Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-03-31
COUNTRY DELIVERY.
SOMETHING ABOUT UNCLE SAMUEl'S
SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT.

tricts Pays for ItseIf-System Being Ex-
tended to New LocaIities-Mode of Oper-
alton Explained.
The action of the recent congress In
increasing the Appropriation for the free
delivery of mail in rural districts from
$15O, 900 to $500, 900 year indicates that
this novel branch of the postal service is
success, and is to be a permanent in
stitution. Wherever it has been tried in
the middle and eastern states it has been
satisfactory to the officials and to the
people. In the southern states it is
more or less of failure. The population
in that section is scattered and the
percentage of illiteracy among the white
as well as negro population reduces the
amount of correspondence and news
paper reading, making an increased post
al service Improbable. Nevertheless the
rural delivery is being keenly sought
after for its political effect upon the
farmers who can appreciate it. One
republican district in Tennessee and one
democratic district in South Carolina are
now receiving the benefits of the service.
The rural pOstmen are given wide
latitude hv the department. They are
paid only 500 a year and are required TO
provide their own horses. To counter
balance this they are allowed TO engage
in all kinds of outside business denied to
regular carriers. One enterprising rural
postman IN "a western STATE recently sent
the department copy of a circular he
had distributed to his patrons In which
he offers to supply them with choice
brands of cigars and tobacco. to take
subscriptions for magazines and news
papers. to tune pienos and repair musical
boxes.
Bad road are the great impedmpnt to
the extension of the service i'm tho
western states. Even though at the
cross roads highway letter boxes are
provided into which the mail is dropped,
TO be collected ivy those who live of the
main thoroughfarc. If is found difficult i'm
some sections 70 Law out y route of from
twenty TO TWENTY-FIVE miles d.v-qs
nrescribed nv the regu11tiors of the de-
oartmenr-which one horse can cover.
Ulinoi. i. one of the worst states i'm this
re4nrct because of its bad roads and deep
mud. Two special agents of the dcpart-
ment recently spent AN entire week
irving TO establish routes from Nuruhvs-
boro. Jackson county. Their J, ports
have lust reached the department.
They name six routes which they think
can be managed. but declare that the
condition of the roads would mike an
angel indulge in profanity.
Iowa shows M better than Uiino1> in
the matter If road; This is particularly
full service has been started from Brook
1vn. Burlington, Fldora. FrnitIand.
Mount Pleasant. Morning Sun. New
Providence and Webster city.
senator Gear has been nartirularlv
energetic in pressing the establishment
of the service in the npiehbnrbood of
Burlington. his home. Ar the instance
Of Senator Allison, a sppci,l agent is now
inquirirg inro the nracticahilitv of
extending the service in NIuscatine
county. Representatives Henderson.
Updegran and Cousins have been equally
persistent Il, behalf of their constituents.
Indiana has secured a Hons share of
the service. vhich is probably dua TO the
fact rh1. Assistant Postmaster Genera,
Heath knows the need, of his state and
SuOnlos thrm so far as he is able The
service in Iudiaua has been efficient. If
was the first state in which the starroute
carriers we're utilized to deliver the rural
mails. and that arrapgoment has sur-
cceded 20 well that The experiment will
be extended bo,h in Indiana and in
other states.
Investigations are now going on in
Micbigar. and after thp new ammonia.
tion becomes available ON the first Of ne vt
July There will be a considerable incroasn
in that state. The nrcsrnt minis of
distrihutjnr are BENTON Uarhor Climax
Owosso. Ridpewav. South Haven. linton
and the marine delivery throuph vossels
from Datroit.
The prevailing impression that ruraI
free delivery Is inordinatelv exnensiva l.
. ,,,;..,,. T., ,,i,, go. s. 49,. ,:... :.