Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-19
I'd EDITION.
MAIL FOR FARMERS.
Free Postal Delivery in the Country
Proposed.
BALMACEDA'S DEATH AGAIN DENIED.
An Organization to Detect Fraud
uIent Pensioners.
LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
LATE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS,
THE FARMERS, DAILY NAH.

An Effort to Have Free Delivery Extended
Into the Country.
New York, Oct. 19.-An organised effort ID
under way among farmers to secure from Con-
gress free mail delivery in country towns. The
Farmers Alliance, Patrons Of Husbandry and
other orders are canvassing the matter. Letters
are being written to Congressman in favor Of
the project and petitions to Congress for free
delivery are being circulated In every part Of
the country. Farmers assert that q daily mail
delivery at their door will add perceptibly
to. the money value of their farms and
will be worth still moro because it will keep
them in touch with markets and the outside
world and rob farm life Of its isolation and
monotony. Tho farmers are writing to the
agricultural press that this convenience would
enable them quite generally to take a daily
papers more literally.
In the American Agriculturist for November
Postmaster General Wanamaker states definitely
for the first time that the experiment. made by
the Post Office Department for FREQ delivery in
farming districts shows that the increase Of
revenue more than pays ell the increased ex-
penses. He believes that universal free deliv-
cry would therefore be self-sustaining.
Mr.. wANAMAKER's VIEWS.
Mr.. Wanamaker's article also contains this
to 10000 population and puts down foot walks
and puts up numbers on the houses the Post
Office Department is authorized by act of Con-
gress to establish a carrier service to deliver
mail matter at the doors Of houses and
offices. As the town increases postal
stations are established Thus the
of t %5 ss with w the
is going on at the thickly populated points,
the farmers, quarrymen, blacksmiths, millers
and artisans, all paying the regulation. Rates Of
postage, are left to get their mail as best they
can from the post Office in the village or at the
railway station.
I'm hamlet of 1C0 houses perhaps sixty per-
sons from the village and the vioinage made q
daily pilgrimage Of distance Of from one block
to two miles from the homo to tho post Office
to find out whether there is my mail or not,
and hundred more persons within the cir
Gle OF the Office do not lind it convenient to 60
to the post Office oftener than once
week. One hundred or more persons
each day, in all weathers, are making trips to
the post office often at great personal incon-
venience and discomfort, when a single carrier
could once or twice each day make the round of
the village and distribute the mail and save the
hundred daily unnecessary tramp, collecting
at the same time from the letter boxes located at
the street corners mail to be forwarded. A
newspaper brought every day to the door of
the farmer or workman who has no one to 60
W uo pose OAlCo loE ~ Wouiu uuu tuaHkIul
subscriber and light new lamp in the house
hold. --
True enough the village or cross roads in
habitant or the dweller on the farm chooses
his home for his family and might live in the
city. where gas and water and mail are brought
to his door, but when people everywhere pay
the same rate Of postage why should one por-
ton OF them have mail facilities denied to
other portions? Is it fair to the rural localities
to refuse postal service equal to that pro-
vided for the cities? Is it not a reflection
on the intelligence and aspirations Of the
farmer and the artisan to ignore his need of
the conveniences of correspondence and Of
supplies of newspapers and magazines? Does
it not retard the settlement Of country districts
to neglect to provide In some form or other
means for at least daily intercourse with the
rest Of the world?"