The times., 1899-11-06
RURAL FBEE DELIVERY
4 Report From the First Assistant
Postmaster General.
Success of the System Considered
One of the Most II Remarkable in the
Departments History - Carriers
Now Operating In Forty States
The Farmers Greatly BENEFITED.

Perry S. Heath. First Assistant Postmas-
ter General. has issued a report on the ru.
raj free delivery. service established by the
Postofice Department. He says:
There has been nothing in the history
of the postal service of the United States
so remarkable as the growth of the rural
free delivery system. Within the past two
years, largely by the aid of the people
themselves. who, in appreciation of the
helping hand which the Government eX-
tended to them. have met these advances
half way, it has implanted itself so firmly
upon postal administration that it can no
longer be considered in the light of an ex-
pertinent, but has to be dealt with as an
established agency of progress, awaiting
only the action of the Congress TO deter
mine how rapidly it shall be developed.
The free delivery of mails in rural
communities can be widely extended with
great benefit to the people and with little
cost to the revenue.
Whenever the system has been judi
ciously inaugurated with a sincere pur-
pose to make it a success, it has been fol-
lowed by these beneficial results:
Increased postal receipts. More letters
are written and received. More newspa
pers and magazines are subscribed for So
marked is this advancement that quite
number of rural routes already pay for
themselves by the additional business they
bring.
Enhancement of the value of farm
lands reached by rural free delivery. This
increase of value has been estimated at as
high as IS per acre in some States, a
moderate estimate is from 81 to SO per
acre.
"A general improvement of the condition
Of the roads traversed by the rural carrier.
In the Western States especially the con-
struction of good roads has been pre-
requisite for the establishment of rural
free delivery service In one county in
Indiana a special agent reports that the
farmers incurred an expense OF over $4,000
to grade and gravel a road in order TO OBJ
tain rural free delivery.
Better prices obtained for farm prod
ucts, the producers being brought into
daily touch with the state Of the markets
and thus being enabled to take advantage
of information heretofore unattainable.
ITO these material advantages may be
added the educational benefits conferred by
relieving the monotony of farm life through
ready access to wholesome literature, and
the keeping of all rural residents, the
young people as well as their elders, fully
informed as to the stirring events OF the
day. The moral value of these civilizing
influences cannot be too highly rated.
The System Once Condemned.
Mr.. Heath says the system was con-
demned in Congress, that Postmaster Gen
eral Bissell refused to experiment with if,
and Postmaster General Wilson made little
headway with the work 1t was argued
that it would cost the Government $40
COO 900 to iuaugurate the system and that
il would prove of little service. The first
experiments proved unsatisfactory and
very costly. but after much trouble the
system began to pay. In November there
were 383 services in successful operation
IN nuer fnrLE Statas as fnIInms.