The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-14
POstmasters Object to Estab-
Iishment Of Rural Delivery.
Would Destroy Their Business
In Sale of Stamps.
OPPOSE NEW METHODS
No Improvements In Mail Fa-
cilities Will Be Approved.
Agent Will Pay No Attention
to the Protests.

e. H. Hathaway. the special agent
of the postoffice department for the
establishment of rural delivery routes,
was the busiest man in Topeka Tues
day afternoon. About so farmers called
on him at Postmaster Guthrie's private
office to interview him about the Te
cumseh route. The only ones who were
opposed to the route were the post
masters whose Offices the free delivery
of the mails would injure. These post
masters did not oppose the free deliv-
cry, but they wanted to ward off the
route from coming close to their Of
fees
E. Watson. postmaster at Watson
postOffice, entered the principal Objec-
ton to the route as it has been out
lined by Mr.. Hathaway. The route will
probably cause the abolition Of his Of
nee entirely thereby depriving Mr..
Watson Of his salary of S65 per year
and the responsibility of handling the
malls.
Mr. Watson wanted a rural delivery
route established, but he did not want
1t to come near his place. He thought
Two or three miles was as close as he
wanted mail delivered Mr. Watson
had mapped out a route. which he sub
United to Mr. Hathaway, running two
miles west of his office. and from there
around into South Topeka. AS the
route is to be esta blished for the bene-
Mt or people around Watson postoffice
q
week at present, 1t is hardly probable
that Mr.. Watson's suggestion will be
adopted.
Late in the afternoon Mr.. Watson
presented a petition to Mr.. Hathaway,
signed by some of Mr.. Watson's neigh
oors, protesting against having the
route coming close to them. AS the
signerS of the petition had also signed
the petition asking for the route in
their neighborhoOd, it did not carry
much weight.
Postmaster Naylor. of Tecumseh, told
Mr. Hathaway that he thought the
route ran too close to his office He
said it would decrease the business of
the Tecumseh office one-half and also
ms salary in the same proportion. He
nad mapped out a route to take the free
delivery around south of Tecumseh, so
that the present patrons of his office
would not get the benefit of it.
The postmaster of Granville east of
North Topeka, was on hand to see
that no route was planned to enter his
territory.
A large delegation Of farmers came
In from east of Watson postoffice and
asked that the route be made to run
farther east and south than was origi-
naIIy intended. They wanted the route
to run within a mile of the Douglas
county line and two miles into Mon
mouth township. There was so much
pressure for this change that Mr. Hath
away decided to send some one over the
territory to be served in order to find
out the wishes of the patrons of the
route themselves, and fix the route ac-
cordingly
y number of people came in from Sol
der township, asking for a free deIiv-
cry route. and today Mr.. Hathaway and
postmaster Guthrie drove out through
that territory. 1t is proposed to start
the route out on Kansas avenue run if
north to Thomas Kemp's place then
west two or three miles, and back to
Topeka on the Central avenue road
This route would be served from the
North Topeka office.
John b Sims and Thos. Buchanan al
SO called on Mr.. Hathaway, as the rep
fesentatlVes Of the people of Mission
township and asked for a route out in
that direction. A public meeting was
neId IN Mission township last week and
these two men were appointed as dele
gates TO see Mr.. Hathaway on the sub
1ect- The Mission route is proposed to
run out the Twenty-first street road
past Seabrook and back past the
grange Hall. It would be served from
station B. Mr.. Hathaway will look
unto the claims of that route later
tomorrow Mr.. Hathaway goes TO
Jewell county to lay out a route run
nlng out of Jewell City. AS fast a s the
people of the state learn that free rural
delivery is being established in the
state, they want a route established in
their neighborhood
1t is not certain that the Tecumseh
route will be started on July / as suf-
hclent time will be given the farmers to
get their mail boxes up.