San Antonio Daily Light

WHY IT IS HARD TO GET POSTOFFICE HELP
RECEIPTS OF SAN ANTONIO NOT IN PROPORTION TO THOSE OF OTHER CITIES.
TERRITORY COVERED IS LARGER
The Authorities at Washington do not Take That Into Consideration.
Basis of Salaries.
The receipts of the San Antonio postoffice for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1906, showed a gain of $5,900 over the preceding year. Speaking of this this morning, Assistant Postmaster Johnson said:
"The increase in population for the year just closed was probably 6,000, which makes the business average about $1 per capita. This shows how much of a business town San Antonio is. The population is largely composed of men retired from business, and people who live here because they cannot live anywhere else on account of their health. Dallas, a city of less population and not over two-thirds the area, shows postoffice receipts of over $450,000 per annum. San Antonio shows postoffice receipts of over $150,000. So with Houston, where the receipts are nearly twice as great as San Antonio with only one-half the area and two-thirds the population. Fort Worth, with one-half the population, has receipts exceeding those of the San Antonio office. This shows what we have to work against in applying for additional facilities and help."
All salaries are based on the amount of business done. The number of clerks and carriers is based on the amount of business done, the consequence is that San Antonio carriers are fewer in number and have more territory to cover than those in other cities. The incoming mail is much larger in proportion than the outgoing, so on account of the receipts for postage the office is hampered for men. In order to keep the service up to standard it is necessary for the employes of the San Antonio office to do a great deal more work than in any other office in the state.