32 THE DESIGN AND NEW CONSTRUCTION 



basket at its destination as indicated by the name underlined. This sUp 

 remains attached to the letter on its return journey and to the file copy after 

 it is in the files. If the letter covers work in this division it comes to the 

 writer's office; if in another officer's it goes to him. 



Here were two points where the time study gave good results, in (a) 

 reducing the time to open, enter, and start a letter; (b) the time to get it on 

 its way. Both are done in a regular, orderly manner, the first by the file- 

 room force, the second by a messenger on a definite route, making one round 

 trip of his whole route in ten minutes. This messenger starts from the chief 

 clerk's office, goes to each room and to each desk that performs work, in a 

 regular order, deposits his burden in a definite place and picks up material 

 in an outgoing receptacle. A copy of his instructions is here shown : — 



Messenger Service. — The following instructions will hereafter be followed by messengers collecting 

 and distributing mail to rooms Nos. 189, 187, 185, 183, 181, 179, 177, 174, 175, 176, 178, 182. Beginning at 

 9 a. m. each day one messenger is to make trips along the following route, beginning in room 178, then to 

 rooms 182, 189, 187, 185, 183, 181, 179, 177, 174, 175, 176, returning at the end of the trip to room 178. 

 At each half hour he is also to take out-going mail to the department post office and bring back mail for the 

 bureau and deliver the same at the correspondence desk. These trips will be made consecutively and each 

 time a trip is completed the time of completion is to be entered on a slip kept in room 178. Messengers 

 are to acquaint themselves with all baskets in each room for incoming and outgoing mail, and be careful to 

 move all mail in the route indicated on the reference slips. The messenger assigned to this duty is to do 

 this duty alone during the period so assigned, and is not to be sent on messages or other duties which will 

 take him off his route. Should anyone request him to make such trips not on his route, he is to inform the 

 person of the instructions contained in this memorandum and request the person to send for another mes- 

 senger. Should anyone insist on the messenger going on any message which interferes with his regular 

 route, he is to inform the officer in charge of the correspondence desk, who will, if necessary, bring the matter 

 to the attention of the chief constructor for instructions. A messenger is also to be assigned to make trips 

 on the route described above during the time from 12.45 to 4.30 p. m. So far as possible messengers are to 

 be alternate; that is, the messenger who makes the morning trips will not be required to make the afternoon 

 trips, but the afternoon duty is to be taken up by another messenger. 



The slip records of time at which each trip is completed are to be sent at the end of each day to the 

 time clerk, who will retain the same until the efficiency cards are being made out, at which time they will 

 be brought to the attention of the chief clerk for consideration when assigning marks. 



On arrival at "the office" of this division, a letter which probably comes 

 with a number of others always finds some one ready to read it and to give 

 instructions. In general, letters received may be classified as: — 



(a) Perfunctory, on which the course of action to be taken is plain and 

 instructions from the office can be reduced to "yes," "no," "do," "O.K.," 

 "usual," "file," "forward," etc. 



(b) Secondary importance, on which instructions cannot be quite so 

 brief, but can be reduced to such as — "tabulate and show me," "show Mr. A. 

 in D.O.," "O.K. if specifications cover as stated," etc. 



(c) Primary importance. 



(d) Special. 



Letters of classes (a) and (b) are routed by the officer at the desk direct 



