Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-02-05
What Has Been Done Already at the
Experimental Offices - What
the Postmaster General
Says Can BE Done.

forty-six country communities, and i
most Of them the increased returns shor
clear profit above expenditures, rura
delivery becomes a reality of the nea
future, and there is little doubt that
marked advance beyond the experiment.
stage will be made this year.
The report of the Postmaster Genera
shows that between February l and Sep
tember 3, 1891, the forty-six experimeu
tai offices spent S432O for carriers. L
the same time the receipts at thos
offices increased S5506. Some OF thi
was due to natural growth, aud by
comparison with the previous year dc
duction in the same proportion was mad
for the annual increase Of 1891. Afte
doing this, the Postmaster General re
ports an increase Of s5171 due to fire.
delivery. This is $3.50 more than tn
cost of the service; so the department
made clear profit of $3.50 on the ez
pertinent of rural free delivery.
The forty-sx country postoffices where
trial was made are located in thirty one
States.
The Postmaster. General says: "An
entire year, aggregating $50 months for
these forty-six offices, would have re-
suited, according to the above proper.
tions, is a net earning of S3Sl2.54.
With an appropriation OF $500, 900 for
the next fiscal year the net earnings,
upon the same basis, would reach S72,-
25O.SO; with an appropriation of $780,
900 the net earnings would be, by the
same figuring, $3.50, ,627, and with an
appropriation of a million dollars, 1891, =
254. OF course the implication is that
the service would be put on in comnuni-
ties of areas and densities of populatior I
similar to those already experimental
with"
Upon this Mr.. Wanamaker makes
some apt remarks on the advantages of a
rural free delivery of mail. He calls
attention to its value as Ia quickening in
Guence in business by bringing the rural
districts in closer touch with the world,
and remarks upon its happy effect in
increasing the social opportunities of the
people. In an appendix he prints this
letter from an experienced man, who
shows how thoroughly practical rural
delivery will be when operated in con-
nection with the star routes;
"About 1874 the writer had some
star route contracts, and for the price of
mail box and 81 per annum, we sup.
piled the farmers along cur routes.
leaving the mail in those boxes for them.
after we had passed their postolices, and
taking out Of the boxes the letters they
wanted to send away, besides doing some
little local business in leaving invitations
to husking bees, etc. The plan was so
popular that committee waited on me
at one time, offering me bonus if I
would send my carrier by another route
past their places. There is no question
that your plan, once established, would
be great factor to keep the young folks
on the farm; to keep them from joining
the great army of the unemployed in the
cities; to take away the loneliness of farm
life; to teach farmers that merchants.
corporations, railroad companies and big
bugs are not forever, in some mystcriou,
way, getting up some plan of oppression
for them, or are ready to devour them.
1t will make their homes more sociable;
give them during the winter months
chance for selfeducation and means of
social intercourse; it will give their city
friends a better opportunity to visit
them, by announcing their intended
coming, so that they eau meet them at
the train. 1t will bring the farmers into
contact with the basis of supply. They
can send away and get their goods
cheaper. 1t will make country life more
sought after, and our cities, already
oyercrowded, less desired by the coming
generation who are now filling our streets
with malcontents. Our fields will be
better titled aud farmers. what they ought
to be, the most cultivated of men,
1t appears from the statements Of the
Postmaster General that public senti-
ment is ripe for this new advance. He
says on this subject:
81 have found encouragement beyond
all expression for this effort in the almost
unanimous support of the press of the
country. OF the editorial opinions which
have come to the notice OF the depart.
ment 2JS favor the extension and nine
oppose it. A noticeable thing about
them II that many express the surest
confidence in ultimate universal free dc.
livery; and while they state the fact that
this rural free delivery has been found
to be self-sustaining, they insist, in very
many instances, that it ought to be ex-
tendcl whether it is selt-supportiug or
not"