Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-10-30
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.


department from the rural delivery
districts in Chester and Washington
counties, Pa, giving a resume of the
years experiences indicate that the
newly established service finds great
favor with the residents Of that sec
ton. In Washington county rural
free delivery was introduced little
more than year ago, on October 1,
1898; three routes were established at
the beginning and almost Immediately
after the system had been put in
operation many applications for an
extension of the service were receiv-
ed by the department.. In the spring
the locality was thoroughly gone over
by the special agents assigned to
these parts, and upon their recon-
mendation two lines were added, one
of ten the other of eight miles length.
Nearly all the residents of the district
seem anxious to have the service
extended to their vicinity, and eight
additional carriers had to be employ
ed. While fourth class postoffices are
as numerous in that district as all
over the state, yet no recommended
lions were made for the disturbance
of any of these. However, five post
masters resigned, and thereupon the
respective offices were abolished.
Later on three new routs were estab-
lished at Burlington, connecting with
Washington, and numerous petitions
for service constantly pouring in from
neighboring districts show how much
the residents appreciate the improve
ment in the mail service.
The establishment of rural free
delivery in West Chester has also
proved a great success. There are
now six carriers employed, connect
ing the central Office with twenty
fourth class postofices. None of the
postmasters have been disturbed, ex-
cept one, who was dismissed from the
service for sending improper matter
through the mails. This Office was
afterwards found to be unnecessary,
and it's discontinuance ordered. Pc
titions are on file in the department
requesting two deliveries daily, and
the special agents in charge rec
ommends complained with these re-
quests, provided that the postoffices
in the district be discontinued.
Similar evidence Of public approval
of the new system as we'll as demands
for it's extension have come to the de-
partment from nearly all the districts,
where rural free delivery has been in
troduced. However, the department
is confronted by the fact that no funds
are available for such further extern
sion during the present fiscal year.
While no deficiency is expected to be
incurred, the money appropriated by
congress for this purpose will be ex-
hausted on June 80, 1900, if the service
is continued on present lines. Yet
recognizing the manifest public desire
for an improved mail service, the first
assistant postmaster general has re-
quested the special agents i'll the field
to make preliminary Investigations,
lay out routes and prepare everything
for the enlargement of the present
service. SO that new routes may be
established without delay, if congre IS
should approve of it, and the neces-
sary appropriation should be provid-
ed. Among others the special agent
in charge of the 9Th and Oath Penn
sylvaDia districts, has been instructed
to Investigate and report upon pro-
posed new routes in these localities.