The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-06
RURAL DELIVERY.
Good Work Done by Special Agent
A. B. Smith.
HE WILL ESTABLISH ROUTES
In West Virginia ut Grafton, Fair.
mont and Morgantown - Also in
Noighboring Pennsylvania LOCAL..
rics-Exccllcnt Results Obtained by
the System.
rpeelal plspatch 10 the 1n,ellIgcncor.

Epee,nl Dispatch to tho IntellIgcncer.
D. WASHINGTON. D. c., June 5.-AIr.
"A. B. Smith, special agent OF the post
office department in. charge Of the rur-
al delivery system. has been in WASH
ington for a day or two on ;oilicial busi-
ness. i but will leave tonight for New
England. He Will look after the service
In New Hampshire and Connecticut.
and then. probably. vlsitS@estern Sec
tIons. 1t Ii, his purpose to3shortly es-
tablish three routes In West. Virginia
Grafton. Fairmont and IMorgantown.
Hewtil also probably Introduce the sys-
TEN at an early day at West Alexander,
Claysville,' ,Taylorstown, Canonsburg,
F!nleyville, Chartered. Monongahela
City and West Brownsville, in Pennsyl-
vania. and extend the system to points
in West Virginia's western panhandle.
Mr.. Smith Is pleased with the results
in all places where the; system has
been established. The effect has been
TO accommodate large number OF
people. increase the postnffice receipts
by ausmenting opportunities for cor
respondence. and In many instances
securing much more revenue than Is
required to maintain the service.
In one place. West Chester. Pa, Mr..
Smith says one carriers work pays the
salaries of the entire force Of carriers.
In many Instances the revenues for the
first six months pay the expenses OF
the year. This is, not, OF course. clear
gain over previous conditions. but there
Is an advance In the sales OF stamps, by
reason Of increased opportunities, which
is far in excess Of expectations.
In many localities, 1t is understood,
the new system has had the effect OF
abolshlng star routes, at least for n
portion Of the territory represented by
each. and this. the department finds. is
an advantage, star. routes but seldom
II ever paying back to the government
the amount expended for their main
tenance. At PhiRppi, West Virginia,
where the Carriers have been at work
Blu, month. the results in the num-
Der of pieces of mall handled and the
impetus the system gives to the postal
business. are most tlattering.
Another enterprise which the de-
partnent officials say suffers somewhat
from the Introduction OF the rural mail
delivery system. Is the hack business,
and the 'proprietors of several lines in
various localities have made vigorous
oppositlonlto the Innovation. The car
riers have. permission to transport
packages between poiats. and this en-
croaches upon the preserves of the
hackman and excites the III will of his
friends II is urged In behalf of the
ing from the face OF the earth old land
marks. which. by reason of long SER
vice and antiquity. should have perpet-
ual right of way.
The population eoEtributafy to the
old and the new. however. is standing
manfully by that system. which serves
them most acceptably and which. in
the general opinion presents the great.
er advantages. The privilege OF hav-
Ing mail and parcels-the first with the
expenditure OF neither time nor money,
the other at the usua- cost-Selivered
at each farmhouse door. Is popular
from the start, and. the officials say.
the fad" has come to stay.
Another innovation is soon to be
added-lf, indeed. it is not already in
troduced at points-which it Is believed
will do: more than all else to render the
system indispensable. The carriers on
the rural routes are to be empowered
business-that Is, among the patrons OF
the office from which each carrier
wends his daily way. A special form
OF money order blank Is being prepar-
ed for this use, and the man who delIv-
ers and collects mail from the farm
house will be equipped with the essen.
tials for the transmission of money
by mail, and armed with authority to
receive the amounts, giving the regu.
lat!on receipts. and will deliver the
same to the postmaster. That function
airy win do the rest.
Mr.. Smith Is not sure of his dates in
the West Virginia sections named. He
has other engagements which he can
not ignore-the establishment Of routes
where the prelmlnarles are already
comprehension he said he would as
coon as possible after meeting these
appointments take up and dispose of
the cases at Fairmont. Grafton and
Morgantown. respectively.
Nothing 10 Crow Over.
BERLIN. June 4.-The general tonc