The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-11
WaSAmAkEws COSTLY SCHEMES.
The Free Delivery System in Towns ars
VILLAGE a R1O.OOO.oOO n Yenr Failure.

Villages n g1o.0oO.ooo n Year Failure.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 10.-First Assistant POST
master General Jones has made his frat an
nual report decidedly readable document
Discussing the experiment OF free delivery in
towns and villages. he says that practical
test has been given this plan. extending over
period Of two and one-half years In forty
six towns and villages ranging in population
from 500 to 1000 inhabitants. the system has
been In operation for two full years At first
Its establishment was received by many with
satisfaction and delight. and great results
were predicted. 1t was certainly a novelty.
and as long as IL remained so and every resi-
dent OF the village had his IN oil delivered by the
carrier. the service not only seemed to prove Of
real benefit to the patrons OF the local Post
Oflcos, but resulted In m apparent increase
in tho postal receipts. The gross receipts of
many OF these Post ofilces showed temporary
increases. and some. a part at least OF the
increase in the volume OF mail could be plaus-
IDLY attributed to the effect OF the free delivery
service. But soon the novelty wore of. and
tho resident Of tho village agait. 'ound 1t more
get his mail The annua increase in the
postal receipts and in the volume OF mail soon
natural growth. and the extension OF the free
delivery service to towns and villages through
opt me county .I ny G an annual expense
concentrating an innovation OF this kind, says
the report involving so great an expense. tho
demands OF the business public and the bene-
FITS to the people should alone control. It
ehoud not DO extended merely because tho
free delivery In cities Is maintained at the ex-
pense of the general public. In the judgment
Of this Office tho experimental free delivery
should be suspended at the close OF tho cur
rent year.
As to rural FREQ delivery the report says:
" In tho Appropriation bill for the fiscal year
ending June 10. 1904. Congress provided
$1,000 to 10 used. at the discretion Of the
Postmaster: General. In testing the feasibility
Of estabishinga system OF free delivery in rn-
this time. to give the subject Of rural free de-
essarily requires. mi oh less to put 1t in actual
operation TO do this. he holds would require
q much larger APPROXIMATION than that pro-
vidsd. To attempt 1t with an inadequate ap-
prlation would simply result in a waste OF
money and a loss OF time. 1t would require an
appropriation OF Mt least 100000. 900 to in
auEurate o system Of rural free delivery
throughout the country"
The total revenue OF the department for the
past fiscal year is stated ct SI5.S!B933. being
nm increase Of S4.9U6.457, or seven per cent
Having in view the records OF past years. Mr..
Jones ia of the opinion that an appropriation
OF S172J0.OUO will be required to mpensate
postmasters for the coming fiscal year. This
alton for clerks In Pest Offices for the current
fiscal year is SSSlO.OU0 which is an increase
Of S45O.OOO as compared with the appropri-
alton for the past fiscal year. For the coming
year II is estimated that So. 100000 will he re-
uured,