Every minute of every day, one of americas 600 Railroad Companies rolls a train out of a terminal. Ever on the move over the greatest network of rails on the road, trains carry people, goods, and mail. Mail by rail helps tie together the business economy, the free press, and the human relations of this great country. For a few pennies in postage, great industries, publishers, small businesses, and just plain people hire Postal Transportation Service on every railroad crisscrossing the United States. There are hundreds of railway post offices, built and owned by the railroads, and rented to the bureau of transportation of the post office department. Called rpo cars and manned by hardworking transportation crews, they provide almost 500 million miles of valuable Service Every year. In addition to trains, today, Highway Post Offices help speed the mail to every corner of the country. These vehicles regularly travel established routes on fixed schedules. Working with fittings similar to a car, one or more clerks and a driver serve about 20 post offices twice a day. In an expanding postal service, many forms of transportation are used. Among these are buses, trains, ships, and planes. Airmail service is also a vital activity. Mail of all classes, except that which may be damaged by low temperatures or high altitudes, is accepted for airmail. Postal transportation clerks distribute airmail in terminals right at the airfield, much the same as they work on trains and buses. Working the nations mail 24 hours a day seven days a week takes a lot of men, an army of public servants. Who are these men . They might be like cappy smith, a man next door. Lets stay with him and watch a typical rpo clerks workday. Thats his wife. She is as proud of his job as he is. In addition to doing important work, the job is paying for their house and sending their girl to college. The letter was from the office. Notification that cappy was to break in a new man on his next run. In another part of the city, the substitute clerk phil davis was also getting ready. Like thousands of other clerks, regulars, and subs, he was doing his homework, stamping slips with his name, rpo train, and date. These slips are the means of tracing missent mail. Like all subs, phil was excited about his new job. Until the skills were learned, it all seemed tough, which is natural. The package of slips are part of the equipment phil will need on the job. Since he had time, the practice case was on his mind. And as he had done many times, he began throwing cards. This in miniature, is the job of distributing mail according to a set pattern. In this way, all clerks learn the schedules and schemes and build up their speed. Periodic examinations are conducted the same way. Rehearsed and confident, phil was now ready for his first run as a postal transportation clerk. In cappys house, a similar scene was under way. Although he always carefully kept his road grip packed, he carefully checked its contents before leaving home. Bags and slips, revolver, holster and shells, schedules and schemes, badge and manuals, goggles, pencils, labels, stamp, twine knife, and pad. He knew that on the road, its difficult or impossible to obtain the tools of his trade. After checking the grip, cappy checked his wallet for travel commission, revolver permit, and money. In addition to lunch, there were workflows to prepare. Safety toe shoes, cap, glove, shirt, and pants. At last, cappy was ready. He liked the layoffs his job gave him. The nature of the work requires working in accordance with railroad schedules, so this was goodbye, mrs. Smith, until next week. As the city awakens, the Railroad Terminal comes to life. Here is where most postal transportation men have to report for work. At the transfer office to the railroad station was where cappy smith had the appointment to meet phil davis. This is the place where rpo crews assemble before going off to the cars where they pick up notices. Phil arrived first and was looking around as cappy showed up. Cappy liked the boy right off, thought he would make the grade because he showed interest. The oldtimer put the newcomer at ease by showing him the ropes, explained the order book for special orders and general notices. After checking the rpo schedule, they went to the wall map where cappy traced the geography of the trip they were about to take. The route, the pouch list. From the questions phil asked, it was clear he was right. Bright and had done his homework. Their next stop was a blackboard where u. S. Mail cars were listed. Together, they read the track location and number of their car. After cappy explained the board, they headed for their car. On the way, cappy warned the new man to be alert to new dangers. To watch out for station tractors and railroad switching equipment. Cappy warned phil never to cross tracks unless it was absolutely necessary. They watched a track man do it easily and right. There it was, an rpo car. 62 tons and costing more than 50,000. Cappy demonstrated the safe way to board. Grasp high up on the handrails, left foot on the first step, then shift weight to the next step, duck low under the catcher arm. Phil got the idea. After slighting his grip aboard, he climbed into the car correctly. Cappy gave him a further word of caution never try to enter a moving car. As soon as cappy switched on the case lights, phil snapped on the car lights. They looked around the clean, quiet car and began to change into their work clothes. In a few hours, it will take on a new look as the train crew takes on a new look to sort the mail on the road, to catch the mail on the fly, and healthy letter carriers bring the public tidings of sadness and gladness, news and business. Right after they changed into work clothes, they pinned on their badges. They both knew the rules covering the use of firearms, not to leave loaded revolvers at home or carry them loaded between home and depot. And finally, always to point revolver downward to avoid accidents while loading. After phil loaded his revolver correctly, cappy explained the time rule. If a clerk is due to work at a certain time, he must be in work clothes and ready at that time. These men were working advanced time. That is time in which the crew prepares the railway or Highway Post Office and distributes mail prior to the scheduled departure from the terminal. After cappy unpacked his road grip and laid out the tools of his trade, he hung his clipboard. As supervisor, he had a lot more paperwork than any other clerk in his crew. Cappy was now ready to set up the car, and he asked phil to help him. Together, they fastened the pedestals to the floor plate to provide a solid base for the tables. Next, they placed the center rods on top of the pedestals to support the full length of table. For now, they temporarily hung the sections of the distributing table on the crossbar. Eventually, these sections would be made up as a strong worktable with stationary pedestal legs. Observing safety measures, cappy showed phil how to let down all the racks that would be needed. He particularly cautioned phil against bumping his head on the overhead box hooks. Although cappy was completely familiar with the car diagram, he hung it up as a guide for phil. The car diagram showed where sacks and pouches were to be hung in each rack. Next, cappy demonstrated how to check for mail which may have been left in the empty sacks. Inserting his arm to open the entire sack for inspection. Then, as cappy hung the sacks, phil took up the job of inspection, holding each sack open and looking for mail. The post office uses 25 million sacks and pouches. If a letter were lost in one of them, it might be lost a long time. The metal eyes were placed on hooks. So that the sides of each sack became taut, leaving no space between sacks. After being pulled tight, the card were dropped into the sacks. Finally, all the racks were addressed. This business is full of such unique terms, and since they are widely used, its well for all employees to know them. When phil asked cappy to check his work, cappy pointed out a hole between the sacks where mail might slip through. This was easily corrected by rehooking and tightening the tie cord. Together, instructor and student checked over the job, making sure the racks were dressed according to the car diagram. It was important to know the differences between a sack, which is used for newspapers and parcel post, and a pouch, which is used for firstclass mail, and then the label holders for the two containers, as well as the different methods of closing. The sack is tied with cords while the pouch is strapped and sealed with a lock. Yes, there was a lot to learn about the job of becoming a postal transportation clerk. Next, the labels. How they first marked the various separations and later label the sacks when they are ready to be tied out. Labels have to be inserted according to the same diagram, which set the pattern for hanging the sack. Nothing to this job as long as you follow directions, but put one label in the wrong holder, and an awful lot of mail may be missent. The substitute proved to be a quick learner, a necessary talent for all postal transportation clerks. Together, they distributed the labels in all the overhead boxes and in all the sacks and pouches. Now they put sections of the distributing table in place. Cappy raised the table, resting the front hooks on the center bar and being careful of his hands, grasped the back hinge hooks and released them to slip over the rod of the adjoining racks section. In this case, the diagram called for a double distributing table, and the men were ready when the mail arrived. As always, it was quite a load. When the mail porter got his truck in position, cappy and phil were on hand to take in mail for storage and for working. The mail was accepted and the load was stacked up according to plan. As the sacks were taken on board, they were read accurately. Bulk mail has to be stored so that it can be loaded at various points on the run. Cappy kept his eye on the sub. There were many safety precautions to observe while stacking bulk mail. Tie cords have to be kept out of the isles. They are a tripping hazard. He showed phil how to arrange the sacks to leave an eight inch aisle. Lifting a heavy item incorrectly risks injury. The right way to lift his feet apart, bent knees, back straight, firm grasp, and a thrust of the legs. The clerk knows what each separation contains. Phil soon got the hang of it and started placing bulky items at the bottom, starting the base of the pile as far out as possible. Together, they lifted the extra heavy ones. Two men lifting the load divides the weight. In the meantime, mail was also being loaded in the storage car, usually adjoining the rpo car. As phil continued to stack mail in the rpo car, he learned that dragging the sacks is an easy way to move them. As the piles got higher, he started to use the lift to assist in putting up a sack. Fragile items like this box of chicks were put aside to be put on top of the pile. In the meantime, the remainder of the crew arrived. Supplies of twine and the locks were unloaded and distributed to men in their stations. The clerks immediately set up their cases in order to perform their advanced distribution of mail. Important mail registered that may contain money or other things of value is always given special handling. To maintain integrity of the mail, many procedures are followed to make it possible to know exactly who handles each registered letter every step of the way. For instance, one man on each crew is designated the registered clerk and they are his responsibility for the entire run. The men who handles registers should have special knowledge of routing and distributing registered matter. Registered pouches are sealed with special locks which record every time they are opened. After dumping the pouch, the clerk makes sure it is empty. The registers are individually checked before they can be written up for dispatch. The pouch man first distributes record packages containing number one mail. Mail that can be worked later is held back. The letter slips are left on the top letter of each package in order that the clerk can check missent mail. Later, the order slip is saved. The clerk begins distributing letters while reading every address and flipping each letter into its right pigeonhole. Number one letter mail contains mail for the first downs through which the rpo will pass. The distributor at the paper rack gives priority to newspapers, partial posts, and ordinary papers in just that order, but number one mail means what it says. It is worked first. Flipping newspapers neatly into the sacks is an art that all clerks learn. Just before departure, the transfer quick shows up with a record of the cars in the train, the amount of storage mail loaded in the rpo, as well as the storage car. He also checks if there are any pouches which they havent received. To prevent robbery or mail falling out of the car, the doors are kept closed. And locked. This is one job where a man cannot be late in reporting to work. This office moves. Peoples mail, going someplace, coming from someplace. Peoples possessions. Things they are buying, selling, or giving away, on the move. The most exciting thing about handling mail, when you stop to think of it, is that each letter contains a persons thoughts, his hopes, business, love, and promises, neatly folded in a tiny package. The important thing is that these men help make sure that each item arrives at its destination on time. Once on a run, schedule becomes part of them. Cappy checks his watch. He spots a familiar landmark. Knowing they were nearing their first station, he begins Time Packages to be put off. And here is where the facing slip comes in. It tells who worked each package on which training and when. Every letter package is neatly tied with a minimum of motions. Then, with a finger knife, the twine is cut. These tie outs are given to the pouch man, who distributes them. Care is taken to get all of these in the right pouches. These pouches are strapped and locked and taken to the end of the car for dispatch. Sacks of newspapers and parcels are also tied out. To empty the overhead boxes, empty sacks are hung on the hooks below. Labels from the boxes are transferred to the holders until they are emptied of the contents. These sacks are then tied up and locked. With the help of a substitute, the load is moved to the car door. The train pulled into the station on time. Now, the mail was going to be transferred with the help of employees and mail messengers. Phil was given the job to pull the box, which means emptying the letterbox at a stop station. He emptied the box and was careful to carry the letters in a pouch. Locking the box, unloading and loading the sets of mail, and the station transfer was completed. Thats all there is to it. In that brief exchange, which happens every minute of the day, thousands of people are swiftly many served by the u. S. Postal transportation service. As the run gets underway again, the fun begins. Men working the mail race the speeding train for the next station. It is a driving force that keeps them on their toes and never lets them quit. Watch how they catch mail onthefly with the help of a male messenger. 10 minutes before the train is scheduled to pass a station, a pouch attended after it is securely fastened top and bottom, he stepped aside and waits nearby to witness the catch and receive any mail that might be thrown out. Aboard the train, local mail is being tied out. The clerk spots his landmark. This is it. The race against time and speed was on. As soon as the last pouch was made ready, the clerk grabs his safety goggles and goes to his station. The engineer is required to signal the rpo car that there they are approaching a nonstop station. The dramatic moment is at hand. In cappys crew, the local clerk was getting ready for the exchange. First, he puts on his safety goggles. Then he tried to catch her arm. This time, for phils sake, he demonstrated the mechanism. Showing the catch her being lifted outside of the chain. With one hand, he tosses the pouch out and down, assisted with his foot. With the other hand, he drops down the catcher handle and it was made. A neat twohanded operation. To save the public precious hours and days in delivery, Railway Mail Clerks sort and exchange great amounts of matter. Men and mail in transit speeds the mail on speedy trains, affecting Dramatic Exchange almost every minute of the day. A bullseye. The dispatch was delivered. Now, phil, wearing safety goggles got his first chance to make an exchange, on the fly. Like phil, all new men qualify themselves quickly, provided they take up this work with a sense of responsibility to develop the best talents and efforts to the service. Cappy was right. Phil davis was going to make the grade. These men who treat the nations mail like their own, few jobs are more exacting. These men know no night or day. They are possessed of a retentive memory and an honesty matched by few. These men are your postal transportation clerks in action, whose efforts and sacrifice speed onward, the vital correspondence of our great nation, come darkness, deluge, or disaster. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] you are watching American History tv, covering history cspanstyle with event coverage, eyewitness accounts, archival films, lectures and college classrooms, and visits to museums and historic places. All weekend, every weekend on cspan3. Weeknights this month, we feature American History tv programs as a preview of whats available every weekend on cspan3. Monday night, a look at history through photographs. During the Great Depression and world war ii, photographers working for the u. S. Governments Farm Security administration and later, the office of war information created about 1600 color photographs depicting life in the United States and war production activities. The collection was curated by beverly brennan. She talks about the photographers and images. Watch monday, beginning at 8 00 eastern. Enjoy American History tv this week and every weekend on cspan3. Ae legendary ladies historical interpretation group, portraying notable women from western history, including sharpshooter annie oakley and labor activist mother jones the Golden History Museum of golden colorado hosted this event and provided the video. In time to hear the stories of real women who made a Significant Impact on the west. Welcome sharon from legendary ladies. [applause] good evening and welcome. I would like to give a special thanks to megan murphy, who just left us for inviting the legendary ladies to visit with you today. The women of the west were quite varied. You need only look at the