The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-12-23
Good Roads and Free Delivery.

From the Detroit Tribune
petition to Congress has been prepared
and is being circulated in various states,
asking that the Postmaster General be au-
thorlZed by law to establish free postal de-
livery service wherever he is satisfied that a
sufhclent mileage of continuous good maca-
dam, telford, gravel, or other equally dura-
Die and solid common road is provided and
maintained in good condition to make a
postal delivery route or circuit practicable,
such route to be served either daily or every
other day or twice a week, or once week,
according to population. The object is dual
to extend free postal delivery, and there
py 10 encourage the construction Of good
common roads.
This petition asserts: That all citizens of
the United States are entitled to free postal
delivery, II any are; that the farmer who
pays the same postage as the CITY resident is
entitled to the same postal service for his
money, provided the country districts are
furnished with good roads for the use of the
postmaD, so as to make such service posi-
bic; that it is the constitutional duty of
Congress to foster these objects, because
good roads are military necessity for the
common defense; to form more perfect
union, to promote the general welfare. to
establish post Offices and post roads, to pro-
mote internal commerce and communication,
10 enhance the general prosperity. Such
service, by foot or horse, may be costly and
inexpedient; but by the use of specially
constructed bicycles, one postman can serve
the residents along thirty miles of road each
day, and thus serve as many people as the
average number served by one postman in
cities at no greater expense. This service
would naturally find most of its extension at
first in and about villages. Here and there
star routes would penetrate the country
along improved roads. AS fast as such
roads should be constructed, new routes
may be opened to free postal delivery.
This would be q strong inducement to
construct improved roads.
Postmaster General Wanamaker in his
annual report, just published, shows that
tne daily village service experiments haye
yielded profit. Such service as the pc
tltlon asks will enable the department to get
along with fewer post offices, thus saving
expense. lie thinks that 10000 fewer Of
fces could do the business. "With this
money saved, " he urges "should be insti-
tuted system of mounted carriers, bicycles
and star route and messenger contractors
and gradually spread free delivery all over
the country" Occasionally winter storms
might stop such service for day OF two;
but this would only be temporary incon-
yenience, simply delaying delivery briefly a
few times year, and making the postman
carry double loads for one trip when the
storm ceased.
The legislature of Michigan is about to
consider the subject of better common roads,
The report of the road commission, created
by the last legislature, will be laid before
the incoming legislature by Governor
Winans. The petition to Congress above
mentioned originated in Michigan. If Mich
gan makes better roads she should be aid
ed and encouraged by Congress. The leg
lslature, therefore, ought to commend and
reinforce this petition by passing Joint
resolution urging Congress to enact that
free postal delivery shall be extended as
fast and as far as good roads are constructed
to make such service practicable. These
two great reforms are twins. They ought
to proceed together, mutually aiding each
other.
Even If the legislature does nothing else
in this matter it ought to pass joint reso-
luton asking this much of Congress for the
announcement of the great cause of better
common roads, as well as for the equal
rights OF farmers and country people with
city residents under the postal laws.