KinSource - Tale of the Week - To Happy Hundreds

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The St. Paul Daily Globe, December 25, 1891

TO HAPPY HUNDREDS.

The Postoffice Overrun With the Precious Packages of Gifts.

Thousands Upon Thousands of Parcels In and Out by Each Post.

Almost a Blockade at Each of the City Express Headquarters.

The Amenities of the Gift Season Surely Generally Observed.

The volume of business was so great in the St. Paul postoffice for the past few days that every available person was drawn upon and worked to his full ability in waiting upon the public. The cause of this state of affairs is a hemorrhage of ante-Christmas business. Even the superior officials have volunteered to assist in duties usually devolving upon the clerk at the windows. For instance, for several days Supt. of Mails Negaard has done excellent service at a receiving window in weighing packages. The volume of business has been somewhat larger this year than previously. The holiday rush began a day or two earlier this year than formerly, and thus has given a better opportunity to start the matter to its destination with greater dispatch. The wrapping of the packages has been much improved. The postoffice officials attribute the mailing of packages earlier and their wrapping in better form to the discussion of the subject by the newspapers. This reform, however, has not been universal, as some packages were brought in from the stores with ordinary light paper wrappers, and it will be by shere luck if they get to their destination, as the addresses may be torn off. Some of the packages were addressed with a lead pencil, and are liable to be rubbed off. Others still were deposited in the office with no address, and if not called for will find their way to the dead letter office. Occasionally a package is found which is tied with ordinary sewing thread. As all packages not bearing letter postage are subject to inspection, it is mere chance if many reach their destination when not done up with good wrappers and twine. The bundles that have gone from the St. Paul office during this week amount to many wagon loads of extra matter, and a correspondingly large amount has been received for distribution. The bundles vary in size from a finger ring inclosure to a size that cannot be taken in at the receiving window. They include almost all conceivable articles of merchandise, except wheelbarrows and bicycles, and include even hats and bonnets. A story is told of one package containing a letter and finger ring; the missive stated that the sender never had the courage to propose in person, but if the recipient would consent to wear the ring they would consider themselves engaged.

On Wednesday between 700 and 800 registered packages were sent to Chicago alone, besides the great number sent to other places. This shows an immense volume of business for one day, when it is taken into consideration that not one package in a hundred is registered. This plethora of business has continued several days and will doubtless extend over several future days. The registry department yesterday was filled up with about a score of large mail bags containing registered packages ready for shipment.

The mail carriers in the city are having hard work of it. Every carrier that goes out is loaded down to the guards. Packages are strung all over them tied with twine. In one instance yesterday the mail bag of a carrier had sideboards on it as high as the man's head. He got pieces of cloth and stuck them in his pouch and then filled in to the top with packages. In case of many large packages, the person to whom they are addressed is notified by card to call at the postoffice for his package, as it is too cumbersome to be delivered by carrier.

The delivery windows will be open until 10 o'clock this morning. The carriers will make one delivery. The money order and registry departments will not be open during the day.