Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1906 — CHICAGO P. O. SWAMPED. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHICAGO P. O. SWAMPED.

Lack of Clerk* (aa«e« Condition* t* Grow Serious. Chicago, with one of the finest postoffice buildings in the country, is utterly unable to handle its mail business. For

the first time in four years the full force of 900 clerks in the mailing division was required to work last Sunday t® relieve the congestion that has clogged the machinery. Although the clerks have been working from ten to twelve hours a day, hundreds of bags of mail nre left undis-

tributed each night. Pneumatic tube* in the new postoffice which cost $129,000 to install are practically useless because there are not enough clerks to take the mail promptly to and they are idle much of the time. Machinery in the new building which cost $200,000 is also proving more of a hindrance than a benefit because it requires quite a number of clerks to operate it, and that number has been taken from the regular foreq which was inadequate before. While the government officials at Washington are aware of the they have said that Chicago cannot ex* pect relief before Jnly 1, when next year’s appropriation becomes available. Postmaster Busse has gone to Washington to make one more'appeal for more help to conduct the business as he thinks It should bo

FRED A. BUSSE.