Scene Repeated at Post Offices Around Nation
Lines curled around corners and out doors at America’s post offices Tuesday as letter writers hustled to buy stamps to cover the new postage rate.
“Beat the Rush: G Stamps 32 cents,” urged a sign in Washington’s 19th Street postal station as customers waited.
In Rochester, N.Y., the line snaked back 25 yards at times, prompting many to turn away. Others were willing to put an extra 29-cent stamp on a letter rather than wait.
Broken vending machines in Washington and empty ones in Virginia drew customers’ laments as people were forced to stand in lines.
“The most annoying thing is that the vending machines are not working,” Jerry Clark said as he stood in line at Washington’s 20th Street station.
Postal lines were out the door in Wheeling, W.Va. By midday, the office had sold more than 75,000 stamps and the postmaster had left for Pittsburgh, an hour away, to bring back 103,000 more.
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