Crosstown Rapid Transit, 1905, New York City

It probably made the crosstown trip faster than we currently do.

I like the sign in the background – Milk, Cider, Cream Soda, Buttermilk, Lemonade 3¢.

And I  love old handwriting:

Tuesday A.M. Dear Mamma, What do you think of this for rapid N.Y.  Please send my letters to Aunt Emma’s. Came Monday, will write to-day Love, Evan(?)

According to Appleton’s Dictionary of New York in 1905, there were 7-8  mail deliveries per day and the postal service made a profit. In addition to regular mail facilities there were 2,400 mail drop boxes affixed to lampposts and mail was collected 12-25  times per weekday from each of these boxes in all parts of the city below 59th street on the west side and 70th street on the east side, the first at 5 am the last at 11 pm .

By the way, it cost 1¢ to send a postcard, a letter cost 2¢.