The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-03-17
Free Delivery on Star Routes.

EoAAOWanS aro tno PROVISIONS VI tno
Hon. J. VIM. Stokes "bill to extend
frse delivery Of mail along star routes:'
That all contracts for carrying
nail oa star routes made after the
passsee Of this act shall include tho
dsposite 10 tho proper boxes placed on
the line Of tho routes fr this purpose.
without charge to the addresses, any
mail matter that may be intrusted to
The carrier for such distribution by
any postmaster on the route.
"Sec. 2. That it shall also be the
duty Of the said carriers so contract
ing, in addition to tile duties imposed
BY section 6S7 of tho postal laws, to
take up such mail matter ss may be
deposited in said mail boxes and de.
posit same for mailing at the next
PostofEice on his route without addition.
Il compensation.
'6ec. 3. That it shall be the duty
Of each pnstmaster, upon . written or
der from any person living on or near
~ established star route which comes
within the provisions of section one of
this act, to deliver to the proper mail
earr,er for that route any mail matter
With instructions a. to the proper mail
box 1t which said mail matter shall
be deposited.
'Sec 4. That any person desiring
his mail deposited along the line of
any star route within the terms ofsec-
tion ono of this act shall erect box,
- convenient al practicable on the
roadside, and file with the nearest post.
master on each side of the box q re-
quest in writing for the delivery Of his
mail to tho proper carrier for deposit
in said mail box.
"Sec. 5. That all mail boxes along
such star routes shau be numbered
sonsecutively, beginning from the
point of the star route.
"Sec. 6. That with view to bring.
ing tho r9n thus deposited ultimate
~ under tho protection OF sno Yoa,o. -,
postal laws until received by sddressee
or his sgent, the postmaster general
II hereby authorized to invite submis-
sion of plans and devices for special
boxes with duplicate keys for the use
of carriers and addresses, respectively.
1t will b readily seen that this
bill oontsmplatss better postal facili>
ties for the people living in the rural
districts through which the "star
routes" extend, and for this reason
We heartily approve the measure and
hope it will become law. The pres.
snt system is cumbersome and un-
satisfactory and susceptible Of the i'm
provemenh proposed in this bill.
With better mail facilities the remote
sections of tho country would be
brought into closer relation to the
towns and cities, and the additional
service would cost far less than the
increased revenue would amount to.
People would take more papers and
read mere; moro letters would be
written and the volume of mail matter
largely augmented. In extending the
accommodations provided for in this
bill, Congress would confer . great
blessing upon vast majority of the
people of the Unitsd States, and at the
same time inaugurate = system that
would unquestionably increase the
revenue Of the post Office department
to An extent far beyond
the additional expense incur
rcd In the operation of the law.
We sincerely hope our representatives
in congress will cooperate with Con.
gressman Stokes In working for the
passage Of this bill.