The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-12
THE STAR ROUTE SERVICE.
Privations Undergone by Mounted Mail
Carriers of the Rural south.

FrivGtions Undergone by Mounted Mall
Carriers of the Rural south.
The Star route mail service Of this
country has made many men rich and
kept MANY men poor The mail carrier
who 5ogs along the muddy country roads
in this state generally has not an extra
coat to his back ana few extra dollars in
his pocket. The big contractor, on the
other hand-the man who buys up many
routes from the government-frequently
has more money than he knows what 10
do with. At least, other persons, es-
pecially the humble mail carrier. some
times thinks so. However, the profit in
this business is not what it once was, by
a good deal, for competition, that leveler
of incomes, Is now close.
Tbs contract lasts four years. begin
ming with July l. Every route must be
bid for separately and separate bond
given for each. The government is very
particular in this respect. The bids are
made according to the weight Of the
mail to be carried, the distance Of the
route and the number Of times per week
it has TO be carried. In few if any cases
does the man who makes the successful
bid carry the mail himself, for generally
one man or one firm gets several hun
dred of the contracts. The contractor
then subjects the routes to men who
agree to carry it for so much per year.
There is generally vast difference be
tween his idea of what it costs to carry
the mail and the governments.
1t is said that some carriers. who have
TO work every day, do not make fifty
cents per diem. Besides, they h.V,e to
furnish their own conveyance. It IL
generally carried on horseback. though
a buggy, a bus or a stage may be used
This, in fact, is the distinctive charac-
teristic Of Star route as different from
other forms Of mail service. The gov
eminent does not specify how it shall be
carried
The hardships Of the street car driver
are nothing compared with the suffering
that some OF the mail carriers IN TINS
state have 10 undergo. In rain, snow
sleet or hail they have 10 take their long
daily rides. The thermometer may get
so low that cattle freeze in the field, but
the mail carrier IA supposed to b. inyul- !
nerable for the pay Of fifty cents day. |
He has 10 catch trains on pain Of losing
his contract, and thereby FORGETTING his !
bond, when the roads are little isss THAI /
beds Of quicksand He has 70 feed his /
horse. feed himself and family, not % 1
mention clothing and the expense Ok /
keeping his vehicle n order, If hs uses /
one, for fifty cents q day. They must |
be wonders Of economy, these mail car
riers.
In some portions q the state, esps-
cially IN the southeastern part, the mad 1
carrier has % 90 only once week
There are places poi fifty miles from
Louisville where mail Is received only
three times week. The Garner, how
ever, has one thing 70 compensate FOX
his small pay, where mail is delivered
only once week. lie is a very I'M
portant Pers0aags there, outranE-Is ths
country squire, except when the exam
ming trial q a Murderer is 90 be held |
An eager crowd. VINO have rot beard
froLn the outer world for 1T days. await
his arrival TIE Erst sFat q MN. a.
bis horse turns a bend ia the country
road. i . VILLAGE ssrlaatl95. The greatezs