Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/398

 364

��The Railway Mail Service.

��case containing one hundred pigeon- holes, or more, each the width of an ordinary visiting-card, and sufficiently high to contain a large pack of them. Cards are then produced, upon each one of which is printed the name of a post- office, comprising a whole State. The cards are distributed into the case by the clerk being examined and the num- ber of separations made as required when on actual duty in the railway post- office. The number of separations varies according to the connections due to be made ; when the line is through a thickly-settled country, the separations are made in fine detail. In the State of Massachusetts there are seven hundred and seventy-two post-offices ; and the number of separations made by one line is upwards of eighty. On the train it is necessary to make many (what are known as) direct packages that the ex- amination does not call for. Account is taken of the time consumed in "stick- ing " the cards, and questions asked to test the knowledge of connections. A large number of questions are asked relating to the Postal Laws and Regu- lations, as affecting the Railway Mail Service ; these latter questions vary in number from fifty to one hundred. When practicable, during the proba- tionary period of six months, one ex- amination is held each month, taking a different State each time.

The results of these examinations are placed on record, and at the expiration of the probationary term, this record, together with the list of errors in sending mail, are forwarded to the Honorable William B. Thompson, General Super- intendent of the Railway Mail Service, in Washington, District of Columbia, with a recommendation that the clerk be permanently appointed or dropped out of the service. These examinations

��are held at intervals among all the clerks to test their efficiency, and as an in- centive to study, to keep fresh in their minds the proper disposition of the im- portant mails passing through their hands. In these examinations a good- natured rivalry exists, and a vigilant eye is kept by the clerks that their line shall make as high an average percentage, or, if possible, higher than any other. The per centage of correctness rarely falls below seventy-five ; an average is gener- ally made of ninety-five per cent. The list of errors made is closely scanned by the better-informed clerks, and no stone left unturned by them to clear their record, and to satisfactorily settle dis- puted points. These discussions and inquiries are invited, not only that all may feel satisfied with the result, but also that much valuable information is frequently elicited from the clerks, who in many cases are situated advanta- geously to see where practical benefits may be attained.

During the fiscal year which ended June 30, 1882, there were 2,898 ex- aminations of permanent clerks held, and 3,140,630 cards handled; of this number 208,736 were incorrect, 512, 460 not known, making a correct aver- age per centage of 77.05. This record does not include that of probationary clerks. This constant watchfulness, it can readily be seen, redounds to the benefit of the public and results in the most expeditious methods of forwarding the mails attainable. In some cases a test of reading addresses of irregular or difficult legibility as rapidly as possible is given, but this idea has not been gen- erally adopted. The query naturally arises, Is there no incentive to study other than to make a good record? There is ; for upon this basis, together with a knowledge of a ready working

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