The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-20
RURAL MAIL DELIVERY.
A MOVEMENT TO SECURE ITS Es-
TABLIS aMENT.

retters Being Written to Congress-
men on the Subject and Petitions in
circulation for Signature-Postmas
TOR General Wanamaker Puts Him.
self on Record as in Favor Of the
scheme.
New YORK, Oct. 19.-An organized effort
I. under way among the farmers to secure
from congress free mail delivery in coun,
,rv towns. TIE farmers alliance Patron:
NJ Husbandry and other orders are canvass
ing the matter. Letters are being written
tocongressmen 10 in favor of the project, and
petitions to congress for free delivery are
being circulated in many parts
Of the country. The farmers
assert that a daily mail delivery
at their door will add perceptibly to the
money value of their farms, and will be
worth still more because it will keep them
in touch with the markets and the outside
world and divest farm life of its isolation
and monotony. Farmers ara writing to the
agricultural press that this convenience
would enable them quite generally to take a
daily paper as well as to subscribe for the
local papers more literally.
FAVORED BY WANAMAKER.
In the American AgricuIturiSt for No
venber, Postmaster General Wanamaker
states definitely for the first time hat ex-
periments made by the pos Office depart
ment for free delivery in the farming dis
tricts show that the increase of revenue
more than pays all the increased
expense. He believes that universe
fee delivery would therefore be
sslf-sustaining. DIR. Wanamaker's ar
ticle also contains this statement of the
case: When a town grows to 10000 popu-
hlon and puts down footwalks and
puts up the numbers OF houses, the postoffice
department. is authorized by an act of con-
gress to establish carrier service to deliver
mail matter at the doors Of houses and
Offices.
KEEPS PACE WITH THE TOWN.
As the town increases postal stations are
established. Thus the postal service keeps
pace with the growth of the town. While
all this postal work is going on at the
thlcAly populated points, farmers, quarry
men, blacksmiths, millers and artisans all
paying the regulation rates of postaga, are
left to get their mail as best they can
from the postoffice in the village
or at the railway station. In hamlet Of
100 houses perhaps sixty persons from the
village a d the vicinity make daily pill
grimage Of stance of from one block to
tTOmlles from home to the postoffice to f1nd
cut whether there is any mail or not, and IA
hundred more persons within the circle of
the Office do not find it convenient 10 get to
the pOstotce oftener than once week.
ONE DOES THE WORK OF A HUNDRED.
One hundred persons OF more. each day,
In all weathers, are making trips to the
post flee often at great personal inconS
venience and discomfort, when a single
carrier could, once or twice each day, make
the round of the village and Distribute mail,
aud save a hundred daily, unnecessary
tramp, collecting at the same time from let-
ter boxes located at street corners, mail to be
forwarded. A newspaper brought every
day to the door Of the farmer or workman
who has 10 one TO go to the postoffice for it
would fad thankful subscriber and light
new lamp in the household.
A QUESTION OF FAIR PLAY.
True enough the village or crossroads in
ha0ltant, or dweller on q farm, chooses his
home for his family and might live in city
where gas and water and the mails are
brought to his door, but when people
ever where pay the same rate of
postage, why should one portion of them have
mall facilities denied to the other
portionss Is it fair to the rural localities to
refuse postal service equal to that provid-
eator the cities. Is it not a reflection on
.ue e Intelligence and aspirations Of the
!arnleF and artisan to ignore their need of
Vus Conveniences of correspondence and of
supplies Of newspapers and magazines?
DOES 1t not retard the settlement of the
country districts TO neglect to provide in
,u sone lorm or other means for at least daily
iuleICOQFSo with the rest of tha vrorld2