Generally I have tried to write something new with each column rather than repeating topics, but today I am going to put in a word or two about a topic I covered not so long ago. The topic in this case is about the mail drop-boxes on Third Street by the Post Office.

You may recall that they took out the old drop-boxes some time ago and their first replacements were two new drop-boxes that were like any that you might find here and there on various corners or locations around the city. Those were new drop boxes that you could walk up to and drop in your cards and letters. However, when installed on Third Street on an elevated curbside, they were almost impossible to reach from any ordinary car window as you drove by to deposit your mail.

It took a while, but not long after I mentioned the problem in this column, the Post Office replaced those two new boxes with two “shorter” designed boxes that once again made it easy to drive by and deposit mail.

Now for the last several months I have marveled at how long it is taking for the Post Office to fix one of those boxes. I doubt that I am the only one who has noticed that the one box is clearly marked, “Out of Order.” Maybe I missed an innovation. Is there an automatic sorter in those new boxes such that when a letter is dropped in, it immediately sorts the in-city mail from the out-of-city mail?

I haven’t seen any electrical cord attached that would help run that sorter. I just don’t understand how a box like that could be out of order especially over so many months now. Tongue in Cheek: Oh, Fiddlesticks!

Actually, I never really understood having two boxes lined up the way they are. When they both were being used, the real frustration was when I followed someone into that lane to mail some items only to have the person in front stop at the first box instead of moving forward to the next box. Double Oh, Fiddlesticks!

jtr

The U.S. Mail came to mind this last week when President Donald Trump threatened to block aid for the U.S. Postal Service in terms of its deficits unless they significantly raised costs for online shippers like Amazon by as much as four times the current rate for packages. I am sorry to say that one of the dangers that could arise here is the demise of the USPS.

There is no doubt that the internet and cell phones have cut into the supporting revenue stream for the USPS. However, the USPS is legally obligated to serve all Americans, regardless of geography, at uniform price and quality, but also must compete against private package delivery services. Note here that a first class letter can be mailed for the same cost to any address in the U.S. Thus, it can be sent across town or to locations over a thousand miles away all for the same cost.

Since the 1970 Postal Reorganization Act, the USPS, as an independent agency, has seldom been subsidized by the U.S. with the exception of costs associated with disabled and overseas voters. As recently as 2007, the USPS was operating at a profit. With the current pandemic, package revenues have jumped by 53% indicating the great service the USPS provides.

Also, relating to the package business, packages represent 5% of volume and 30% of revenue. Fixing the rates to cut the deficits is not going to be easy, but Trump’s suggestion is not likely to resolve the problem as such businesses as UPS and FedEx would likely take the revenue from packages by underpricing the USPS.

jtr

Handwritten or typed letters have always been my favorite form of communication especially with close family. I have tried other forms including emails, Facebook, FaceTime and telephone as well as an attempt at texting, but those are not near as satisfying as an old fashioned letter.

Every week for years I have written a minimum of three letters, one to each of the three kids in addition to birthday and anniversary cards and special holiday cards like Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, etc. This past year a granddaughter who now works in Montana away from any family, asked to be put on my mailing list so she could keep track of family. So now it is at least four different letters every week.

My typical letters these days are written early on each Saturday morning. To get them mailed out on Saturday they had to get to the Post Office a little before 2 p.m. Mail is delivered to our home about 4 in the afternoon so I could not wait to have the mail carrier pick them up, hence I use those drive-by mail boxes on Third Street.

You might say I was inducted into the use of the Postal Service early on. I can remember at Christmas time during WWII on an early weekend in December, sitting around the dining room table with my parents and siblings. My parents retrieved their list of cards sent and received from the year before and proceeded to do the cards and envelopes for the current year. Being the youngest in the family, my task was to tuck the flap into the envelope without sealing. Sealed envelopes went to my brother or my sister to attach the stamp. The difference was that sealed envelopes were considered first class mail whereas there was a special greeting card, third-class rate if there was no personal writing included and the envelope was not sealed.

A 3¢ stamp on the sealed envelope but only 1.5¢ for the unsealed envelope. In my mind’s eye I can see the 1.5¢ stamp — a light tan or brown stamp with the likeness of Martha Washington.

Yes, we were a very thrifty family. At the same time we all worked well together — each doing a part of getting out our Christmas greetings to relatives and friends.

Until next time: Oh, Fiddlesticks!