New Iberia enterprise. (New Iberia, La.) 1885-1902, 1898-10-29
RURAL DELIVERY OF MAILS.

cone of my hobbies. if you wish to 81
qualify it. said Marshal Fontelieu to tn,
Picayune's s representative yesterday. I'll
soon to be gratifed. ! have been for YEAR
u persistent knocker at the door of tho pos
office department to obtain for the rura
districts of Louisiana advantages similar
to those enjoyed by many country regions
III the north aud east. have always
believed in progress and improvement in
all lines, and therefore. when | saw that
other rural communities were provided
with free postal mail delivery, | argued
that in Louisiana we should have the same
AS far back rs 1892 the system Of free
mail delivery in rural districts was warmly
advocated by Mr.. Wanamaker. then post
master general. who asked congress to
appropriate certain sum of money for
the purpose OF establishing experimental
routes in rural communities Well. the
appropriation was made, and ere long
forty four experimental routes were map
ped out and put in operation. Their sue
cess was remarkable.
"They were tried in communities rang
ing from 800 to 5000 inhabitants. and the
government was the gamer to a large OK
tent. The money spent for those routes
came back manifold. Postmaster Wana-
makers plan was to have collection and
delivery from every house within the
area served by the post Office whore the
service was put on. The benefits to the
people are manifest. They are saved the
trouble and delay of walking and riding
long distances to the post office Then
the local newspaper also comes in for
share Of the advantages, because of promp-
ter and more reliable delivery to subscr
bers. The big dailies in the cities also
find their business increased for the rea
son that patrons can be more easily secured
and held by having their papers quickly
and reliably delivered Dwcllers in
sparsely settled regions have always been
trying to get away from tho old colonial
system which impressed the milkman, the
butcher, tho grocery man aud the market
man as messengers.
Now continued Mr.. Fontelieu, 81
have labored long and earnestly for Louis
ana in this matter of free rural delivery,
and the trial will be made in Iberia parish.
have received from Hon. Perry s. Heath,
irst assistant postmaster general, letter
informing me that my efforts in favor of
ny people have been successful and that
t | would map out a route to take In as
many plantations and settlements as will
put up the necessary boxes for delivery
md collection, the order will be issued for
he establishment of rural free delivery
'ervice, either from New Iberia or from
my point in that vicinity deemed best for
he service.
"First Assistant Postmaster Heath also
~sete tls~A 4hee ~asth~ssnetio.. for -thip- SCR
ice is contained in an act Of congress
approved June 10, 1893 The act provides
or experimental rural free delivery, in
uding pay of carriers, horse hire allow
nee, supplies and mechanical appliances,
$50, 900. The amount thus appropriated I
$ obviously insufficient for rural free
elivery in every community where the 1
ecessity exists, and the department has, ,
therefore,, adopted the plan of locating the
Experimental service where IL seems to be
1ost desirable, and where the results
romise to be the best AS a pre-
minary of the establishment Of the
ervice it has usually required that
no citizens of the district should forward
trough their representatives in Congress-
petition setting forth the nature of the
ountry whether it is thickly or sparsely
opulated, the leading avocations Of the
eople, the character of the roads, whether
ood or bad, and the distance which the
etitiOners have to travel or send under
xisting circumstances to receive their ,
'ail This petition should then be for $
arded to the post Office department, with ,
favorable Endorsement and special
gent will then be sent out TO look over ,
ne ground, map out q suitable route ,
t routes select carriers for appointment ,
nd recommend tho establishment of the
'rvice, if, in his judgment, it can be sue (
sssful!y and economically carried out ,
(