Evening journal., 1899-10-24
Experiment Proves Successful
and Congress Will Be Asked
for Larger Appropriation.
NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE
FOR THE PURPOSE THIS YEAR.
BUT NEVERTHELESS EXTEN.
SION OF THE SERVICE is URGED
IN DISTRICTS IN CHESTER
COUNTY AND ELSEWHERE.

Reports received by the Post Office
Department, in Washington, from the
rural delivery districts in Chester and
Washington counties, Pa, giving a re-
sumo of the years experience indicate
that the newly established service finds
great favor with the residents OF tkat
section. In Washington county rural
free delivery was introduced a little
more than year ago. on October J.,
1898; three routes were established at
the beginning, and almost Immediately
after the system had been put in opera
tion many applications for an extern
sion OF the service were received by the
department. In the Spring the locality
was thoroughly gone over by the spe-
cial agents assigned to these parts, and
upon their recommendations two lines
were added, one of ten, the other of
eight miles length. Nearly all the resi-
dents of that district seem anxious to
have the service extended to their vi
cinity and eight additional carriers
had to be employed While fourth
class post Offices are as numerous in
that district as all over the state, yet
no recommendation were made for the
discontinuance Of any Of these. How
ever, five postmasters resigned, and
thereupon the respective offices were
abolished. Later on three new routes
were established, at BurgettstOwn, con
Meeting with Washington, and numer-
GUS petitions for service constantly
pouring in from neighboring districts
show how much the residents appre-
ciate the improvement in the mail ser
vice.
The establishment Of rural free de-
EtJ-v in West Chester has also proved
aigre"t success. 1here are now six car
rlers employed, connecting the central
Cllce with twenty fourth-class post Of
ices. None of the postmasters has
been disturbed, except one, who was
dismissed from the service for sending
improper matter through the mails
This office was afterwards found TO be
unnecessary, and its discontinuance or
dered. Petitions are on file In the de-
partmen.. requesting two deliveries
daily, and the special agent in charge
recommends compliance with these re-
quests, provided that the post offices in
the district be discontinued.
Similar evidence of public approval
or the new system as well as demands
for its extension have come to the de-
partment from nearly all the districts
where rural free delivery has been in
trOduced. However, the department i:
confronted by the fact that no fund.
are available for such a further exten
sion during the present fiscal year
While no deficiency is expected to bl
incurred, the money appropriated b!
Congress fsF this purpose will be ex
hausted on June 30, 1900, if the service
is continued on present lines. Yet rec
ognizing the manifest public desire fo
an improved mail service, the first as
sistant Ostmaster-general has request
ed the special agents in the field L
make preliminary investigations, Ia.
out routes and prepare everything 70
the enlargement of the present ser
vice, so that new routes may be estah
lished without delay If Congress shoull
approve of it, and the necessary appro
priation shOuld be provided. Anon
others the special agent in charge O
the Sixth and Twenty-fourth Pennsyl
vania districts, has been instructed /
investigate and report upon propose
new routes in those localities.