Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-11-21
PBGNIs. NOVEMBER FL. 1899.

When experiments in free rural de-
livery postal service were started in
the United States they
FREE met with strong oppo-
DELIVERY. that such a service
could never be made
self-supporting. 1t might prove to be
a convenience to some persons living
in rural districts, but it would only in
crease the deficit in postal revenues
and be a new burden on the public at
large. Already these experiments are
vindicating the wisdom of the post
Office department in adopting them.
They have been carried on in forty
different states under varying condi-
lions, and not only have they resulted
in increased postal receipts. but many
of the new routes are now paying
their own cost of maintenance. These
results indicate what may be expected
of free rural delivery in the future
under proper management, for most
of the present experiments have been
in operation less than three years.
Another aspect of the matter is much
more important than whether a postal
service of this kind will be self-sup-
porting or not. 1t concerns the social
and economic effect which more fire.
quent and speedy communication with
the outside world will have on rural
districts. Better means of communi-
cation. whether by land or by water,
almost invariably make for improve
ment in this respect, and that such will
be the case with a free rural delivery
postal service is indicated by the
progress already made in districts
where it is in force. There has been
increased demand for newspapers and
magazines; farmers have been brought
into closer touch with neighboring and
distant markets and hence are better
able both to buy and to sell at an
advantage; the Importance of good
roads has been brought home TO resi-
dents of these communities; the value
of farming property has been increased
and in other directions improvement
has followed introduction of the free
rural delivery system. It has caused
the toiler on the farm, the country
merchant and the country doctor and
clergyman to take deeper interest in
large public questions and has shaken
them out of the habit Of viewing
everything from a parochial stand
point. Their mental horizon is no
longer bounded by town and county
lines. They are becoming citizens of a
larger world. This is positive gain not
only for themselves and the com
munities in which they live. but for the
country of which they are a part.
One great drawback from which
many inhabitants of rural districts
have suffered is the isolation in which
they have lived. This has tended to
beget in them class prejudices and
feelings and. often to make them the
ready victims of political demagogy.
This was one reason why western and
southern farming communities sur
rendered so easily to the faIlacies Of
populism and Organism. They were
out of touch with the great outside
world and were easily led to believe
that the latter was in conspiracy
against them. Anything that will
shake them out of the rut of narrow
existence and broaden their outlook
will tend to rid them of such notions,
and this is one thing that better means
Of communication between country
and city promises to accomplish.
San Diego is renorted as greatly