I recently sent important documents to an Air Force Base in Utah. The documents arrived two days later. They were sent first class/confirmation request only.

Without the Shallowford Road Post Office Processing Center I doubt if those documents would have arrived within a two-day span. 

Brenda Manghane~Washington

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Like everyone I am sorry to read the news of the closing of the Shallowford Road Postal facility and over 100 hard-working employees losing their jobs.

However, I am sure Ms Manghane-Washington would be surprised to learn there is an alternative to the U.S. Postal Service called Federal Express for guaranteed overnight delivery. 

FedEx is a great example of why private industry always does a better job of innovation than government. There is no reason the Post Office could not have begun guaranteed overnight service in the late 60s or early 70s and there would have been no need for a private company to offer that service.

However, a young man named Fred Smith recognized the need for an overnight service and in 1973 FedEx began operations in Memphis.

Unfortunately, technology has made many of the services the Post Office offers obsolete. There is no way the USPS can survive without billions of subsidies in it's present form.

Doug Jones
North Chattanooga

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I agree with Mr. Jones in his response regarding the USPS.  I, too, am disheartened by the fact that 100 plus workers will lose their jobs.  In this day and age, it’s hard enough to find a job, much less find a job with benefits that the federal government offers. 

I’m 35 years old and have been raised to think that if you get a “government” job, you are set for life.  Sadly, this is not the case any more.  It hurts me to think that these folks losing their job have counted on the USPS for income for their families and are now left in the dark. 

However, with that said, the USPS has never been, in my opinion, a reliable business.  My grandfather, Mark S. Womack, still to this very day uses a swing arm typewriter and a stamp to send his numerous “Letters to the Editor” to the TFP.  He and I had a conversation a few years ago regarding my dismay of the USPS.  I explained that in my business in which I mail post card reminders to my consumers, I receive at times, more than half of the mailers back. The reasons are anything ranging from postage to unreadable addresses.  We use a USPS certified postage machine and computer-generated labels so the address is clear and readable.

The USPS has always - again in my opinion -  found ways to make it hard on their customers in an effort to make a profit.  My grandfather asked me what other options were out there and I mentioned Fed EX and UPS.  UPS and Fed EX are who I use when I have to know the job is taken care of, be it overnight or next week.  My point is, in Mark S. Womack’s day you could count on the USPS…in my day, you cannot. 

Sure it costs more to send a letter, package, etc. using FedEX or UPS, but my piece of mind and time is worth something. 

Kevin Murdock

Ooltewah

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About private enterprise taking over the job of US Postal, forget it.  I live on Signal Mountain where there are 4,000 houses. Between UPS and Fedex they may make 100 stops. The Postal Service makes 4,000 stops six days a week. Now figure the investment UPS or Fedex would have to make to service this many stops and what they would have to charge customers even if they could.

The Post Office has spoiled Americans as it should with complete service. It still delivers much first class, advertisements, coupons, medicine, magazines, books, certified letters. etc. to your house. The US Postal is responsible for 7.5 million jobs in the U.S. and they buy products made in the U.S.

Even if the taxpayers subsidize it, it would still be a screaming deal for our citizens. Consider all that is being subsidized by the taxpayers and then ask yourself if this is not a great deal. If you want to keep this magnificient service, write your Congressmen and senators and say so.

Dun Monroe

Signal Mountain