittee , co pose ivision S P S uperintendents Troy , Burt , and epper , reported in eptem d ber , recommen ing specifications which were adopted by the f government . The improvement o r the most part consisted

n o f in heavier sills , supp orti g truss rods , and the use iron

o n o f plates exposed parts beams and sills . i i i The spec ficat ons for postal car construct on , adopted in 1 891 d m , undoubte ly caused an improve ent over the old cars . At least they increased the average weight o f mail cars al most ten tons , and must have increased their strength very

ca su alities e materially . The number of , how ver , did not de crease as fast as might be imagined .

F 1 890 1 900 fift - rom to , y seven clerks were killed and three

- fiv e hundred eighty were seriously injured . The average a n nual number employed was A comparison o f the period 1 877 1 891 1 892 from to , with the one from to shows that i b the average number k lled per thousand is about the same , e HI S TOR Y OF THE RAILWAY MAIL S ERVICE 53

o ne ing plus in each period . The average number injured ,

however, was much less in the latter period .

s ecifi As stated in the preceding paragraph , the framing p m cations called for some improve ent , but in a few years they were far below the rising scale of heavy engine and car con 1 90 1 4 h . 3 90 t e un struction In and , number of wrecks was u E . o i sual ighteen clerks were killed each these years , and

- u d seventy eight were seriously inj re in the former, and ninety

in the latter . The department adopted stronger specifications 1 904 d in in , and division superinten ents were instructed to spect cars during construction as well as before accepting them

for service . The weight of postal cars was increased by the 1 904 specifications of over fourteen tons , and safety rods were

installed . Safety rods are two rods of gas pipe suspended from

o f the roof and running the leng th the car . They are about

an d to i seven feet from the floor , are used by the clerks sw ng

on in case of a wreck . The next year showed a noticeable decrease in the num f o f . O ber fatalities , due partly to the better class of cars

course , it was impossible to compel railroad companies to sub stitut e d o n these improved cars imme iately all lines , but their ff gradual introduction a orded some relief . The men in the service never doubted the good faith of the Department in its ff e orts to promote their safety at this time , and they worked under unfavorable conditions without complaint . A storm was brewing, however , on postal service administration , which was soon to break with remarkable violence . The reasons why administrative trouble did not occur sooner are two fold .

As stated , the clerks had full confidence in the wisdom and

ffi o f sincerity of their administrative o cials , all whom , ex

e in P - c pt g the ostmaster General , had risen to their respective the offices from the ranks . They were particularly loyal to

E . C . General Superintendent , apt James White , who served 1 7 until 90 . In the second place , the personnel of the railway o f o e mail service consisted the most loyal , patri tic , and pati nt

r who w to e men in the count y , were naturally slo make troubl over any condition . 54 THE TRAVELI N G PO S T OFFICE

The personnel o f the railway mail service affords an in i F t eresting vi ew so cialo g cally. rom the time of the adoption n of civil service examinations for entra ce , the ideas , ideals , and t o u o f a great extent , the q alifications mail clerks , were strik i n l m m g y si ilar . This si ilarity was due largely to the fact that all were obliged to pass the sam e kind of examination for en

and o c trance , that a maj ority of them came from the same

tio n cu a . p , school teaching The latter fact was so noticeable that a new appointee on meeting o ld clerks Sociology w as d m u generally aske , uch to his s rprise ,

P o u o f where he taught school . revi s habits study and ideas o f u d a discipline , together with similar st y and work after p m p oint ent , and the fact that they were doing a public service in which they were oath — bound and un der bon d to do their d u d m m ty , all ten ed to ake railway postal clerks the ost loyal , f u . patriotic , and e ficient class of men in the co ntry In fact ,

m u m they were al ost egotistical , looking pon post asters and

m n o t . other political parasites with com iseration , if with scorn

At variou s times local clubs or associations were organ iz ed d f an d 1 89 1 m e in i ferent places , in , a nu b r of leading clerks met at Chicago and org anized the N ational Association of Rail P m way ostal Clerks . A few years later the na e was changed to R n the ailway Mail Association . The purpose of the orga i z atio n n 1 898 d e at first was only frater al but in , a beneficiary

artm ent O ld — p was establishe d . line insurance companies did ff not o er protection at reasonable rates , owing to the hazard o us u o f f ~ . o r nat re the occupation The Association , an assess

o f u o n e d o u m u u u f ment abo t llar a month , f rnished a tual i s

fo r m ance , which provided accident and death. The a ounts

n d m u u in each case were i crease from time to ti e , ntil nusually n f good payments were secured , bei g for death , loss o a o r 1 8 limb eye , and disability by accident , $ a week . n while u able to work . A i i i f The ssoc at on , through ts o ficers and committees , also e i i s cured many concess ons , such as ncreased wages , better

a n d r d u E facilities , e ced bon d rates . ach division has a bra n ch

m la N organization , si i r and sub ordinate to the ational Associa HI S TORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 55

D di tion . ivision conventions are held biennially in most an d N visions , the ational convention is held bi Raili a Ma jv y il e n n iall The o f d o r y. presidents the ivision Associ a tions gan iz atio n s constitute the execu tive committee N d of the ational Association . The conventions are devote

u o f ff an d partly to the disc ssion mail service a airs , partly to

ff f u m o f social a airs . In each city where a su ficient n ber clerks

d e resi e , local branch s of the Association are organized , and , m m u d . onthly eetings , partly b siness and partly social , are hel

w d u a n d es Any orl wo ld be incomplete without women , i ll p ec a y wou ld the worl d of the postal clerks . In the meetings o f d an d N branch , ivision , ational associations , very naturally f d o . C were seen the wives atten ing clerks onsequently , the wom en o f t he mail service soon saw the need of an organiza 1 899 d d i . I a i i i I i t on n , a n t onal organ zat on was forme at n an a o lis an d d u t o R p , calle the A xiliary the ailway Mail d Association . The organization was forme for the p romo

o f R an d fo r tion of all interests the ailway Mail Association ,

an d d m the comfort , social enj oyment , literary a vance ent of ” s families of railway postal clerk . ’ m u but The Wo an s A xiliary started with eight branches ,

d o r soon it increased rapi ly . The chapters branches hold

m a n d u m mixed meetings part of the ti e , vario s entertain ents d m and banq u ets are provide . The women of the ail service

u ff also play an active part in cl b a airs , the Auxiliary having ‘ been admitte d to a ffiliated m embership in the General F edera

’ u tion o f Wom en s Cl u bs in 1 908 . Aside from its work in cl b ’ d o m A u i i i aid , the Woman s x l ary s a valuable to the men of d t o m the service . In a dition i mediate relief work for families o f u d injured clerks , the A xiliary stands with rea y sympathy and appreciation fo r the fellows in the i r exacting and danger

d en eial o u s work . This i ea is well expressed by the new g

1 91 5 : l o u secretary in , in the following greetings We ove y

o n e and each and every , and when twilight ushers in the night

s o f across the stillness come the shrill whistle some Mogul ,

fo r o u r we breathe a prayer the safety of boys , for we are j ust one large family . for whose welfare the women of the Auxil ” iary have pledged themselves . I I CH APTE R V I .

E N RE ADJU STM T . The first decade of t he new century witnessed a great ex

an io n N p s in the West and orthwest , not so large as that which d C f f prece ed the ivil War , but of su ficient proportions to a fect the volume o f mail in those parts as well as in the entire coun m to the D try . There was much i migration akotas , Montana ,

d P S R C . ana a , Texas , and the acific lope ailway mail service

d o f was extended on many roa s , and the amount mail increased on all lines in these territories . This was a period also of great develop m ent in railway transportation . Improvement in track construction and rolling stock , with the exception of d u f e . o postal cars , was mark The conveniences and l xuries travel now: reached a high state of perfection . N 1 902 In ovember , , postal clerks were somewhat surprised t o d P rea in the weekly bulletin , an order issued by resident ! I E O N o . I R . oosevelt , known as xecutive rder The cause of n ot the order was connected with the mail service , but the d fact that it was issued is noteworthy at this point . The or er “ is as follows : All officers and em ploye es o f the United States of every description , serving in or under any of the executive d o r d epartments indepen ent government establishments , and

o r o u t o f whether so serving in Washington , The Ga g are hereby forbid den either directly or indi O rd er rectl i to y, ndividually , or through associations , solicit an increase o f pay o r influence in their own interest any

C o r other legislation whatever , either before ongress in its committees , or in any way save , through the department or independent government establishments in or under which o n o f o they serve , penalty dismissal fr m the government serv

. w ice The order , hile surprising to those familiar with the l H I S TO RY OF THE RAILW AY MAIL SERVIC E 57

first arlicle of the first ten amendments to the Federal Con stitu tio i no t i had no n, d d alarm the ma l clerks , for they occa sion at that time fo r petitioning Congress .

A few years later it became apparent to clerks on many

thii t lines their conditions , from the standpoint of safety and e sanitation , wer bad , and that these might be improved if the ‘ o fli ial eff c s in charge would make the necessary orts . The main

e c to d u and gri van es related angero s cars , unsanitary toilets , n u clean drinking water . When clerks bethought themselves

C fo r of petitioning ongress a redress of grievances , they found R that they were not allowed that privilege , owing to the oose 1 02 u velt executive order of 9 . Instr ctions were issued to the effect that all matters must be taken up through the heads o f h d m t e department u nder pain of is issal . O n one occasion a C the number of clerks prepared a petition to ongress , favoring passage o f a bill drafted by the Interstate Commerce Co m

to . mission , require railroads to adopt a block signal system o f Before presenting it , they took the precaution first sub mitting it to the department where they were informed by the second assistant postmaster - general that they should not pre C sent the petition directly to ongress , stating that it was not “ happily worded .

o f 1 909 By the summer , there was great dissatisfaction C among m any postal clerks . onditions on some lines were R R intolerable . epresentatives of the ailway Mail Association

w a endeavored , in a polite y, to secure improve U nsatisfac : ments in regard to sanitation , salaries , and to ry W orkin g other service matters , but with little success . Co ndi ti ons Some enl i sted the a i d of the i r congressmen surreptitiously , but this was dangerous practice , because a post offic e clerk ha d been removed for giving information irregu larl d y. It was hoped that the Taft administration would reme y

i u i i si . the s t at on , but it d d the Oppo te

Postmaster— General H itchcock had a wonderful opport u nity on entering office . A little tact and understanding of the situa i i i re tion , together w th sens ble improvement of cond tions in

to o . . gard cars , w uld have made matters all right Mr Taft was 58 THE TRAVELIN G P O S T O FFICE

. R o e expected to rescind the executive order of Mr o sev lt , now

u known as the Gag r le , but in spite of his extensive j udicial i t he exper ence , he revamped order forbidding Maladminis government employe es t o petition Congress . t rat io n H Mr . itchcock was apparently obsessed with the idea of saving some millions of the appropriation for the

P O f fi D n m ost ce epartment , and he gave his i tentions uch pub licit e y. The two principal places of saving w re supposed to be in shipping heavy publications by freight and in economical m o f e ployment . The former contemplated the shipment heavy m onthly publications by freight to a place near their destina d tion from which they wou ld be maile .

The scheme of shipping by freight was almost a failure . O f course , the publishers made strenuous obj ection to their papers being forwarded as box car mail when they had paid regular mail rates . In that quarter of the United States , where the quadrennial weighing of the mail was in progress , the m freight ail caused dire confusion . An attempt was made to u s e is keep it straight by the of blue tags , but there no system o f m athematics which could keep blue tag and regular mail

n e es straight in weight balances , and a special weighing was c

af sary . In response to strong protests from the publishers fect ed C 1 91 2 o f , ongress , in , proh ibited the extension the plan . The economies effected in the reorganization and super o i m d P vision e ployees was a worse blun er . romotions were d u elayed , reg lar clerks were obliged to double up to save the hiring of substitutes when necessitated by annual vacations o r

o f sickness , substitutes were used in vacancies in place regu larl y appointed clerks , and lines were reorganized so as to e eliminate men wher possible .

H o w long this state of affairs w ould have lasted without

o n open resistance the part of the patient clerks , and what form their obj ection would have taken , had not a champion arisen

- H i i . e n the shape of a free lance paper , t is hard to tell ow ver , 1 909 in the spring of , announcements were circulated that a P paper would be published from hoenix , Arizona , that would

fight postal maladministration . In June , the first number ap

A bu u er ue L os A n e e Ra w a Po st O ff ce— I n A l q q g l s il y i pache C a nyo n, N ew Me x co S a n a F a r a i ( t e R il o d ) . HI S T O RY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 59

earé d . H p It was called the arpoon , and was edited by Urban 1 \ . . V H A a ter As a propaganda paper , the arpoon was the m o st irem arkable publication since the tim e o f William L loyd i Garr son . The cover contained a drawing o f a harpoon an d ” a the statement , A mag zine that hurts . At The Harpoon the top of the ed itorial page w as the announce ” N o ! P ? ! ublicity Yes Mr . Walter stated that ~ his p urpose was to turn the calcium light of p u blic opinion on

C S R N o ! I I u nsan i ivil ervice ule . , removals without notice ,

u an d ad tary cars , nsafe cars , other unjust practices in postal ministration .

I t is too early to estim ate exactly the value o f the part d playe by Urban A . Walter in the history o f this period . What

d o r m ever may be said concerning his iction ethods , none can n gainsay his energy a d ability. Mr . Walter had been a clerk

N ew C R w P O f and ha d in the York hicago ail ay ost fice , gone to Arizona for his health . The conditions prevalent in the serv H to . e ice , moved him resign and launch a paper of protest m P D soon moved fro hoenix to enver , from which city he u H e u n pushed a vigorous campaign of p blicity . denounced u sanitary and unsafe cars in most scathing lang age . In this campaign he was aided and furnished with information by men e in the cars . In one case , an extreme , if not an unr presentative , o n e , a bottle was sent him containing the carcass of a rat taken from a water tank . This action resulted in the dismissal of the cl erk who sent it , who in turn was given a position on H C the staff o f the arpo o n . opies were mailed to all members

to . of Co ngress , and the editors of many papers and magazines

o f 1 900 H to All through the summer , the arpoon continued “ o f feature unsanitary cars , wrecks wooden mail cars , the gag rule , and other like subj ects . M r . Walter also sent hundreds of letters and telegrams to congressmen , concerning postal measures that had been introdu ced by progressive members . and he secured altogether tw o hundred pledges from congress

n m en a d candidates .

In the fall the department began t o regulate the consist

so no t be o f trains , that wooden mail cars could be run 60 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T O FFICE

C e e tween steel baggage cars and the engine . hief clerks w r req u ired t o report the consist of trains containing steel i cars . Some steel cars were be ng put into use with most grati S fying resu lts . anitation was improved considerably , but the “ ” e gag order remained , and , even wors , the purpose of the

— Postmaster General to economize in the force o f postal clerks .

In spite of the fact that m u ch dissatisfaction had been created among the clerks by unaccountable delays in prom o i f i d i i be t ons , some o fic al a vanced the dea that a sav ng could

e . m ade by taking up the slack ; i . , taking up I m i i pa r ng som e of the weeks — o ff and lengthening the The Servic e to hou rs of du ty on the road . This order take

u o f a up the slack , together with th e c rtailment extr regular help , discouraged the most loyal of clerks . Good , fast men , “ w ho u formerly had said pro dly , We never go stuck , now ’ ’ “ ” adm itted that they didn t care m uch if they didn t clean up . The winter o f 1 91 0- 1 1 was a dark one in the railway mail

so - service . Besides taking up the called slack , the customary d o f C help for holidays was not allowe , and tons hristmas mail rem ained unworked for several days . S ome of it was dis

t o d patched cars , sidetracked at epots for that purpose , and u there worked p by men called from their rest periods , while som e rode back an d forth on the stuck lines until it could be w o ut orked . In the section where the quadrennial weighing be was in progress , this stuck mail , riding back and forth ,

' ’ m - ca e a four years expense , because the pay to railroad com p an ies for hauling the mail was based o n the quadrennial O n C E e weighing . hristmas v a bad wreck occurred to the

o n N mail car the orfolk Western , in which four clerks were

k . illed The car , a new one , was of pine construction , and the fact that it had been passed at inspection in face o f a proviso f 1 to the postal law , which went into e fect July , requiring mail “ ” cars t o be safe and sound in m aterial and construction was n o t understood by the clerks .

o f The press the country , although largely of the same political faith as the administration , began to be skeptical of H ’ . L Mr itchcock s economy policy . eading magazines and HI S TORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 61 daily zp ap ers published accou nts o f disaffection in the railway a f C m mail nd regular post o fice services . At hrist as time , pho t o graphs of huge piles of stu ck m ail were taken O o n ppositi To and i ’ by representatives of the press , llustrated H i t chco ck s newspaper broads i d es were launched at the P o licies m — P . D ost aster General In enver , Urban Walter

b f o f was arrested v an o ficial a railroad station , where he was

o n u photographing trucks of stuck mail , but comm nicating

f w ho d with local postal o ficials , evi ently were unwilling to f i him i i back up the company , the o fic al released , and h s p ctures w D — fift h ere carried in the enver paper on the twenty .

1 91 1 t o In January , , matters came a crisis . In taking up

o f S D u the slack , a crew clerks in outh akota refused to keep p u extra runs without extra pay . The line in q estion ran from

P S D o ut Tracy , Minnesota , to ierre , outh akota , but twelve

m en S u D of the sixteen assigned to the line lived in o th akota .

- fiv e e The route was two hundred twenty mil s in length , and d exten ed into a rapidly growing country . There The a Tr cy had been m u ch dissatisfaction with condi - e I n i i so i u fildhf t ons on the l ne , so much that the prev o s m en had year sixteen resigned , or transferred f from it . These resignations had occasioned eighty di ferent t o assignments of substitutes the line , whose inexperience made d it hard on the regu lar men . In or er to keep down a higher

ru n classification of the line , six of the men were supposed to

w u f P o . only to Blunt , hich is abo t thirty miles short ierre

m en There were no accommodations at Blunt , and the were

o ru n n o t . bliged to on through , although they were so assigned

Some of the men , designated as helpers , ran only between H uro n and Tracy . I n taking up the slack , the regular clerks were ordered t o keep up a vacancy on one of these helper runs . H Since the runs began and ended at uron , those clerks liv ing at Tracy and at Pierre would have to deadhead t o H uron twelve hours before leaving time . This extra work and dead h 'eading took t w o days and three nights o u t of the week

o . o ff periods , and , of c urse , there was no extra pay in it The clerks so affected obj ected to the order and refused to keep 62 THE TRAVELIN G PO ST OFFICE u i no t t o t o p the extra run , but d d refuse keep up the runs which they regularly belonged . With the exception of one

t o o u t o n sched man , each clerk declined take his run the extra ule , and each in turn was suspended for insubordination and

u fail re to protect runs .

H . ere was a startling situation It was virtual mutiny , but was justified o n the ground of unj ust and even physically O f u unendurable conditions . co rse , the mail output , like time

e fo r e and tid , waited not these men , and a remarkabl conges

d to tion ensued . In ad ition the one regular man , who remained

o n e E on the line , was transferred from the lroy Tracy line , and o ne from the office o f the Chief Clerk at Winona . These

o f three clerks and a score substitutes , often six in a car , were “ ” d u u d snowe nder . Mail rode p and own the line until some f ld o it was a week o before it w a s delivered . At one place sacks were piled on a station platform waiting assort ment .

r e As in case of all crises , public Opinion , that unwieldy but sist less to o force , with which many politicians of th is period did had not reckoned , began to rouse itself . The public not o f bu t did know as to the merits the case , it know that it

d . u wanted its mail , and that without elay Telegrams po red P P S t . s into Washington , aul and ierre , and variou other places where there was hope of securing relief . The Minnesota and S D i outh akota assemblies were in session , and both memor al iz ed C ongress for immediate action on the mail situation . In m ff m D the eantime , desperate e orts were ade by the ivision Su p erint endent and local chief clerks to get the line back into

F o f working ord er . ive the clerks in question were dismissed

m an d fro the service , eight were reduced at the time of their u t o m ref sal do the extra duty . So e clerks were induced to to i i th transfer the l ne by a raise n salary , and later e reduced

w to clerks ere restored the line , the obj ectionable arrangement fo r the ending o f the helper runs at Blunt was changed so that P both helpers ran through to ierre , and the class of the line

o ne was raised hundred dollars a year .

S t . P — aul Havre Railway Pos t Office Gre at N o rt he rn O rie nta l L imit ed C ros s n A r h B d c e S t . Pa u l. i g ri g ,

64 TH E TRA VELIN G PO S T OFFICE

or for the good of the cause wer e elected presidents . In the

C Va n D w ho tenth , arl yke , had been reduced and transferred f t . P to the S aul post o fice , was employed by the clerks as Van D their grievance secretary . A few years later Mr . yke was elected to Cong ress by the people o f the district where he d e had been so summarily reduce . Whil a more progressive element was elected to the offices of the Railway Mail Associa

n o f tion , a umber western clerks organized a new association , call the Brotherhood of Railway Postal Clerks with headq u ar D ters at enver .

The iss u e n o w app eared t o be settling on the right to union w P n R S . ize , gover ment labor in the ail ay Mail ervice The ost O ffice Department made stren u ous efforts to prevent the o r gan iz atio n an d affiliation of postal clerks W i th the Federation L S m f m d of abor . o e advocates of a filiation were dis isse for the “ ” “ ” good of the service , pernicious activity , and like excuses .

ff l u These e orts , together with the genera tro ble in the service , caused Congress to take a han d in the administration o f postal

m u in v e s affairs . Several congress en introduced meas res for i i f D L F t at n P O . S a g g the ost fice epartment enator ollette , of

d m an d Wisconsin , became intereste in the atter sent letters to all o f the clerks in the country for information as to what d S extent they were being deprive of their legal rights . carcely

ad e~ less interested were many other congressmen , and soon quate legislation o n the subj ect was being considered o n both floors

Fo r various reasons many clerks did no t desire to affiliate F L with the American ederation of abor . They felt that the proper sphere of union labor is limited to the com petitive labor market . But the fact remained that they were laboring u n der improper conditions an d a strong minority were intent on

d d u m f sec u ring imme iate a j st ent o their grievances . And had n o t C m 1 91 2 d a n ongress at thi s ti e , August , , passe a sweeping d wise measure , it is probable that the entire service would have u been nionized within a few years . HISTORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 65

The act o f 1 91 2 is a mile — stone in the history o f o ur Civil

S u R S . m ervice , and partic larly of the ailway Mail ervice A ong “ ” o r other things it abolished gag rule , rule Co n e i n al gr ss o which forbade freedom of speech by govern Action m o n f ent employees postal af airs , and restored

to them the sacred right of petitioning Congress . A part of the text o f the law is as follows 1

6 . S ec . That no person in the classified civil service of the S e United tates shall be removed therefrom , exc pt for such cause as will prom ote the efficiency of sai d service and fo r a n d reasons given in writing , the p erson whose removal is o f m a n d e sought , shall have notice the sa e , of any charg s pre an d d ferred against him be furnishe with a copy thereof , and also be allowed a reasonable tim e fo r personally answering the e an d f sam in writing, a fidavits in support thereof ; but no ex m o f n o r re a ination witnesses , any trial or hearing shall be d f m r e quired , except in the iscretion of the o ficer aking the an d o f o f moval ; copies charges , notice hearing, answer , rea

m d -o f sons for re oval , and of the or er removal shall be made m o r f a part of the records of the proper depart ent o fice , as shall also the reasons fo r redu ction in rank or compensation ; an d copies o f the same shall be furnished to the person affected u u an d pon req est , the civil service commission also shall , upon m d request , be furnished copies of the sa e ; provide , however , u o r that membership in any society , association , cl b , other o f f form organization of postal employees , not a filiated with any outside organization i m posing an obligation o r duty upon them o r t o to engage in any strike , proposing assist them in any n the d S strike , agai st Unite tates , having for its obj ects , among o f other things , improvements in the condition labor of its m d u o f an d me bers , inclu ing ho rs labor compensation therefor ' a n d o f o r leave absence , by any person groups of persons in o r i u said postal service , the present ng by any s ch person or groups of persons of any grievance or grievances to the C o n o r gress , or any m ember thereof shall not constitute be cause fo r reduction in rank o r compensation or removal of such per o f son o r gro u ps o f persons from said service . The right per i S sons employed n the civil service of the United tates , either o r C o r individually collectively , to petition ongress , any mem H Co n ber thereof , or to furnish information to either ouse or t o m gress , or any committee or me ber thereof , shall not be denied or interfere d with .

1 A ct o f o s s A u . 24 1 91 2 h 38 9 S ec. 6 d S t . C ngre , g , , C ap ter , ; Fe eral

A nn 1 91 4 Su l . . 31 7 37 S t . . 555. , p , p ; at Large , p 66 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

s w u This legi lation , together ,ith other meas res , providing f o r the grad u al rep lacing of wooden mail cars by steel ones , a n d o P m - u t en d the advent f a new ost aster General , soon p an t o f 1 91 2 o the unfort u nate situation . The law prohibits clerks from affiliat ing with an y organization which imposes an obliga i C e tion to str ke , but it gives them the right to petition ongr ss an d rem oves them from the danger o f su m mary dismissal at f the instance of a superior o ficer .

d o f im The forbi ding f a filiation with an organization , which

a n poses obligation to strike , is really fortunate for the clerks u i o f u themselves . The f nct on a regular labor union sho ld be different from that of an association o f government employees . The u nion deals with problems o f workers em ployed by in div iduals and corporations engaged in economic a n d com peti

d u o f m t he tive in stries , where the labor the e ployees goes to

o f m u u p rofit their e ployers . The weapons of the nion , sed legitimately to prohibit the invasion of their rights by their

m the e ployers , for the purpose of increased profit , are strike ,

. P the boycott , and propaganda ostal clerks , on the other

d m mm u . han , are e ployed by the state to serve co nal interests

m m u to The universal interest of the co nity , therefore , is pro m an d u co m ote g arantee the welfare of the clerks , so that the m u n al interests will be better served . Congress has always d d m provi e for this branch of the govern ent in a fair way , and the troubles have come abou t only in the administration of the d service . When the attention o f Congress was called to mala m d . ministration , the necessary re e ial legislation was enacted In case clerks should strike in order to obtain som e congres Sio nal o f u action , the damage their striking wo ld fall upon the

o n f f u community , and not the o fending o ficials entr sted with f the administration o th e service .

F o f 1 91 2 ollowing the favorable legislation , and that of the i u follow ng session , the railway mail service res med its normal

f an d co — e o f high state of e ficiency , and the confidence op ration

o a f the men was merited and received . This happy state f fairs was no more gratifying to the m en themselves than to f P the o ficers . articularly is this tru e o f the division superintend HI S TO RY O F THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 67

he ff f t u t . ents . Any ro ble in ranks a ects these o ficers directly

They have risen from the ranks , have a practical knowledge ’ of all the complex details o f the work o f handling the nation s

an d o f . u n fo r mail , have actual supervision the work It is tu nat e f that any one o ficial , without any previous knowledge of the highly organized and complex institution into which u m the postal service has grown , sho ld be able so to de oralize f A n d that instit u tion as t o cripple its e ficiency . the experience o f this epoch will dou btless be so valuable that another such readj u stment will neve r be necessary in the mail service . CH APTE R I ! .

CO N CL U SI O N .

Since the readj u stment following the administration of

d P — H Presi ent Taft and ostmaster General itchcock , there have n been few important changes in postal administratio . The service quickly worked back to its accustom ed high state o f ffi i and i v i e c ency , there has been a gradual expans on of ser ce

- details to keep pace with the ever increasing volume o f mail . In the winter o f 1 91 3- 1 4 a system of terminal distributing stations called Terminal Railway Post O ffices was adopted . The germ o f the idea came from the old distributing post o ffi ces , and it was inoculated into the idea of lessening the am o u nt o f work required in the traveling postal cars . The p u rpose was to have worked up at term inals into direct sacks d all mail that would not be delaye , and certain circulars and

u fo r other matter which had no time value . Q arters this work were secured in and near the depots o f the m ost important con f verging points o postal routes . The theory of the plan was that a m an can work faster in a stationary room than on a moving train and that the space was cheaper . It was also de signed to employ many substitutes and beginners at these

o to terminal stations , because the w rk of sorting mail out direct sacks is simple . The experiment with terminal stations was only partially successful . It tended to decrease the amount of working space

u n o t u be req ired in cars , but so m ch as might be expected cause m u ch o f the car space u sed was necessary for first class mail and for daily and weekly papers , and when these were distribu ted the sam e rack space could be used for the mail that

n . The was worked in the termi als fact is , there is a duplica o f e ffi tion work in railway and t rminal post o c es . The most HI S T ORY OF THE RAILWAY MAIL S ERVICE 69 potent obj ection to the system is the obj ection on the part of m the publishers of periodicals and ailers of circulars . Th ey

t o n d obj ect having their mail held in terminals , a their position

is quite right . Any piece o f mail matt er which pays postage

an d is important because of that fact , should be delivered on its S o f way promptly . ome the terminals first established were

1 9 1 5 t - discontinued , but in here were eighty eight in all , em

ploying clerks .

The expansion o f this d ivision of the mail service can be

seen by a glance at its extent . The report o f the S econd As

sista nt P - fo r 30 1 91 5 ostmaster General the year ending June , , fo r the division o f Railway Mail Service shows over thirty million dollars u sed for operating and over fifty- six million fo r R f w e dollars transportation . ailway post o fices er in opera o n tion miles of roads , traveling a total annual distance

of miles . There were employed in E x en o f t t u the work proper reg lar postal clerks ,

Th R . M e . S . 296 1 1 4 acting clerks , chief clerks and thirty

ffi four higher o cers , including fifteen division superintendents . Reckoning an average o f twenty- fiv e pieces t o a p ackage o f let

fift — ters and y two pieces of second , third , and fourth , exclusive

of parcels , there were pieces of second , third ,

— and fourth class mail distributed and redistributed , and C pieces of the first class . ounting the registered mail handled , there was a grand total of dis tributed and redistributed during the year , and this distribution was performed o n moving trains correctly .

The largest item o f expense in this service is the cost o f

o f transportation . The matter railway mail pay to the railroad f m c ompanies is very di ficu lt to adj u st equitably . The a ount paid each road for carrying the mail is determined by a pound and by a space rate . The amount in weight is determined by weighing all the mail o n each route for a period of 1 05 days once in four years . The United States is divided into four

u sections for this p rpose , consequently this quadrennial weigh ing is in operation in o n e o r the other of the four sections all

h o o f the time . The spac e rat e is fixed on t e amount f floor 70 THE TRAVELIN G POS T O FFICE

ff be S pace us ed in distrib u ting mail in the cars . An e ort is ing made to have the pay to railroads based solely on a space

u e P rate . A provision for that p rpos was included in the ost O f 1 91 6 w fice Appropriation Bill for the year , but o ing to the

t o strong railroad lobby against the change , and the fact that Congress was so occu pied with other m ore or less important ff u a airs , the bill was not enacted . In fact , adj o rnment time came u f D witho t any appropriation for the Post O fice epartment , and Congress took a few m inutes and re- enacted the preceding ’ l w year s appropriation a .

Traveling post offices are in op eration in 91 4 fu ll cars and 494 u ap artment cars . There are also held in reserve f ll

an d O f 847 cars apartment cars . the full cars , are all 765 464 steel ; of the apartment cars , are all steel , have

- ; steel underframes , and are steel reinforced

The displacem ent o f wooden cars by steel ones has greatly d D increase the safety o f the clerks within . uring the fiscal

1 91 5 u d ne . O year , fo r clerks were kille of these was instantly

o f killed in a collision , two fell from the doors their cars , and D one fell from the rear end of the train . elivering mail from m d a swiftly oving train is very angerous work , and it is prob able that some kind o f automatic device for delivering and re ceiv in g mail will be perfected that will lessen the dang er .

N u m m t o erous devices have been sub itted the department , but none have proved to be a practical improvement over the d standar crane and catcher .

In telling the story of the mail in the past and present , it

o n e t o is but natural for endeavor to look a little way , at least ,

. S u o f into its future ggestions reforms , improvements , and other changes are frequent . In fact , there are often more than

fo r suggestions of this kind , nearly every session o f Congress

finds a score of p ostal bills introduced , ranging all the way from m easures for discontinuing the civil service , to attempts to

- - — - secure one cent per ounce postage . A one cent postage rate m m to ight see be a progressive innovation , but there seems

o r m to be little no warrant for the ovement as yet . The two k i i cent rate wor s no hardsh p , and there s no popular demand

72 THE TRAVELING POST OFFICE

the n e usually has none , but for political reasons . Upon cha g o f administration in politics he loses his position , and the plum

o to ffi e is given to another . The p s c is so well organized and federalized that there is practically nothing fo r the postmaster to do but to have his name used when federal orders are t e cei ed v and posted for local u se . The assistant postmaster and division s u perintendents interpret these regulations and ad

e o r minister them locally . Th se men being more less perma f nent are the real head of the O fice , but the postmaster draws the large salary . C ongress would doubtless enact a measure , classifying poli

m . tical postmasters , if the atter were presented in its true light A congressm an is supposed to receive political support by

f bu t post O fice appointments , the reverse is true , because for each voter pleased with an appointment there are three dis w t . a a pleased A few years ago representative , hose nam e is t ached d to some important fe eral laws , was defeated in his district solely by enemies m ade in recommending appointees to

f d u o f post o fices . There are o btless other cases a similar na

u . t re At any rate , appointing postmasters is poor politics m C as well as poor ail service , and ongress some day will realize i f f f r d . o the fact , and itself of post O fice politics The O fice postmaster should be filled by examinations similar t o the ones taken by inspectors . Then the salary would be about the same no w d as is pai the assistant , and almost all the total salaries of all the first and second class postmasters in the United

States could be saved .

These proposed economy measures are only indirectly re lated to the Railway Mail Service . Ample provision has always

fo r . been made it In fact , it has been called the pet service C of ongress , because that body has recognized the danger and complexity Of its work . Congress was not to blame when administration officials demoralized the service in order to turn back into the treasury a part o f the appropria

Fa d G . vore ovt ha d tion it mad e for the service . There is urg Servic e en t fo r need of only one measure postal clerks ,

o f - a satisfactory system retirement , and that will probably S O HI T RY O F THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 73 i be worked out n the near future . Many clerks have grown

old , giving the best of their lives to the dangerous and energy

. u i consuming work They sho ld ret re from the road , but under ff t o o the present law they cannot a ord do s . Congress is work ing on several good retirement measures and doubtless will , e i i soon enact suitabl leg slat on . It seems almost impossible that within the life of one man such progress cou ld be made in the transmission of int elli

gence , and that the institution for the transportation and dis

t ribu tio n u d of letters , papers , and parcels sho l be so extensive

L os A n e l e s S a n Be rna rd i no Kit e Ra ilw a Po st O ffice— N ea r A z uz a g y ,

C a lif o rni a .

and complex . The work of the mail clerks is as extended as

i . c s the country s broad Great mail trains link the principal itie , and branch lines ramify the country . Between the populous N ew E i i ngland c ties , across the r ch farming states , over the

R i - summits of the ockies , through sem tropical groves , mighty

u o f forests , pict resque canyons and valleys , weaving a net news and service over the richest a n d best empire in the world , sp e eds the traveling post office inscribed in simple lettering ,

N E D S E S L R L W L E R E U IT TAT MAI , AI AY MAI S VI C .

THE T RA V EL I N G PO S T O FFI C E PA RT I I

I N CI DE N TS O F TH E RAI L WAY MAI L SE RVI CE . M y First Ru n . The inspiration that inveigled me into the railway mail ’ ’ service was gained in the early 80s . At that time I was a “ ” o n - N cub compositor the ews , a weekly paper published m C C by y father at Murray , lark ounty , on the main line of ” in R . . the Great Q . ailroad The Q was the first road to u o f a gurate special fast mail service west the Mississippi , and

- - d d for a long time its pure white and gol trains , that covere m the distance between Chicago and O aha in fifteen hours , A l were a delight and wonder to the people along the route . though the sam e distance is now covered in ten hours by both “ ” n d N . a i i i i Q orthwestern tra ns , t s doubtful f they attract a tithe o f the p u blic attention that the alabaster original did m d in its pal y ays . O 1 889 In ctober , , I received my first commission , and a few d ays later boarded the fast m ail at Burlington with the d w spirits an expectations of a holiday excu rsionist . My ard robe was innocent o f s u ch vulgar accessories as blouse and u o f overalls , and there was a huge l mp egotism under my bright uniform cap — which latter I had taken especial pains

o t secure . That lump was displaced by a booming headache

o r e in an hour so , and I fear that I spent mor time leaning

- u over the door sills , marring the bea ty of those pretty cars , than I did in s ervice t o my country .

My first du ty was to take into the car a ton o r two of Kan sas paper mail . Many of those sacks weighed close to two hundred pound s a nd I had less than five minutes in which to do the work . But I did it somehow , though every nerve INCIDENTS OF THE RAILWAY MAI L SERVICE 77

was quivering and my breath seemed forever gone . Just as d I finished , an invitation was exten ed to me to report fo r duty

in another car . I accepted with a nod , for it takes breath to H ” . d talk ere , feller , sai a superior clerk ; sort this mail into ” ’

. be station order I didn t know the order of stations , but d u lieving that hesitancy woul be p nished as mutiny , I took

on a knowing, servile smile and tackled those six huge stalls

of heavy mail sacks . I worked desperately until a lurch of

o ff an d the car threw me my feet , an enormous sack pinned

. for me down I think I should be there yet , but the timely o f assistance the aforesaid superior , now thoroughly disgusted “ ’ ’ u d better Guess embroidery work suit you n this , he con fi ded . But he turned in and helped , for we were approaching P Mt . leasant , and there were yet scores of sacks to be sorted .

These preliminaries finished , I was ushered back into the sec u t ond car , where my patriotism was p to the test of dragging K that ansas mail to the Opposite end , lifting it to the tables , “ handling it piece by piece and setting it up ” (facing addresses o ne f way) for the convenience o the distributor . Before we O u reached ttumwa , I was disg sted with the whole business . The glamour and glo ry o f my dreams had departed in company f with the spotlessness of my cu fs and shirt bosom . I was and dizzy faint ;the cars were dark with smoke and dust , and the whole scene inside seemed an endless tangle of pouches , sacks , and pigeonholes , presided over by a lot of perspiring demons , whose flying hands kept the air alive with packages d w an bundles , the hile mumbling a j argon , probably concern F ing routes and connections , but which was all ij i to me .

O ther demons rushed up and down the aisles , dragging cum bersome pouches behind them , which anon they hurled from the train as though by magic , and snatched others from the winds without . The noise was deafening, a myriad switches

o n crashed alarmingly beneath the wheels , passing trains the o ther tracks kept me in a state of panic , so sudden and omi nous were their approach . The roll of the train , as it rounded sharp curves , taxed my strength and levied toll upon the break

in e e fast I had eaten such r pose and ke n anticipation . 78 THE TRAVELING PO ST OFFICE

O h it w as Altogether it was a disheartening experience . ,

do a rude awakening . There was so much else to besides kick ing o ff an occasional pouch and killing o ff the ladies o f the vil

’ ’ lages . Why , I hadn t killed even one as yet ; hadn t even seen

' t o one . Moreover , I had begun vaguely realize that the other fellows seldom tarried at the doors longer than was req u ired to take in a lung full of air , and that the posing I had doted on was merely a rational position which they assumed to keep

o ut a n d themselves from going with the mail bags , to insure the taking of complete anatomies back to their wives and chil d ’ C u fo r . dren . At hariton we had twenty min tes dinner I idn t

’ had f r u u . o eat . I wasn t h ngry I lots of food tho ght , and m d while the others dined , I entally masticate the impulse to u m resign instanter . But the shades Of pl cky ancestry see ed

. d the . to point eprecatingly at me , and idea was abandoned d d The next hour ragged , naturally , but at length we approache ” u d and d M rray , the east switch was passe , , having begge ’ m o f m the boo a oment s respite , I drew myself together , Opened a door an d prepared t o receive the homage of a con ’ u u ero r . u d q Unlike yo r true hero , I co ldn t resist peering ahea d o f the train t o catch an early glimpse of the crowd . Won er ’ u Bu t o f wonders ! I cou l dn t see a so l . the smoke was bad

an d N O that moment , so presently I peered again . , my per ’ s ectiv e d d u d u m — - a s p i n t incl e a single h an being ; yes , there w

an d m a boy , as we approached , I discovered it was y brother . “ ” H e d and N f cheere me loyally , over in the ews o fice door my father gave a sort of military salute , and the ovation was

. I I wa s d at an end had tears , and p repared to she them , but ’ I di I u u i dn t ; j st sank pon those detested sacks , feel ng that

. u m o f w o e u all , indeed , was vanity I tho ght y cup was f ll , bu t o f drops grief , that caused it to overflow like a generous ” o n u — in stein , were added later . By the kase of the clerk d chief , a new field of en eavor was found for me at the catchers .

had I was ap p alled . The operation Of catching once seemed

bu t m simple , now , in my distraction , I mentally co pared it

— in with broncho breaking o r powder making . I urged my ex

erience so . p , told them I was ill and forth , all to no purpose

80 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T O FFICE

m h Su . To , T e b ” YO U e ? are a sub ; name , pleas To m R , with a substitute appointment to the ailway Mail S ervice in his pocket , stood nervously fingering his hat in the H e presence of the big man at the desk . had just entered the f o fice o f the chief clerk of the railway mail service , and so

n o t H o w far had spoken a word . strange the big man should know his business ! “ u t t You will make o an application for a bond , then correc this scheme , which will be yours . Make it exactly correspond

ffi - Y o u in every detail with the O ce scheme . understand you

d o will learn your istribution fr m this scheme , so that there ” must be no mistakes . “ ” And , he added , wheeling back to h is desk , preparatory “ to resuming his interrupted task , You will report at the trans ’ fer office tomorrow afternoon at four o clock to take a run out

N o 6. on . The transfer Office was located in the basement of the Union D “ epot . It was here that delayed or stuck mail was worked and put on proper dispatch . It was here , also , that clerks collected to sign the book of arrival and departure and to await their trains . A number of men were seated on a bench

t o be along the wall Opposite the entrance , each with a grip o f re him , variously employed in reading papers , or in con versing with one another in low tones . Tom paused as he entered the door to contemplate them . This was evidently the group that made up the crew he was to go out with . What

- clean , thoughtful looking men they were . They all had the

u o f looks of st dents , and each one them , he thought , must be

o f . ho w a walking encyclopedia information But , strange it

o f was , that none them was employing his time looking over ! maps and schedules Instead , everything else seemed to de

H e mand interest more than mail service . accordingly sur “ ” m is u ed they m st all be graduated . They nodded pleasantly t o him when his presence was ob

l - served , and an o dish man , with iron grey hair and mustache , came forward and shook him by the hand . “ DO o u o o ut s o N o w u n a . y g ith , he sked pleasantly IN CIDEN TS OF THE RAILWAY MAIL S ERVICE 81

f Tom answered in the a firmative . “ ’ - in I thought you were our new man . I m Stone , clerk ’ ”

e . C o u . charg ome , I ll make y acquainted with the boys

All of them spoke cordially to him , and welcomed him into

o f d - in the service with a hearty grasp the han . The clerk e charge was the only one past middle ag . The rest were young

o f . men , two them lads , with boyish faces

— in - d The clerk charge was stan ing in the door , looking out on the yard . Suddenly he turned around .

“ ” Six ! is in the yard , boys

m an Imm ediately the lazy air fell from each like a cloak , and every one grabbed his grip and started toward the door at a run .

- in N o 6 . e . was a fast mail train Tom follow d the clerk charge , who leaped nimbly into the car the moment the train came to a halt , with an activity that belied his years . A bunch

— m en of well dressed , with grips in their hands , met them at

— the door . These men had worked mail to this place the end of th eir run — and would now get o ff and let the fresh crew take their places . R To m found himself in a strange looking workshop . acks hung in sections , mail bags lined each side of the car, with “ an open space here and there for the stacking o f unwo rked

o f mail , and an aisle in the center for the egress and regress R the clerks . emovable tables were hung here and there before the racks by means o f iron bars and rods screwed into the S floor . acks Of mail were emptied upon these and distributed

the . to bags in the racks , and the boxes that lined the walls

O n e end of the car was divided into stalls , wherein lay immense

o f the o stacks mail , while ther end and a considerable portion o f the sides were honey - combed with hundreds of pigeon “ ”

e . holes , for the distribution or working of l tters H ardly had he noted his surroundings , before trucks began to ro ll up to the door for mail . Then others came with moun f o f . o tains it to be taken in Tons it were taken in , in ner

e the vo us hast , by some of clerks , while it was stacked and 8 2 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE piled by others in every available nook no t occupied by tables and racks . The train stopped only for ten minutes ; thus the P cause for the nervous haste . resently , the last truck load was in , and a chaotic sight was presented . Mail everywhere , an under foot d piled in miniature mountains in the aisle , over which the clerks had to scramble as they rushed here and there about their duties . O m nly eight minutes had elapsed , but a great a ount of work had already been done , and in addition , somehow each clerk had fou nd time to snatch o ff his clothes and do n a suit d o f overalls and cap instea . As though the change had come

m u about through so e mysterio s process of legerdemain , each

ne d u d - o of the late neatly ressed , st ious looking men was now transformed into a common laborer— a demon of energy an d rushing here there , accomplishing unbelievable tasks in

u - f moments of time ; the min te men o our modern civilization . d d The world waited and epende upon their actions , and their

u u time was measured , not in ho rs or seconds , but by the t rn f o the wheel underneath the car .

— en d - in - In the letter of the car , the clerk charge and three o f men threw packages letters here and there , as though they were playing some kind of game . The table bordering the honey - combed walls was stacked high with packages of let “ ” . . u o n e ters These were the local n mber letters , and had to be worked immediately , since they were for the first post O f fi e o ut D c s on the line of the city . irectly one o f the clerks quit the tossing game , and began cutting packages and stick ing letters here and there into the pigeonholes with remark able rapidity .

At every turn Tom was confronted with a new phase O f

- the complicated game . The clerks working the letter case

' u knew , witho t looking , j ust what hole to put each letter in , H o after giving the address the barest scrutiny . w lon g would it take him to learn the location of these myriads o f holes , ? d and what each stood for wondered Tom . B ehin him the

. o f ba s puzzle was duplicated Those hundreds g , hanging in i u racks with mo ths open , and the boxes that lin ed the walls

84 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

Working as though his very soul ’ s salvation depended on

it , the paper man continued to throw mail , and all about him ,

and over him flew papers like so many sparrows in flight .

” H urry ! vociferated the man at the door . m A oment later the last paper fl ew to its abiding place , and the paper man leaped over a rack and snatched a sack

loose from its hooks and laced it up as he ran toward the door . A w o u t i t that instant , the other clerk thro his pouch and ra sed

o ff . the catcher, and snatched a pouch the crane Almost sim

u ltan eo usl o ut y, the paper man threw his sack , and it hit the

ground ten feet below the crane .

” ! r By j ove he muttered , I came ve y nearly carrying by

a daily paper .

O n , on the train rumbled through space that night , stopping o f o ff at but few places , where great quantities mail were put

and other great quantities taken on . It seemed to Tom that everything was systematically arranged so that o n e fight ended rac just the moment another began , for at all the j unctions p N tically the same experience followed . erve and fiber were d e strained to the highest tension , and feat menaced them at ’ every turn . But , in the end , they would always win by a hair s

breadth , and all mail would go safely to its destination .

- Under the gas light within , the men were dirty and all e energy ; outside , the moon shon down peacefully upon sl eep ing farmhouses and quiet villages thro ugh which th ey roared

and rumbled . That these people might get all the ben efits e of modern civilization , and bl ss its name , these men toiled o n ’ the through the midnight hour and into wee sma hours . n O the morrow , the villagers would awake , refreshed from

slumber , and find awaiting them , the news of the world and

letters from distant loved ones . Magazines , books , and treat i ses on science would be at hand , as though by magical process .

That these things may come about , every day an d night ’ men fi of the nation s history , ght similar battles all o ver the IN CIDEN T S OF THE RAILWAY MAIL S ERVICE 85

land , and fight them as patriotically and bravely as any soldier on the battlefield .

Morning came , and their destination was being neared . By

u o f degrees , order had beg n to appear out chaos . The paper

d bee t aken mail was all worke out , sacks had n . down and i n stacked , and others hung their places . All the letters had o f an d F been taken out the case tied in neat bundles . ive th e miles from city , everybody was finished except the local w ho letter man , had one more supply to make , after which he should have t o t ie out his closing- out packages and lock out S u . u his pouches rely he wo ld have to go into town dirty , ’ E with his overalls on , was Tom s thought of the matter . very body else was hurriedly washing and changing clothes . Soon they were all standing in a bunch at the door with grips at

o f . hand , ready to get out the car This end Of the run was m w S where their ho es were , and here they pent their long

- f — i - lay o fs . The clerk n charge was anxiou s to get home to wife

a nd m and babies , so were other me bers of the crew , except

— two boyish faced lads . They leaned out of the car door acros s

- the catcher rod , and let the breeze play through their crisp locks as they whistled and made observations on the passing

u scenes . In a few minutes , from a b nch of working demons , e th y had all changed back to neatly dressed gentlemen , quiet and thoughtful .

The e to o . e n Tw o miles mor g whistl blew , and o e of the ’ younger m en took the pouch from the letter man s hands

e fo r n ew and made the exchang him on the fly . Quickly the

e pouch was open d , the letters extracted therefrom , and as

e . q uickly worked into the cas Then in a half minute , the last package of letters in the case w a s tied out and locked in a pouch . The local letter man started down the aisle toward

- e . the cloth s closet , removing his dirty trousers as he went e And two minutes lat r when the train pulled into the depot , he joined the bunch at the door as clean as any , with an entire change o f clothes o n and grip in hand .

RO . PR H E R BT AT . 86 THE TRAVELIN G PO ST OFFICE

’ ne a ns Tur r s Y r .

That man , Jones , used to be a practical j oker , and I guess ’ t he hasn t go entirely over it yet . I remember once that I ” o ff o - — got at Ames to pick up the g back sacks empties , and d those which containe mail , which had been carried past its ’

. O ur n station trai passed Jones train at Ames , and here it was that the exchange was made . We were in a hurry , and

o ff . e e I got to pick up the sacks They wer unusually h avy , D and I called enison to my assistance , and we managed to d get them on . As we finished the j ob , I looked over towar ’ ’ e Jones train , which was j ust going round the curve , and ther he stood shouting and laughing : I found one o f the sacks half full of hard coal ! ” But I got even with him by smearing the mouths of his ’ m SO ail sacks with cayenne pepper , that the men couldn t talk S ’ without coughing . utton , who was Jones running mate , d was a great talker , and , of course , Jones had to respon to his o t e remarks . The next day I g a not from Jones , which , leav o u t w : ing a few adj ectives , reads as follo s “ You are a fool . There is an institution for the feeble ’ the C minded in southern part of the state . an t you get an appointment ?”

’ the e e e But that wasn t worst that v r happ ned . O ne day “ ’ I go t a slip which read : Why in h . don t yo u spell Ver ”

P . e milion right ? . M I kn w that I always sp elled the nam e o f that town correctly, and the accusation made m e a little

. So I s o n the a k f the s warm lo t no time in writing b c o lip , o n a few words concerning the matter which , second and third thought , I would have refrained from writing . But I did it

Ve just the same , and sent it to the postmaster of rmilion , to i I tw o A let h m know that knew a thing or as well as he did . few days afterward I go t a letter from headquarters in Chi cago which ordered me to report to the superintendent as soon as I could get th ere . I complied with the order and w ent im f o f S mediately to the o fice uperintendent White , who handed me the identical slip which accused me o f being unabl e to Spell

Vermilion .

88 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T O FFICE

’ which was never displayed in the man s work with the mails . I afterwards learned that he was thinking abou t the business H e d he intended to engage in after leaving the service . faile in business several times , always succeeding , though , in being reinstated in the service .

e A Clos Call .

O n e day we were coming down a steep grade , when my

F u ou t companion , a man named oster , st ck his head the door

H e and saw a gravel train rapidly approaching us . tried to d jump out , but I held him and shut the door . The anger sig

d S fo r ad nal was soun ed , and we were ure a moment that a b u collision was navoidable . But the locomotives came together e so that they bar ly touched , without doing damage to any

o r . thing anyone The train dispatcher , though , who was to ff i i i blame for the a a r , attempted su c de , and later went crazy ;

i o n i to o so great was the stra n h s mind when he found , late , D i . that he had made a m stake irectly afterward , four men were permanently placed in charge o f the work which this o ne man had been obliged to perform . O H N B RN E R J . TU .

o h i i An t er F rst Tr p .

About twelve or thirteen years ago , I was assigned as a

- H R . P O . e . substitute on the Momenc Terra aute , a one man

- ! ru n . I shall never forget my first round trip . It was awful I could handle the local all right , but when the mail commenced i ’ t o u d d . pile p , I not know what to do with it I didn t know m one route fro another , and I imagined that if I missent a “ — H . So to letter the pen for me when I got down Terra aute , d o n I masse the whole pile them . I received a note from the H f h clerk in the Terra aute post o fice , asking me why in ’ I e o ut didn t at least tak Chicago city mail .

When I got over to the room that evening , I immediately ’ to o ne wrote my chief clerk , for God s sake , send some down ,

f I n o t . O n or could handle the run my return trip , instead IN CIDEN T S O F THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 89

o ff of getting at Momence , I went through to Chicago , all tired o u t no t n a . ( from work , but from worry) d dirty That eve

i I O ld - i d i n ng spoke to one of the t me clerks , and tol h m my H . e d experience had a goo laugh , which I did not at first H e d appreciate . aske me if I did not cross any other lines

between Momence and Terra H aute . I told him there were H . e several told me to take all the mail that I did not know ,

put it into a pouch , and fire it out at the first crossing I came

to . This I did , and found that I had plenty of time between

N - . o ru n stations more trouble after that . A sub . on a one man

surely has my sympathy . DA N E I L R E L . N USS L R .

Sh e .

D r . F D e C s C . (By rank rane , in The Moines apital )

n o t C . The railway train is , in Boone enter , Ill , a mere piece

S of machinery . It is a sort of person . They peak Of it as “ ” he H er N 7 S . o . o r name is , the

Everybody that can spare the time goes down to the sta ~

tion t o see H er come in . A crowd o f small boys is always

K Gischw ein s w ho there , especially the elleys and , are the out

w ristle o f . law chiefs the community They and whistle , and give lessons to the more respectable little boys in swear words H er . and tobacco chewing , while waiting for E C C mmaline Matthews , arrie and Mame ramer , beside

e She the Top girls , usually are on the platform when comes in . They lock arms and stand around giggling , chewing gum ,

he o w n . S s and conversing in their language When come in , “ ” D they j osh the brakeman , Will avis ; the engineer yells his badinage at them , and tickles them to death . The traveling t S . man from Chicago knows them , and they walk up to the h H S e . James otel together, after leaves

e C The Mason boys , who liv on a farm up Bear reek way , are there . They get in the smoking car . They are going to ! ’ Peoria to buy some hogs , and , by cricky they re going to 90 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T O FFICE

’ E o f have some fun whil e they re there . ach them is smoking

fiv e- in o st the a cent cigar , holding it of the time in hand , and “ blowing out the smoke with a ko o - o o - o o But they are not R fierce at all ; they are j ust playing criminal . eally , they are

- - d e . mo est , kind heart d , hard working boys

E b H The Chicago papers come in on this train . opkins , d who is the lea ing politician , is present to get a first copy out ’ o f . the roll , to see what s going on Grandpa Bliss is also on

two hand regularly ; he takes papers , both the Tribune and

N so the ews ; he is very deaf , that about all he can do is to

H e d u read . is a goo arg er , however , for he never hears what the other man says .

The emperor of the occasion is the station agent . The bur

f f H e den o his o fice weighs heavily o n him . throws in the mail t o bag , hands the train order the engineer , looks after the bag u E gage and express , and answers q estions . veryone is proud to know him .

7 l k ‘ N o . o o ed o r he f . S has been carefully When whistled, ’ D o ut out by owner s Grove , all the watches came , and the ver ”

i d : E i i . R i m i d ct was ren ered ght m nutes late oll ng , gru bl ng , an d H er She E hissing ringing bell , came to a stop . ach per so n alighting was carefully scrutinized . If his business was N not known , it was soon discovered . o man can stay over C night in Boone enter without the inhabitants knowing why .

— The people are not cold they are very sociable ; indeed , soci ally they might be called ho t .

u At last the cond ctor looks at his watch , glances forward w and back along the train , aves his hand to the engineer “ , S u She ho ts All aboard , and begins to move . The engin e

bi - gives a few g snorts , the bell rings , everybody says good bye , an h d away S e goes .

he S i i i . d sappears over the pra r e The folks return home . i The agent goes back to h s chair at the telegraph table .

A — i nother heart throb has pulsed along the ron artery . C Another epoch has passed for Boone enter .

92 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

S u N . L R R th C St . . e . . . o thern from Washington , and from m the West . I was checking up the registered atter and ar

it fo r m ranging delivery , not in the least drea ing that a pair

O f of evil eyes was on top my car , watching where I put every

o i . thing, with intent robbery when the right time came

Just as the train swung around a sharp curve in a deep cut , E ngineer Murphy felt something cold , like steel , jab him in

car H e and the left . had every nerve eye strained watching

fo r . ahead , he was now running over sixty miles an hour Mur did i i i phy not look around then , but , th nk ng h s fireman had “ — ? punched him with the engine rake , said , What do you mean ” Keep that rake o u t o f my ear !

O n d u fin ing that the steel was pressed tighter , he t rned ’ to see a masked man with a large Colt s extra - long— barrel

w o ne gun looking into his face , and another man ith covering m “D . o the fire an The robber said , you think that you can ” “ ” d o ? as I say The engineer said , I will try . The robber ’ D O ff o u o u said , on t shut her yet . I will tell y when I want y ” to stop . After they had run abou t three miles below Truss u ville , Alabama , in a wild , mountaino s country , the robber

S and told the engineer to lack her down , when the engine stopped the robber ordered the engineer and fireman O ff the fire engine and back toward the coaches . But as soon as the a man , young man about twenty years Old , hit the ground ,

n e he started to run around the front o f the engine . O of the

he robbers ordered him to stop or would kill him on the spot , he at which he stopped and was taken back toward t coaches .

After leaving the engineer and fireman with one robber , e the oth r two came into the mail car . (We had to let them in for they were preparing to throw sticks of dynamite throu gh the windows after shooting them o u t . ) Two o f the robbers

m to w ho ca e in , ready shoot the first man resisted . They “ ‘ - , i k asked Who s the Boss man to which one of the cler s , “ “ - . i pointing to me , said , There he is I said , I am th e clerk n ?” “ charge . What do you want The robber said , We want o u w what y have got , but before we get it we ant all these to other men vacate at once . The men did so , with their hands IN CIDEN T S O F THE RAILWAY MAIL S ERVICE 93

up and guns stuck against their ribs . The robbers took them

back where the engineer and fireman were stationed , and about that time the old negro porter came on the scene to see what to was up , only find a gun thrust in h is face , and to be ordered m t o uncouple the mail car fro the rest of the train . As soon

as the porter uncoupled , the heavy set robber ran down to u the engine , climbed p in the cab , Opened the throttle , and

o ff riflin we went ; myself , with two robbers in the car , g the f n o f . u n sacks mail , and one acting as engineer It may be y

n o w o ut . to some , but I had an entirely new crew out and The new engineer ran the train down about two and a half

miles farther , nearly to Irondale , Alabama , and then stopped h and cam e back into t e mail car .

t o I had not told them what they wanted know , and they “ ’ H (1 i i i . said , Wait unt l the b g ch ef comes in e ll cut your d ” o ff throat if yo u do no t tell . I tried to keep them the regis n t ere d o uches . a d p , this big chief bulldozer stabbed me in the

arm and kicked me around and abused me unmercifully , say ing that he intended to kill me when they had got al l they

O n e G— d could . of them said , By , I know as much about ” o u do this business as y , and proceeded to locate the registered H e an pouches . cut straps and transferred the contents to H e other sack he had provided fo r the purpose . also remarked (1 n o t that he had had a d long, cold ride , to have got any “ ” O ne o f (1 (1 : an thing . them said , Get his watch but “ ’ a e s O h . other , little b tter man , aid , , no , don t do that When e the o o f the the tw o oth ers wer in ther end car , I asked this o o ne if he had any manho d , and appreciated my position to

t m e he . e get them no to kill , and did so Aft r they had rifl ed

and taken all they could see , and the car looked as if a cyclone

had struck it , they left the car and got on the engine , after

the to uncoupling it from mail car , and ran about three miles H o t ff where they had an automobile waiting . ere they g O the O ff engin e w ithout shutting the steam , got into an automobile

and made th eir escape into Birmingham .

As so o n as the conductor knew what was up , he ran back to the first t el egraph station and wired the chief of police at 94 THE TRAVELIN G P OS T OFFICE

— fiv e Birmingham , and in twenty minutes after the robbers got o u t - m , two high speed automobiles ca e with a dozen police and t o a doctor . They passed the robbers on the way the mail car

n t o and did not k ow it . It seemed me ages while the robbers

riflin were in the mail car, tearing and g mail pouches , but it

- fi m ve . was only forty inutes Incidentally , they were punch ing me in the stomach with their guns , and making me turn with my face to the wall while they kicked me , threatening

m an d i i i . I d to cut y throat , goug ng me w th a d rk t seeme a long time there all alone with those desperate men . After

had to the robbers left , I stay there thirty minutes before any body came . The police came first , then two of the clerks ven t ured u an to come p and call for me at a safe distance , and I sw ered and had them come in . By this time the railroad men had got up the scattered train , and collected the crew together .

d o u r We were six hours late , and proceede on j ourney , a o f wearied set men . R L E V L E . A . B . M I

A Ride for N othing .

of S It was one those clear , crisp mornings , lick and sleety , when the breath from human beings out doors resembl ed in t ermitt ent puffs O f light blu e smoke . It was an early morning a o of February , some years g , when the old Indiana Peoria

O n o n R P . . . pulled into a little junctio station the fertile

o f prairie Illinois .

The crew o f three men were all up except the J u dgeh he is called Judge on account o f deciding a very close cake — walk

P e contest over at eoria , Illinois , when cak was being walked d with appreciation . The Ju ge had a few miscellaneous man e nvers uncompleted . D Do c . . , a regular M , now holding forth on the Clover ” L eaf west end , and Windy were in the rear end of the car , d fo r and had delivere the mail this junction , and piled the mail for the following stati o n .

96 THE TRAVELIN G P OS T OFFICE

H e e e — him . said he had never b en in troubl before not even u O dd F nder suspicion ;he was a Mason , an ellow and a good church member . f Well , after all o that , and more too , we told him that would t o help some , so the arm of mercy began bend , and he was H e encouraged to S how his penitent spirit . promised never to mention this circumstance to a living soul . We told him that if no one outsid e of u s Should ever hear it , it might be

fixed up .

n We did o t like to cause him any trouble , and at the same to time inconvenience ourselves , by having appear as witnesses S o when he had his preliminary hearing and trial . it was mut u ally agreed that mum should be the word .

H e S hot his right hand up in the air and swore before us an d all the H oly Saints that his presence here should remain a secret , and should forever be secludedly locked within his

o f breast . Then the brotherhood man began to manifest itself amongst us . We told him that he had impressed us favorably , H e and that we had faith in him . tendered us some good

lu c t o . re cigars , and wanted us light up We refused with e tance , as anything which had the semblanc of a bribe or paci her w a dher , would not have been in harmony ith our strict ence to duty . We were grateful for his kindness , but told him to keep his cigars , and when the smoke was curling up from o f them , to let it remind him the serious predicament he had escaped from so fortunately .

O n arrived at B we let the stranger out of the end door of the car , cautioning him to be very careful to avoid

H e being observed . slipped to the ground between the car and the engine tender with as much caution and sagacity as an old rou nder displays when entering his home after a mid H e d night reverie . went down alongsi e the train o n the side opposite the station , and around the rear end of it , and then he must hav e felt that once again he was in the field of free dom . N ever was a man more gracious for the consideration Hi S i . s s hown h m than was this one innocence , his earne tness , IN CIDEN TS OF THE RAILWAY MAIL S ERVICE 97

c his respectability , and his reputation , whi h we afterwards established on inquiry , made us in a manner ashamed Of our fo r him selves so beguiling .

e no t But , b lieve me , if he has since undergone a change of heart , there is one man who will never again select a mail car fo r emergency transportation , no matter how much he m ay appreciate the magnanimous spirit Of a postal clerk

A N ea W e r r ck . O n 20 1 91 5 O the night of April , , in Jacksonville , cala

Tampa , we came so nearly having a wreck , which was avoided o ne S only by the thoughtfulness of man , that it makes me hud der to think of it .

- fiv e o f At Anthony , eighty miles south Jacksonville , we 7 d e 8 S . . L had orders to meet fr ight train A ine , loa ed with

d d en d perishable freight . We took water and procee e to the o n of the switch the main line , since they were to take the siding . Just beyond that point the expected train was found .

o O ak Investigati n showed that at , two miles away , something

had had burst about the cab , and both engineer and fireman

' w as left - fiv e jumped . The engine running wild at th irty miles F an hour . ortunately , the brakeman was nearing the front of

S O the train , as to be there to turn the switch , and seeing the train running wild , crawled down between the cars and cut the air, stalling it down just in tim e to save the lives Of scores of

The — people . express cars , mail car, and second class car were of wood , and would have been nowhere before a long train of freight .

H . AL PHA E . SMIT 98 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

A d h n O d Catc . D 23 1 91 4 ecember , , was a rough , stormy morning , and when 234 E P F train of the rie ittsburgh passed airview , about ten i E P i i i see m les from rie , ennsylvania , t was mposs ble to any

u it thing o tside , not yet being daylight , and the wind blowing

the snow as only the lake winds can .

I threw o u r pouch o ff and raised the catcher for the Fair ! pouch . Bing I heard it and felt the shock , but the / view

pouch apparently had dropped to the ground , and I so reported

- - in . to the clerk charge , giving no further thought to the matter

S — u While the train was stopped at haron , sixty fo r miles

F o r t he from airview , having made ten more stops in mean

m t o time , the brakeman ca e up the mail car and asked if we “ ” a O t . N had lost a pouch I s id , , I guess not , forgetting abou F o n e . the airview pouch , and not noticing he had in his hand “ I found this sticking t o the ventilator o n the roof o f o n e of

o n the passenger coaches , he said . It then dawned me that c m F it was the pou h fro airview .

O n opening it , such proved to be the case . When the

F d u catcher hit it at ai rview , for some reason it knocke it p

i t o f in the air , where was caught by a ventilator the rear o ur u bu coach of flying train . We fo nd that t two letters had

fo r been carried by their destination , the remainder being de f livery further on along the line or o r Pittsburgh connections . H E R . C . ST WA T .

A h P Catc ing robl em .

o n We have a new fireman tonight , I observed as I took " ” De ? i s i . i in the ma l at Mo nes That so repl ed Bunger , who had fo r w been on the line over t enty years . Well , I hope ’ an d he ll tend to his engine exclusively , leave the mail service ” H ?” . o w n to us is that I asked , wondering whe he had had “ N o any trouble with a fireman . , I never had any trouble ” m t o with a fire an , Bunger hastened rej oin , divining my “ thoughts , but , when you spoke , I thought Of a deal Of trou ble I n a t t o ce h d down he lin e ov er some catching. A th at

1 00 THE TRAVEL ING POST OFFICE

‘ w e n said foolishly . When stopped here I went back o the

’ u tender to p sh down some coal , and darned if I didn t see these pouches hanging on my rake , which was sticking out a ’ Did ’ ? foot or so across the end of the tender . we want em ’ W u firem an s ell , I co ld have hugged them . The rake had o u t caused all this trouble , by working with the swerving of

m . the train and doing i promptu catching Yes , I want the new

fireman not to indulge in mail catching with his rake .

D . A . B .

The W a rblers .

o f o n e f It was eleven P . M . O those balmy evenings which

O u r follow the close of a bright , autumnal day . train had left its western terminus , and was steadily pulling over the d road . It was the sacre Sabbath day that was about to close . S w unday is always a welcome day on the road , for the ork is so lil usually light , thus allowing much time for meditation and o u q y.

H aving completed o ur individual assignments on these two m subj ects , and raised the human horizontals fro their easy o n postures the tables , we took in a little mail , then worked a little , then thought a little , and then did this

H n earing conversatio the front end of the car , we thought u d i i an d i i i we wo l nvest gate , , f cond t ons were opportune , would indulge in puerile pranks . So we unlocked and opened the end d oor, and there , between the car and the engine , were three

H am t o husky descendants of , who had chosen take passage . They said they had boarded at the railroad yard where the train stopped for inspection .

We solicited cash fare from them , but cash was an article they were very short on , so they said . They cam e across

— . n o n with nothing Well , money no ride , and so o e of the boys reached up and took hold Of the air cord , pulled the slack

he . ont of it , and said would stop the train Another cl erk sug IN CIDEN T S OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SE RVICE 1 01

d few u s gested that they shoul sing a" songs for , and that they S hould have an eleemosynary ride (A Black Book Shark - eh ” They said they did n o t know what that eleey business u was , but they sure wo ld sing some songs . They were told to limber up their vocal apparatu ses and cut loose their sym an d phony , the longer the concert the farther the ride .

They did so with grinning features and profus e gesticula “ — tions , opening up with Way down in my heart there is a

fo r o u feeling y . O ld They said singing was right in their line , and sang K H ” entucky ome and another song or two for us . Those the coons surely could sing , and rumbling of the train inter fered u d j st enough to make us listen with interest . We tol

an d them they were all right , as far as we were concerned , the en d o f head the train was theirs , closed the door and left them alone .

When the train stopped at a chute to take coal , about forty miles from where they took passage , a big Irish brakeman , the “ ” bu m — chaser of the division , drove them from their state room , and the train departed without them . H H L E D . O S . C AS . M T 1 02 THE TRAVELIN G POS T OFFICE

r. J o h n H . P t ne . P M i y, R . C .

De a n of Po st a l C l e rks .

Ra P Dean of ilway ostal Cl erks .

l a r Y E Ren s se e C N . . In agle Bridge , ounty , , lives a man , who has perhaps the m ost interesting record of any postal

d . S . clerk in the Unite tates The life of this clerk , Mr John

S h H . P itney , practically pans the present istory of the rail

in 1 861 o n S way mail service . Appointed , a petition igned by

’ - m P . t seventy nine towns en , Mr itney has run the whole gamu “ ” ’ 61 - in — O f d from a route agent of , to a clerk charge a mo ern f 81 . railway post O fice , the Boston , Troy Albany Seeing and experiencing a half a century ’ s changes in mail service , in civil and industrial life , would be interesting , but

P sched Mr . itney has had som e experiences out of the regular i 1 n e . 867 ule of events a rapidly d veloping country In , the

1 04 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

friends . The builder of the memorial church is also a musician , H e and has led church choirs for nearly fifty years . has o u found time to compose a number of hymns , and several p p “ ” L lar songs , including Bye , Bye , Bye , Those ittle Worn “ - - — S O n R a . hoes The Wall , and ock Bye Baby As a minor ’

d . iversion , when not preparing slips , etc , the veteran clerk D raises orking chickens . P Mr . itney celebrated his fiftieth wedding anniversary in F 1 908 . O n ebruary , that ocasion he and his wife were pre sented with beautiful tokens of esteem , including a golden

o n e an d tribute by his townspeople , and by postal clerks rail

o road men . A letter f congratulation and appreciation was

G. . . . S d P . i A i . rece ved from the econ ss stant M , Mr J T Mc i C o n . P leary , the happy occasion The letter wh ch Mr . itney has framed in his home is as follows :

P : My dear Mr . itney Some one has sent me a copy o f the Troy Ti m es 4 h u for F ebruary t . I have j st come upon it in going through a pile of miscellaneous mail that accum u lated d uring my recent absence from the city . In this paper I find a picture o f yourself and yo u r good wife and an account o f your married life o f half o u a century . I cannot forbear expressing to y , at this m o n t w o ti e , my hearty congratulations lives well

H d . . P u lived aving live with Mrs itney so long , yo r face seems to have taken o n some Of the beauty and o f r kindliness of hers . That is one the ewards of keep ing good company I note that fo r even a longer period you have been R in the ailway Mail Service . It would be interesting to know the stories o f human j oy and sorrow ex in pressed the millions of letters that you have handled . I am sure from your face that if you had known the u n contents of the letters that passed through yo r ha ds ,

your sensibilities would have been touched every day . But you could n o t have en du red the strain fo r fifty- fiv e

years . In the splendi d service o f which you have had so long and honorable a part yo u had j u st one general

thought , namely , to p ass on these comm unications W hether they carried expressions Of j oy an d aff ection or of sorrow and of hate— to their proper destination

with celerity and safety . IN CIDEN T S OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 1 05

I h av e nev er had the pleasure o f meeting you and

your good wife , but judging by the account in the

newspaper and by the appearance of your faces , as u o u b shown in the pict res published therein , y can oth b o th look backward with satisfactionand forward with h Op e . P P lease present my regards to Mrs . itney . H oping that yo u may both be granted long life and e continued happin ss here and hereafter , I am , V ery respectfully yours ,

M lear . cC J . T y, S P - econd Assistant ostmaster General .

D . w . . J

A h Goo d Cat c .

H e o n e was a man with a military record , of the nations e d fenders , a powder burner of the Spanish American War . H e ha d ruined his molars by crunching barbed wires and p u ll ing staples to clear the way fo r that terribl e onslaught u p S an H Juan ill . O n acco unt of his executive ability and general reso urcefuln ess he was once delegated to put down a big strike

in Chicago . Th is task he accomplished in less than a fort

W r H e night and returned ithout a scar o a blemish . was a past master in the art of dilating human magnanimity ;he pos e sessed a suav and genial manner and an indulgent disposition , and such were his pacifying qualiti es that he could take the o f temper o ut hardened steel .

N o r u n twithstanding , he was a good postal cle k , with an

an u failing memory , acc rate aim , and was as good a shooter

H e as ever shot a letter into the wickets . was local clerk on

P . . a night R . O The tables in a mail car had an attraction H for him like that o f a loadstone has for a shining needle . e

o e to k the short cut and always lit l ngthwise , so highly de th t v elop ed was his recumb ent disposition . It was e last rip ’ o f a six nights tour of duty , and , knowing that he had an

e o f o n equal numb r days , winding up , for rest and recupera

“ e tion , he was a little lax with his vigor building allowanc a ll o tte d to this last day at Instead of folding him 1 06 THE TRAVELING POST OFFICE

e e of e e o to do self in the arms o f Morph us as the r st us w r w nt , he chose to take a little reconnoiteri ng sortie and get the lay

u H of the land for fruitf l foraging . ence , when he came to work that night he was fagged and fatigued , troubled with a bad case of dropsy , figuratively speaking, and as soon as his

to d work was in shape allow him to do so , he ropped down in his accustomed resting place to replenish his stock of red corpuscles , requesting that he be called , etc . It was about

H e which was a catcher . requested that he be called in ample time to pick the pouch from the crane , and , being assured that

e this would be done , he succumbed to serene slumb r .

The engine had whistled for several intervening stations and one o f the boys presuming that we were running into the aforesaid station announced it in a stentorian tone of voice , and O ff slid the soldier from his resting place with as much ease and deliberation as a house cat exercises in shifting his posi H e e tion from in front o f a Warm fireplace . ambl d to the f ! ! ! door , pulled down the catcher . B i f Bing Bang and the arm of the catcher was gone . It was not equal to the concussion . H e had tried to catch a coal chute about four miles distant

H e from where his pouch was hanging . stepped back from

d sho ck o f the oor all excited , his y head hair standing per

en dicu lar p , his large hazel eyes dilated to about the size of

a n d crystals , , with an expression of intense agony on his face , “ ?” ejacu lated— What did yo u tell me that was D for

H is H e d military training here served him well . quickly calme d himself , and , at once realize the predicament , hastily changed

an the catcher from the other side of the car , d all was well , D was caught and the old boy with his u sual sagacity fo r smoothing things over said , as he Opened the pouch and “ threw the mail on the table , I am mighty glad I did not pull u in that coal ch te , for there is no one in the car who knows ” H e . Off how to work it said that a man , to pull a stunt like

o to this with safety and precisi n , had be versed in legerdemain . N evertheless , it was well staged and made a fine vaudeville stunt . Anon .

1 08 THE TRAVELIN G POST OFFICE

— "mlh l . m Rama . ) P. o . su ”sum o end ow ed ! Bins. R.

(OVI BI (W i l l

P g s f om S ch d u l of m il ins Si h Divisi a e r a e e a tra , xt on . The list at bo om sho w for wha tt s t routes the trains of this line d ispatch regu lar p uch , and which o i and ho w f u l o es at p nt req ent y. I N CIDEN T S OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 1 09

boards . There in the corner was my O ld suitcase covered with P a thin coat Of snow . lain as day ! The burglar had stopped to t u F m inves igate his ha l . irst he had pulled out a sche e of N ew

H 1 91 0 fo r ampshire , ; next a cancelling stamp , worth nothing old iron ; a copy of the Black Book ; a S cheme of Pennsylvania

an d - lay near ; in the suit cas e a bundle of receipts , cards , an

o f N ew e extra run labels , a map of York , a r gistry book , and some standpoint sheet schemes had been fumbled over and

u u se . N partially ha led out . But it was no othing in the grip wou ld cash for a penny if in d eed the things were any value on

earth . The old case was the worse for car wear and would “ no t S ! bring ten cents . tung I gathered up my precious junk and retu rned to the hou se where my wife congratulated me o n belonging to a profession the very tools o f which were worth

less and unknown to even a burglar .

Anon .

A a n Y r .

The train suddenly stopped ; a rap o n the car door and a

S . few quick commands . In stepped a man with a hooting iron ‘ ’ ‘ H ands up and tell me where the registers are . All right ,

you can have anything in the car ; but listen . I have several

hundred minus marks with no chances of getting any plus . I

want to make them believe I did my best to protect the mails . ’ ‘

u u o . You just p t several bullet holes thro gh my cl thes Well , ’ ‘ Pu t o n e . e I guess I can , answered the robber her through

— — P P . . . my left shirt sleeve . ing And through my right ing

“ — — P Through my pants leg Ping . And the other . ing .

— Through my hat Ping . And another through my shirt on

’ ‘ ’ n o the left . I have more cartridges , calmly answered the

man .

‘ ’ ?’ H aven t yo u another gun asked the clerk .

c: ‘ ’ ’

N o I . , haven t ‘ e a a u W ll , I h ve , h nds p 1 1 0 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T O FFICE

N the The robber was captured and j ailed . eedless to say clerk received 500plus and special appreciation from the De ” artmen p t .

H . Theodore . Meyer

i Rich Rea d ng . A substitute was in an assignment where he had to work

n e d papers . O sack that he ma e up was addressed to a line that headed out of the same station at which the sub termi nat ed his run . R P . . It was the duty o f this sub to report to this second . 0 upon his arrival and work papers until leaving time . It So happened upon one occasion that he found a lot of d P . . aily papers in the sack he had made up in the first R. 0 that should have had a different dispatch than the one given them .

H e to did not turn the slip over see who made it u p , but “ ” ch ecked a special upon it and p a ssed it in to the clerk— ih charge .

in the When , due course of time , special came to him

o n o u with his name both sides Of the slip , y could have lassoed his eyes with a grapevine .

s ub That now always knows whose slip he is checking . P ostal Alliance .

L n hin u c g. H aving worked for years in the lumber woods , I became “ t dissatisfied with hard work , and decided o try something ” I easy . Accordingly took the civil service examination and l R in a short time found myse f appointed to the . M . S . with o u t a to single idea as to what my duties were be . But I was “ ” to game try anything once , and if I liked it I might try again .

As soon as I had qualified as a substitute and before I had the e e studied or learned anything about s rvic , I was given a

1 1 2 THE TRAVELIN G PO ST OFFICE

h e O n leaving Glyn don for the short run to Moorhead , t re ” “ o t o n o n bums g , one on the rear end , and two the head ” “ ne o n no end . O of the two men the head end wished other w o u t o f company , and so , hen we were a little way Glyndon , he took his partner by the seat Of the pants and the nape o f o ff m u d the neck and threw him in the , as we afterwards learned , because this man went back to Glyndon and reported to the agent , who said he looked as though he had been rolled in the mud .

’

R P . . s The du mping incident was unknown to us . C at the time , but as we neared Moorhead we heard what we thought

- o n o u r i was the opening of the air cock car , and the tra n came “ “ t o to a stop . I went to the rear end of the car see that no

ou r — mail had fallen upon and opened air cock , and finding

n m . everythi g all right , thought nothing ore Of the incident As a matter of fact the man on the rear platform had cut the air , and when the train came to a stop and the conductor and brakeman came forward to investigate , they were escorted to d en the engine ten er , where the four , conductor , brakeman ,

ineer — g , and fireman were ranged in a semi circle , looking into “ t w o d tw o u n guns in the han s of each of the b r s , the man on the forward end having in the meantime climbed upon the tender and covered the engineer and fireman with a gun . An w ho o ff u expressman , happened to be d ty came forward to see u f what the matter was , but he was s ficiently urged to return

so in fo rm n i to the coaches , and did in a hurry , g the expressmen

u d - o n d ty that a hol up was in progress . So the express car

d d t he ' ass en ers was uly barricade , and p g on the train warned

- u m en - u u n and all awaited the hold p . But the hold p men coupled the mail car and started ahead with that only . We , o f on o n course , knew nothing about what was going , the out e side , as we had not taken the trouble to op n the doors and t look ou . The engine and mail car had pulled forward some few miles

w e W when heard hat we thought to be a torpedo ahead , and the train came to a stop a second time . Again we thought

O f nothing this as we were accustomed to such things , and did I N CIDEN T S OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 1 1 3

t no o f . look out the door After standing some time . Todd , having finished his distribu tion and walked the floor a few f H o . e times , Op ened the door by way diversion leaned up

o f fo r d : against one side the doorway a while , and then he sai “ ’ S ‘ ’ ’ herm , they re running in some bums . They re tying their ” \Vhile i hands behind them . this was not a rare inc dent , as in the fall of the year it was Often a question of whether the “ the d ru n bums , or train crew woul the train , still I thought

m - u it worth y while to watch the tying p process , and so quit f my papers and leaned against the other side O the doorway .

O n t o o f con looking out , I saw w lanterns in the hands the

r ductor and brakeman , respectively , as I could tell by the e

fl ectio n of the light upon their brass buttons , and saw what “ ” looked to be a bum having his hands tied behind him , which “bum ” as a matter of fact was the engineer having his hands wired behind him . I had been looking out but a short time d when the procession , heade by the conductor , started for what we supposed was the rear o f the train . We stood in a

o ut brightly lighted car looking into the darkness , and so could

' no t s ee clearly unless the obj ect looked at stepped within the d light thrown obliquely through the door by a roof chan elier .

’ Immediately on answering the conductor s query , a man hold H e wa s ing two guns stepped into this light . gloved , wore a slouch hat turned down in front and a black mask , and hence all we knew was that he was over three feet and less than ten “ P C feet high . ointing a gun at each of us , he said , ome out “ ”

e . her , in a very persuasive way Todd answered , Yes , sir , o ut as cheerfully as he could and started to back . Just then it occurred to the hold - up man that there might be someone

i else in the car , and so he put the question . Todd , fear ng that

r Rafft e y might be found and shot up , told him that we had a ” - u m an man sleeping . The hold p said , Go and wake him up , and as he had a gun on each of us , and mentioned no names , neither Of us knew which was meant and we both stood still . “ ” Then he shook his gun at me and repeated his request , which promptly complied with , touching only the high Spots between h the door and the rear of t e car . I gave John a shake and 1 1 4 THE TRAVELING POST OFFICE

i to . I told h m get up , that we had a surprise party then hur

w ho e ried back to j oin my comrades , had by this time be n lined up across the railroad grade ditch with their backs to it . You must recollect that the principal product of this coun

bu r an d o n . try is the sand , sitting down , I realized this slightly

H o ur i i owever , as fr end John came sleep ly to the door, he was “ ” suddenly brought to on looking into tw o guns and thor oughly awakened . It seems he thought there was a wreck , but he knew from the tone of my voice that whatever the

t o trouble he had very little time waste , and hence he appeared O f in full night regalia , which , course , did not resist sand burs

n to very well . O attempting sit down , John rebounded about

- e to . u two feet , and let out a y ll correspond The hold p man

m an merely said , The first who turns his head this way gets

o ff a F his nose blown , (with ppropriate rench) , at which John quietly nestled down among the sand burs and said no more save under his breath with which he swore at me , for the whole thing tickled me so that I was laughingly quietly .

We then found there were two men , each armed with two m guns , and while one guarded the line co posed of the con

P C Rafft er ductor , atsy orcoran , myself , y, Todd , the engineer , m the fire an , and the brakeman , the other man climbed into the “ H i - . s H el mail car first exclamation was Where in ( ena , “ ? S o ne Montana , ) is the express car ome informed him that he had left that several miles back in the country, at which he released a string of oaths which would have done credit to

the - in - any professional , and then called for clerk charge , to H e which title Todd responded . asked Todd to deliver his so local registers , Todd did , as they were lying right on the

. k desk in front of him Todd too advantage , however, of the distinction thus raised by the holp - up man and explained that a night train carried no local registers , save such as were picked up through inadvertence , thus accounting for his hav ing but ten . This was the truth , as in those days night trains did not carry locals . Todd backed around the car looking at a gun until the h o ld - up man was convinced o f the truth of

1 1 6 THE TRAVELIN G P O S T OFFICE

e standing, we asked permission to sit down , (always pr facing “ a request by the salutation , boss , which term we used in making any request for change of position or anything else) . All were passed through this search and advanced to the ' fro nt

We line . When this performance was finished were all told t o to stan d up and get into the mail car . We were told turn all the lights out save those in the front chandelier and turn those so very low that W e could no t distinguish each other in w ho the car . We were admonished that the first man showed his head at a window o r door wou ld be shot . The engineer d o n aske if he should climb the engine , and was answered ’ ” N o ! we ll give yo u the ri d e of your lives . Then for the

fo r first time we were all thoroughly scared , we knew that the

- u hold p men had gotten very little for their pains , and we

‘ expected them t o thro w Open the throttle and let the engine w u d d . o u t an go where it o l The hea light had been put , d there the fl a m an we were , standing on main track with no g in either d n o an d m irection and headlight to warn , expecting any inute

o ff to have the engine start without an engineer . At that time there was no comm u nication between the mail car and d u engine except via the grou n . We h ddled together in the rear of the car and scarcely breathed for what seemed an hour N or so . othing happened , however , and finally the engineer got u p courage enough t o stick hi s head out of the door and H hollow , ello , Boss , several times . This salutation was

so - unanswered , and we concluded that the hold up men had taken this opportunity to disappear . The engineer then climbed o u t of the car and onto the engine and we pulled fo r Moorhead .

al By that time we were a pretty badly scared bunch , and ,

it u F to though was my t rn to sleep from argo Jamestown , did o I n t . somehow feel sleepy Todd took a little supper , but i soon parted w th it . John was very busy the rest of the trip working mail and extracting sand burs . A posse was formed at Moorhead and sent back for the

d - i , i u rema nder of the train and inc ently for the hold p men .

d - The posse found the train all right , but the hol up men left d for parts unknown . We figure that they had not intended I N CIDEN T S OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 1 1 7

r to hold up the mail car , and had made a mistake in not b ing the ing the express car . The rest Of train occupants , consist v ing of the passengers and expressmen , were unharmed , sa e for the fright incident to momentarily expecting the hol d - up men , who did not appear . The opened registered envelopes scattered about the car showed that the contents had been

n . nothi g save deeds , mortgages , etc , which were Of no value to

- u . u the hold p men , and had been left The money sec red was

- fiv e fi twenty dollars from the conductor , fteen dollars from the engineer and t w o dollars and fifty cents from Todd . Watches were not wanted .

N 1 o S o . Train , pulled int Jimtown unday morning , sev eral hours late , but without further incident .

d u o u r L ater two men were arreste as s spects , and crew was laid o ff to go to Minneapolis to identify them . But they had been S O thoroughly disguised that w e were simply certain that they were over three feet and less than ten feet high , and so , as we were unable to furnish the necessary identification , no one was convicted .

Chamberlain . 1 1 8 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T O FFICE

N E Y OW .

’ The P l C e D o osta l rk s g.

It is not an unusual thing for a dog to drift in unannounced ,

o r attach himself to some place person , and remain a perfectly ’ satisfied t ho uninvited gu est . A few have made their homes in post Offices and there becom e favorites and mascots with

f u d o - . S O S post o fice clerks ch a g was wney , a cotch Irish cur , N Y d . which was a opted by the clerks in the Albany , . , post f 1 8 8 e 8 . O o fice in wney , how ver, took a liking to railway mail i i e cars , and after once making a tr p in a ma l car b came a trav f o f eling post o fice dog , a great pet railway postal clerks and an inveterate traveler . The Albany clerks had attached a collar to the traveling P O f O N . Y dog inscribed , wney , Albany ost fice , Albany , . , and to it were attached checks , medals , inscriptions , verses , and post marks by postal men in nearly every state in the P O ld . Union , as well as a dollar from Mexico ostmaster General Wanamaker took pity on O wney and had a harness

n l . at made o which to carry the tags , meda s , etc , that were t ached to him . At one time O wney carried a little memo ran du m book in which verses D were written . A etroit clerk wrote :

m O wney is a tra p ,

o u As y can plainly see . him O nly treat kindly , ’ And take him long w id ye .

H : ardacre , Minnesota , wrote

n O A y one wney ,

And th is is he .

alo ne The dog is y, ” So let him be .

1 20 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE was learned that he w as tied up in a lumber camp on the N ew

York Central road . The president of the road was written to a nd he ordered a freight crew to stop and find the dog . A

to to brakeman went the camp , found him and set him free , the ”

O f e D . great delight all the clerks , as w ll as of his ogship O w Either by instinct or by the help of clerks , ney man P C ’ C W aged to attend all the ostal lerks onventions , here he San F was right in his element . The rancisco convention of 1 897 u March , , might have been taken as a sort of tri mph for ’ this fam ou s dog rather t han a m eeting to discu ss postal clerk s ff e a airs . As the m eting was being called to order , in came O an d wney , wagging his stump tail in delight , ran down the

H e aisle ami d the cheers O f the audience . mounted the stage “ d N o w and in apparent great glee looke about as if to say , , ’ ” P S re yo u can proceed . I m here . erhaps few peakers ever

i d u - ce v e . s ch applause as followed The stump tailed , shaggy d o O o f g , wney , appealed to the sentimental nature every mail

u be slinger in the convention , and it was f lly fifteen minutes ’ d ne s . O w fore or er was restored This was y last triumph , however , for in the following August , a postmaster at Toledo .

O no t do hio , knowing the identity of the g , ordered h im shot . A taxidermist mounted the body and it , with all the medals , tags , harness , etc . , was sent to the museum at Washington , where it O l still attracts much attention . d clerks like to tell of the

re tricks of this canine , and it is doubtful if any other ever ceiv e d O better treatment from his admirers than did wney , P ’ C Do . D the ostal lerks g W . J . .

Oma ha Ogd e n Railw ay Post Office (U ni o n Pacific Ra il ro ad ) — Go ing Th o u h W e be r Ca n n t h r g yo , U a .

1 22 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

e a ka e W re k A R m r bl c .

r The writer once figured , ather conspicuously, in a wreck which as t o origin and consequences probably equals anything in the h istory o f railroad accidents .

f N It was o n the main Iowa line o the orth Western , back ’ 1 d e o n e N . 905 . o i i in the , l m te , crack train came into B oon o f C f hour late . In the hope putting her into ouncil Blu fs on time two great engines were there coupled o n . About two hours later while going like the win d we approached the little t o o town of Vail . As it was my duty I went the do r and put o ff the mail for that point . Almost instantaneously w ith the release of the mail bags from my hands the car gave a mighty lurch sidewise , there was a muffled din behind us and the hissing of steam pipes indicated that we had broken apart from the rest o f the train . But we did bu t kept on going . We not know what , fearing intuitively that something direful had happened . We finally came to a o ut stop nearly a m ile farther on . Getting out of the car and d it d side the steam cloud surroun ing , we looked back own the track and our hearts went into our throats as we realized that Fo r the rest of that long train was lying in the ditch . , although a mile distant , the scene was lit up by flames that shot forty feet into the air .

Remembering the terrific speed at which we had been trav eling we shuddered in the conviction that back there scores d d of ead and mangle men , women and children were being consumed by fire . The engines had gotten out o f order and e could not be moved backwards , so all of us , nginemen and mail clerks , hurried afoot to the wreck . Upon our arrival there all the elements of the supposed

d ne ho lacaust dissolve o by one . The wreck was not afire c only ignited gas from a pun tured reservoir was burning , and it was expending itself without damage . The coaches lay in rather orderly groups generally intact except as to broken

- Fe w roof ends , steps , etc . , even , of the window panes o n the THE TRAVELIN G P O S T OFFICE 1 23

d upward si es of them were broken . Inside the coaches was a surprising lack of panic among the passengers— and the net o f u serio s inj uries was one broken limb .

had o ff j ust as I , like everybody else , thrown the burden o f

r S app ehension and was feeling in fine pirits over the outcome , the conductor invited me to go into the station with him . Th ere he exhibited the upper portion of a switch standard upon th e target o f which was still impaled a heavy sack o f m . r Fo r mail Again my heart started fo y mouth . there could be bu t o n e inference drawn from that exhibit— the train had b k d o ff een wrec e by a mail sack thrown by myself . And this is the way it all happen ed : The impact of the sack against the target had broken o ff the frost - laden standard just below u d the lock . The switch points being th s release had set up a ’ regu lar opening and sh u tting action that sent each coach s forward pair of trucks onto the sidetrack and its last pair onto the main line . This turned the coaches sidewise and they d s gradually topple over , falling onto the rails of the two line of sidetracks which served as skids and brou ght them to com i l H d arat v e . a p y gentle stops there been , as was usually the o f case , a number freight cars standing on the siding our first fears would have been realized and there would have been a

E . ff . . di erent story to tell M . M 1 24 THE TRAVELIN G PO ST OFFICE

i h h The L ittl e V llage C urc .

’ the There s a church in valley by the wildwood , N o lovelier place in the dale ;

o o N spot is s dear to my childhood ,

As the little brown church in the val e .

A church erected by a railway postal clerk from co ntribu ti o ns solicited from clerks and railroad men is the unique edi

fic E e of worship which stands in the village of agle Bridge ,

N e o f the ff w York . This memorial church was the result e orts

H . P P . of the veteran clerk , Mr . John . itney Mr itney felt the need of a church in the village and conceived the idea of rais ing the necessary money among the men with whom he asso ciat ed in his work on the road . As a result of his solicitations and work the church was dedicated to the worship of God on “ Bin em n R 26 1 2 . d O 88 . a ctober , M r August in the ailway Post O ffice ” describes this memorial church to postal and rail road men as follows

The large window in the gable next to the street was con f tributed entirely by postmasters , post o fice clerks , railway P postal clerks and railroad men . The design is by Mr . itney , C S and the drawing is by onductor I saac argent , of the old F itchburg road . The dimensions of the window are six feet by seven feet six inches . In the oval top is a cross and crown o f e with the initial letters the church soci ty in monogram . Directly underneath this is a carrier pigeon carrying a letter w f in his beak , hich represents the earliest recorded manner o

the transporting intelligence . Underneath this on left the post rider is represented ; on the right the third era in the o f e e march intelligence is repr sent d , a mail coach and four

o f e the H ud horses traversing a highway on the bank a riv r , o n R son , the bosom of which is seen (in the distance) obert F ’ r ulton s first steamboat . The Sc ipture motto surrounding these historical scenes is the angel ’ s proclamation to the watch ‘ I o f o ing shepherds , Behold , bring you good tidings great j y, ’ ‘M which shall be unto all the peop le , and ay this church be indeed good tidings ’ and ‘glad tidings ’ and ‘a source of great ’

. i i j oy to the people Beneath all this s a tra n of cars , with a

A Me mo r a C hurch Ea e B r d e N ew k— i l , gl i g , Y o r E re ct e d by Po st a k a nd Ra oad M n l Cler s ilr e . I N CIDENTS OF THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE 1 25

U S . e nited tates postal car attach d , telegraph and telephone

' lines with telegraph instrument , key and sounder , and a tele u u phone instr ment . A ch rch and schoolhouse are seen in the

‘

C . ve landscape , twin sisters of a hristian civilization . J ust o r

‘ ' the telegraph and telephone line is the Scripture motto : The i r lines are gone out through all the earth and their wo rds to the ’

o f . O end the world ver the telephone instrument is the motto , ‘ ’ L et e every man be swift to hear and slow to sp ak , and over ‘ the telegraph instrument this motto : Fo r this is the message h e e e e t at y l arned from the beginning , that y shall l ve one ’

. a a another The border is a representation of an oce n c ble , ‘ with this motto : H e shall have dominion also from sea to sea ’ and from the river unto the ends of the earth . The little E agle Bridge church is a fitting memorial for ’ ho men w perform such faithful tho incon spicuous service , and doubtless the minds o f not a few whose bodies h ave grown tired in long years o f exacting service revert t o the further ’ “ ”

P L V . stanzas of Mr . itts ittle Brown Church in the ale

H o w o n sweet a bright Sabbath morning, To list to the clear ringing bell ;

o so are Its t nes sweetly calling,

O h to . , come the church in the vale D W . . 1 26 THE TRAVEL ING POST OFFICE

Being Held All

The Time

Regu la r E x a m in a tio n s a r e held twice

r z or S h du /e. ea ch yea r . W te f c e

S PEC IAL E! A MI NATIO N S THE RAILWAY MAIL SERVICE are announced when eligibles are needed to fill va The re u ar examination for the Rai wa Mai Serv i found g l l y l cancim. A list of such examinat ons will be ice is usuall held but once a year. S ecial Ex with our Announcement which wi be sent free on y , ll h l aminations which occur fre uentl , are d as e igi h ar , q y re uest . From it will be seen the demands t at e q n ime wi h bles are need ed , and they occur at a y t , t but hemg made u on the Civil Service Commission from f r u from hese short notice. The satis actory es lts t da to da . n addition to this ist we et from the " y y l , g “ special examinations have caused this long interval Civil Service Commission each day a list of specially between re ular examinations. announced examinations for Postmasters and Rural g

Carriers . Our students are notified of all these spe There is not suflicient time to take a course of prepa cisl opportunities, are prepared in advance and are — ration after the date has been announced and before a ready hence their great ad vantage over others not x held eve s ould ou hear o it. special e amination is , n h y f so fortimate. One great advantage our students have is the notifi OPPORTU NITIES WITH U NCLE SAM cation we give them of Special Examinations for which n h n The opportunities for the employee of U ncle Sam we are preparing them. Our stude ts have not i g

k f ll h i . Tho are greater than that of any other em loyee. Geo . to worry about . We loo a ter a t e deta ls u

B. Cortelyou was at one time an humb e clerk in the sands oi persons are yearly prevented from taking ex

Post Ofi ce Department . He was later Postmaster aminations because they are not posted as to the tech m n hich zz e even e roverbia Genera and then Secretar of the Treasur . Now nica re uire e ts w u th l y y “ l q "p l p l (on account of his De artmental record) he is the Phi lad elphia Lawyer.

Pr i n f h n lidated as Cc. of NewYork es de t o t e Co so G , — Ci y o ne of the highest salaried positions in the Unit I f you want a position in the Railway Mail Service, edtstotes. enroll with us now and take the course of preparation; then ou wi be ready or the examination when it is An Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (and there y ll f announced, whether re ular or special. Your com have been some who started as messengers) is the g n — etitors will not be read , and our adva ta e will President of the Cit Bank of New York the biggest p y y g b h ou wi ne i re our name bein a e just w at y ll ed to nsu y g b nkin the world. e would never have been thought laced at the head of the ist. except for his connection with the United States Gov p l ernment.

A m mi i n o 0 w ill be a id e e C o s s o f $2 . 0 p f or th nam of anyone w hom we ma secu re a s s d e y a tu nt.

N a ti o n a l C o r r e s p o n d e n ce I n s titu te

B a lti c B u ild i n W a s hi n n g gt o , D . C .

1 28 THE TRAVELIN G PO S T OFFICE

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