Back to 1936: statistics provide an overview of the city’s broadcasting habits
This look back at the history of Paso Robles comes from the local newspapers in the collection of the Paso Robles Area Historical Society. News in this column is curated with the help of Corporate Vice President Nancy Tweedie and Research Director Jan Cannon.
Excerpts from Saturday March 14, 1936, Paso Robles Times:
Mail-in receipts have increased by an average of $ 2,500 per year over the past three years
– Five thousand three hundred and three people are served regularly by the Paso Robles post office, through general delivery and PO boxes, urban and rural carriers and star roads. Fifteen employees are on the payroll at the office, which in 1935 had gross sales of $ 24,505.37.
These interesting facts and figures, and many more, are contained in a report released today by Postmaster Elmer Bollinger, which contains virtually all the activities of the local post office and a streamlined history of its personnel changes.
For example: “city delivery service was permitted within city limits at two-thirds of a square mile.” It was April 1, 1923, when the routes were established, and two carriers, each with two travel routes, were employed. A single-trip ancillary route was also established at this time, and today this route serves 149 people.
Click here to read the full first page of the March 14, 1936 issue. Photograph by Gigi Greene.
Population
The city’s population estimate for 1936 is 2,800; composed of 2690 natives, 100 foreigners, 10 of color. There is no record of the 1910 population, but the figure for 1920 is given as 1919.
Although the population has almost doubled over the past 16 years, the percentage of operating costs to net revenues has shown a clear downward trend. The additional cost of hiring clerks ($ 9,448.56 in 1935) was offset by the gain in net income. The actual percentage reported for last year was 43 percent.
On Thursday February 27, 1936, 11,805 pieces of mail weighing 3,484 pounds were processed. This figure was given as typical for Thursday shipments. Since 1933, net mail receipts have increased on average by about $ 2,500 each year over the previous year, a gain of 14%.
Various
Under “Miscellaneous statistics for the last three calendar years”, it can be seen that in 1935, 14,922 national money orders were issued: 2,633 were paid here. There were 72 foreign warrants issued in 1935, an average decrease of 11 from the previous two years, and 22 foreign warrants were paid, an increase of 11 from the previous year; 634 postal savings certificates were issued and 827 paid during the year 1935, these latter figures being practically reversed compared to the two preceding years.
The postmaster requested that due to the large amount of mail processed, it would be to the benefit of both the sender and the employees if all mailings for the first of the month were addressed to the box number or to the street.
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