Hiram Oxbow.
Sorting out all the letters of this kind the correspondence chief gives them to one of his stenographers with instructions to look up the financial rating of the various writers as given in Dun’s or Bradstreet’s. Every well-equipped correspondence room will have a copy of a commercial guide of this kind. The girl marks on the letters such ratings as are given in the guide. Mr. Oxbow, for instance, is quoted as A 4.
When the answers are written each new enquirer is given an individual card and number, the numbers running consecutively. The last number in the file we will say is 6345. Mr. Oxbow’s number will be 6346. One of the girls then makes out a card which reads:
No. 6346—Hiram Oxbow, Valparaiso, Ind. Rating A 4.
1907
Aug. 11. First enquiry. Answered with No. 3.
Mr. Oxbow’s letter with a carbon copy of the reply thereto is then placed in a manila paper pocket, numbered 6346, and filed in the letter cabinet. If at any time it is desired to get the correspondence in the Oxbow case the card, which is filed alphabetically, will give the correspondence number and the location of the letters themselves will then be easy.
An entry in brief is made on the card every time Mr. Oxbow is heard from so that the card itself will show at all times an outline of the status of the case. Suppose that a number of letters pass, and Mr. Oxbow finally decides to come to Chicago to see the doctor. The card will then show entries like these:
No. 6346—Hiram Oxbow, Valparaiso, Ind. Rating A 4.
1907