Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-14
THE SUBURBAN CHARGES.
Criticism of Policy Pursued by EN
Dress Communities

press Companies.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
Less than five years ago residents OF the
suburbs Immediately north of the city were
required 10 pay extra charges on deliveries
OF nearly every article needed for domestic
use; out through persistent agitation by
the citizens, ably aided by the powerful
voice Of the press Crhe Star taking a lead
ing parD, we succeeded in securing general
free delivery, SO that TODAY. with one eN-
ception, we enjoy the same privileges and
benefits in this regard that are accorded to
residents of the city proper.
The exception is the express companies
who still refuse to deliver packages TO adj
dresses north of Florida avenue. The ex-
press business in this city is. as you know,
confined to two comprehensive Adams and
United States-betwoen when a comb!na-
ton exists. Every effort possible has been
made by our citizens. individually and col
iecuvely, 10 induce the representatives Of
these wealthy corporations to yield to
reason and common justice, but without
avail. The only reason or excuse advanced
by them for refusing to comply with the
just demands of the people are ID the extra
expense, and CD the abandonment of the
ancient boundary line-an arbitrary line
established many generations ago. when
there was no population north of Boundary
street.
These pretexts would be too fimsy 10 be
worthy of serious consideration were il not
that the companies defiantly hide behind
them: and L cannot answer them more
forcibly than by quoting from an article in
The Star of a recent issue, under the cap
ton of Free Delivery in the Suburbs
which is follows:
THE present tendency in dealing with
the city and District is to disregard the old
city limits as far as possible and to con-
slider all the inhabited region within the
present remnant of the original ten miles
square as on an urban basis. This has
been possible only within a few years, dur
ing which the suburban movement has set
in with yigor. 1t is absurd to maintain
Florida avenue as the boundary of certain
urban privileges and rights. when just be-
yond the dwellings are frequent and
substantial as those that lie on the city
side
it may be contended that the express
companies must necessarily establish arbi-
trary Lines of delivery. Even If this be adj
mitted. il must be maintained that il.ose
lines should not be fixed ana immovable,
but should rather be drawn subject 10
change from time to time, 10 conform TO
changed conditions. the movements of pop
uiation, &c. When old Boundary street
was originally selected the northern
limit of free delivery there was some rea-
son for IL. as there was then but very
small por Ilation north of that line. but the
conditions of today are entirely different.
there being now a large population between
Florida avenue and Piney Branch and
Spring and Rock Creek Church roads.
Look at the Inconsistency of the present
arrangement, Taking the White House as
a central point of observation (5eing near
the center of populationD, We see the resi-
dents of the Navy Yard, some three miles
away, and those of Georgetown Heights,
nearly as far eff, enjoying free delivery,
while the residents OF Columbia Heights,
Mount Pleasant. College Hill. Meridian Hill,
Washington Heights. &C.. not half the dis
lance, are seen paying extra dimes for The
same service as tribute 10 corporation
greed.
last meeting of the Columbia Heights Cit
liens Association the point was brought
out that express delivery lines are more
closely drawn in Washington than in any
other large city. 1t was asserted with pos
itiveness that in Philadelphia, Boston, New
York, Baltimore, Chicago and other large
cities from six TO twelve miles were The
free delivery limits.
1t is an outrage that large population
such as now exists north of Florida avenue
should be subjected to the cupidity OF these
corporations. But We want this defiant
combination 20 understand that this agita-
ton is not going to end until justice is done
us; and we ask The Star and other local
papers to aid us in our fight. In the mean
retaliatory move that the people of the SUBJ
uros use the registered mail instead of The
express for small packages. Packages to
the limit of four pounds (books may be sent
without limitation to weightp, can be
sent in this way, and as cheaply and with
rs great safety and dispatch as IL sent by
express. Every branch post Office is pre-
ceiving 1t will have ii promptly delivered at
their respective residences by postal car
riers under the special delivery system.
GEORGE SIMMONS.