City Delivery01

Waupaca Record

April 2, 1908

FREE CITY DELIVERY IS AGAIN AGITATED

Mass Meeting Held Last Friday Evening and Resolution Passed

Letter From Hon. Davidson

The mass meeting called by Mayor Johnson at the city hall on Friday evening was well attended. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the subject of free mail delivery for Waupaca.

Mayor Alfred Johnson was elected chairman of the meeting and Peter Holst was elected secretary.

Postmaster A.M. Penney made the following report:

I circulated a petition in this city asking for the establishment of city delivery in this city in April 1907.

I received a reply to the petition from the P.O. Department stating that the receipts of this office at that time were not sufficient, under the law, to entitle it to city delivery.

I made application again in July 1907 as the receipts for the year ending June 30^th, 1907, had increased to that they were sufficient to entitle this city to a free delivery.. The Department then took action and an inspector was sent to ascertain whether the requirements of the Department for the establishment of city delivery had been complied with.

I received a letter from the Department in November 1907 in which they stated that they could not at that time take favorable action on the establishment of city delivery here until the requirements of the regulations have been met as the inspector had reported that about one-fourth of the city is without sidewalks.

I again made supplication for this delivery the first of this week. Expect to hear from the Department in a short time and I am in hopes they will take favorable action on my application for this service.

Box rents which are collected at this office are in accordance with a schedule, based upon the receipts of the post office.

The receipts for the Waupaca P.O. for the past year were over $10,000.00 and in accordance with the schedule, and in compliance with instructions received from the P.O. Department I am obliged to charge the rent for boxes which is in force at the present time.

City delivery will not be established until the receipts of the post office are $10,000.00, so if we want free delivery here, it is necessary to charge the present rent for boxes before we get city delivery.

He also read a copy of the following letter to Congressman Davidson:

Waupaca, Wis. March 24, 1908

Hon. J.H. Davidson, Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

On the 22^nd of April, 1907, I transmitted to you a petition from the residents of this city, asking for the establishment of city delivery in this city. Action on this application was taken by the P.O. Department but they refused to establish city delivery as the inspector who visited this city reported that about one fourth of this city is without sidewalks.

Since the inspector was here, there has been a considerable amount of sidewalk built, and a great deal more will be put in this spring and as the only reason we were not granted this service last summer was because it was reported that about one-fourth of the city is without good sidewalks, I see no reason why it cannot be granted now, as I am of the opinion that this city has better sidewalks today than a great many cities that have city delivery at the present time. The soil here being sandy, it is not necessary to have plank or cement walks on every street, as one hour after a heavy rain the streets are dry.

The citizens here have been clamoring for this service for the last year, as they feel they are entitled to same, and now that I have just been instructed to raise the rent of boxes, they will be more anxious than ever for city delivery as a great many of them will refuse to pay the price asked.

It is by request of some of the leading citizens of this city that I write you this letter, as they are of the opinion that something can be done so the Department will take favorable action on the application of city delivery in this city.

Yours very respectfully,

A.M. Penney, P.M.

The following resolution that A.M. Penney, postmaster of the city of Waupaca, has heretofore applied to the Post Office Department for the establishment of a free postal delivery in this city, and

Whereas, the Post Office Department has, because of alleged insufficiency of sidewalk facilities, declined to establish such free delivery, and

Whereas, the objections heretofore made by the said Postal Department seem now to be wholly overcome,

Now, therefore, be it the sense of the businessmen and patrons of the Waupaca Post Office, in mass meeting assembled, that we heartily approve of the recent and last letter of Post Master Penney to Congressman Davidson asking that free postal delivery be established in the city of Waupaca at the earliest possible date, and be it

Resolved, that we earnestly request our Congressman, the Hon. James H. Davidson, and our Senators, the Hon. Robert M. LaFollette and Isaac Stevenson, to use their best endeavors to procure for the people of this city, such free postal delivery.

Geo. W. Ghoca made a motion asking that as many of the citizens as possible write personal letters to Congressman Davidson supporting the resolution and to urge his efforts.

Postmaster A.M. Penney received a letter from Congressman Davidson dated Mar. 28, in which he reviewed the decision of the Department as made recently based upon the insufficiency of sidewalks in our city. He also stated “that he would take the matter up personally with the Department.

“The provisions to increase box rent raises trouble in every community. The Department is trying to work out that proposition on a business basis, and it is claimed that an increase of rent is justified, based on the schedule made in accordance with the size of the town and the income of the office.”

On Wednesday Postmaster Penney received this letter.

Washington, D.C. Mar. 30, 1908

A.M. Penney, Esq.

Waupaca, Wisconsin

Dear Mr. Penney: - I not only wrote the First Assistant Postmaster General, but personally called upon him and presented your letter and urged the establishment of the city delivery service.

I advised him concerning the character of the soil, and that gravel sidewalks were practically as serviceable as cement or board.

The First Assistant has ordered a re-investigation with the view to having a later report on the condition of the sidewalks, and upon this I sincerely hope the service can be established.

The letter from the First Assistant I have sent directly to Mr. Peter Holst, Secretary of the Business Men’s Association, from whom I received a letter and resolutions regarding this matter.

Very sincerely yours,

J.H. Davidson

Waupaca Post

May 7, 1908

CITY FREE DELIVERY

Postmaster A.M. Penney has received the following letter from Washington:

The Post Office inspector who recently visited your city recommends that as soon as street signs and house numbers are erected city delivery be established in the territory bounded as follows: “Beginning at the south end of Main Street, thence north in a direct line including Washington street to Badger street; thence west to Franklin street; thence north to Fulton street; thence west to 1–1/2 blocks beyond Harrison street and including Morton street; 1-1/2 blocks south of Fulton street; thence north 1 block to and including North Fulton street; thence northeast to Harrison street; thence north to Hulda street; thence east to Elm street; hence northeast to Wisconsin Central Ry.; thence directly east to Jensen street; thence south to Wisconsin Central Ry.; thence southeast along the line of said railway to Miller street; thence in a direct line south corner of School and Royalton streets; thence, west to Berlin street; thence south 1-1/2 blocks; thence southwest to the point of starting on Main street.”

No further action will be taken until you notify this office that the requirements of the regulations for the establishment of city delivery service have been met.

Respectfully, C.P. Grandfield

First Asst. Postmaster General

Waupaca Record

May 7, 1908

FREE MAIL DELIVERY ASSURED OUR CITY

Postmaster A.M. Penney Receives a Letter from Assistant Postmaster General Assuring Service

Postmaster A.M. Penney received information from the first assistant postmaster general that as soon as the requirements of the postal laws governing house numbering and the placing of street signs have been met by the city a free mail delivery will be established in this city.

The matter was brot before the city council on Tuesday evening and steps will be taken at once to have the houses numbered and the street signs erected at an early date.

The territory to be covered is bounded as follows:

Beginning at the south end of Main Street, thence north in a direct line including Washington Street to Badger Street; thence west to Franklin Street; thence north to Fulton Street; thence west 1-1/2 blocks beyond Harrison Street and including Morton Street; 1-1/2 blocks south of Fulton Street; thence north 1 block to and including North Fulton Street; thence northeast to Harrison Street; thence north to Hulda Street; thence east to Elm Street; thence northeast to Wisconsin Central Ry.; thence directly east to Jensen Street; thence south to Wisconsin Central Ry.; thence southeast along the line of said railway to Miller Street; thence in a direct line south to corner of School and Royalton Streets; thence west to Berlin Street; thence south 1-1/2 blocks; thence southwest to the point of starting on Main Street.

Three deliveries will be made daily in the business district and two in the resident district and twelve collection boxes will be established at convenient points about the city.

The work of covering the city routes will be done by two carriers and one substitute and it is expected that everything will be completed and a free mail delivery started in this city by July 1.

Waupaca Post

May 21, 1908

NECESSARY WORK TO GET FREE DELIVERY

Before Waupaca can have free delivery it will be necessary to number the houses and put up street signs, and this should be attended to at once. If this opportunity is neglected and the city fails to get free delivery it will not be the fault of the post office officials in this city or Washington. The cooperation of property owners is needed in getting numbers put on residences and store buildings as early as possible. The city council has the matter in hand and will undoubtedly arrange to get some one to put on the numbers, the same to be paid for by the property owners. Kindly keep this in mind and aid the work to be done to secure city free delivery which has now been authorized by the Department of Washington.

Waupaca Post

July 2, 1908

RELATIVE TO FREE DELIVERY

There has been considerable forced delay in getting the work started in numbering the houses and putting up street signs for free delivery. The council committee working on this have been disappointed in their efforts in getting response to their various inquiries for information and attendance of parties called upon to take up the work here. They have now plans under way in getting a plat of the city and will as soon as completed, begin putting up signs and numbers. They will make the starting point on Main and Fulton streets.

The house numbers will begin as 100 east and 100 west of Main street, each block being numbered in hundreds.

He work will be pushed as rapidly as possible, so the final provisions can be made in securing the much desired delivery.

Waupaca Record

July 9, 1908

STREET SIGNS ARE BEING ERECTED

Will Insure an Early Installation of Free Mail Delivery

The Board of Public Works is busy erecting street signs and perfecting plans for the numbering of the houses in the city in compliance with the postal regulations so as to insure a free mail delivery for the city at an early date.

The Nelson Painting company have been given a contract for 279 street signs. They are to be white with the name of the street in black letters.

Waupaca Record

July 16, 1908

City Council Meeting Notes

An ordinance was adopted compelling owners of buildings to number the same.

Waupaca Record

July 23, 1908

House Numbering Now Being Done

City Treasurer Dutton Has Charge of the Work

The city authorities are busy completing the work necessary for the establishment of a free mail delivery for this city.

A.O. Dutton our city treasurer, has the supervision of numbering the residences and a large part of the work has been completed. The Nelson Painting Co. are under contract to have the street signs completed by August first and it is expected that the requirements of the postal laws governing free delivery will have been met by the city early in August.

There are already several applicants for the position of carriers but an examination will be necessary before the applicants can be accepted.

Work along this line is being pushed so as to give the patrons of this office a city delivery at an early date.

Waupaca Record

August 20, 1908

FREE DELIVERY WILL BEGIN IN NOVEMBER

All Requirements Have Been Met

Two Carriers and One Substitute Are Required

A free delivery mail service will be installed in this city on November 15^th. All the requirements of the postal department have been met and Postmaster Penney is in receipt of the following letter:

Washington, August 12, 1908

Postmaster, Waupaca, Wis.; -

Sir: Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of the 6^th instant in which you state that all the public improvements requisite for the establishment of city delivery service will be completed by the 15^th inst. An order will, therefore, be issued for the installation of the service, effective November 15, 19098, formal notice of which will be sent you under separate cover. This is the earliest practicable date on which the service can go into effect, as the Civil Service Commission requires at least ninety days in which to hold an examination and secure an eligible register from which to select the carriers and substitute carrier.

The change in the boundaries of routes suggested by you is approved, but you will be careful to include no territory in which sidewalks, street lights, street signs and house numbers are lacking.

Respectfully,

C.P. Cranfield,

First Assistant Postmaster General.

Two carries and one substitute will be all that is required to cover the city and they will cover the entire territory with the exception of the extreme outskirts, which will be covered by the rural routes.

The street signs have all been erected and the numbering of the houses is in progress.

Waupaca Record

October 29, 1908

FREE DELIVERY CARRIERS APPOINTED

New Mail System Will Be Installed on November 15^th.

The examination for mail carriers for the city mail delivery, which goes into effect here next month, resulted in the choice of Will H. Ottman of Rural and Jacob H. Koffner of Almond as carrier and Oscar Toebass of Iola as substitute. There were 10 contestants and several passed the examination but those selected had the highest standing.

The new system will be installed here on Nov. 15 and the postmaster requests the citizens of Waupaca to instruct their correspondents to place the number and street on their letters so as to insure prompt delivery.

Waupaca Republican

November 19, 1908

Last Monday the city carriers began their onerous duties of delivering mail at the business places and residences in the city. The difficulties they met were greatly increased because few parcels of mail as yet bear the street and number of those to whom they are sent. Much forbearance is necessary on the part of all concerned until the carriers become better acquainted and the mail is correctly addressed. A third carrier arrived from Fond du Lac Wednesday to relieve the situation.

Waupaca Record

November 19, 1908

Under the free city delivery the money order business closes at 6 o’clock instead of 9 p.m. and it requires two cents in postage for a drop letter instead of one cent as formerly.

Ralph Peterson has purchased a drug store at Crandon and left this week to take charge of his new business. Mr. Hocking hopes soon to secure a druggist to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Peterson.

Waupaca Post

November 19, 1908

CITY DELIVERY COMMENCED ON MONDAY

The city mail delivery commenced in this city last Monday with Will Ottman and John Kiffner as carriers. They are dressed in their new uniforms and seeing these gentlemen on the streets gives Waupaca the appearance of a larger city. Mr. Ottman delivers mail to all the business places and First ward and Third ward north of Mill street and Mr. Kiffner has charge of the residences in Fourth, Second and Third wards to Mill street. It would save a good deal of time if residents could have mail boxes put up and also have their mail read with street and number.