Arizona republican., 1899-08-26
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Perry Heath on the Chsapness and
Success of the Suburban Service.

Rural free delivery is now in opera
ton in upward Of 200 towns in the
United States said Perry Heath. first
assistant postmaster general, the other
day at Washington. Every state has
had a trial of it ana it has been espe-
cially successful in the state of New
/ York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
/ Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin,
/ where there are SO many localities that
! are thickly settled and WHARF il has
probably been established for a longer
/ time than in some CT the ether states.
/ Now let me make a statement to
you that is almost beyond belief. In
/ every instance the amount Of mail de-
liYered has been greatly increased af-
/ ter the establishment of the free de-
livery. In nearly every instance 1t has
doubled, in most it has trebled. in
many qTadrUDled and in some quin-
tupled- l recall one place in Michigan
in the district of a congressman who
was opposed to the establishment OF
the service. The thing Was done, how
ever, and within three months the
amount of mail delivered to the coun-
try people of that place had more than
quintupied. I showed the report to the
congressman and he said he had no
further opposition to rural free deliv-
cry
Editors of daily papers have writ
ten to me to extend the service in sub
urban towns away from the railroads
as rapidly as possible, as they were
increasing their circulation rapidly
among q class who never before would
take a daily simply because they could
7ln4 q no
was fresh. In districts where market
quotations were of value to the farm
ers every farmer who could afford il
would subscribe for the daily instead
OF the weekly paper, and thus not only
know the market value of their pro-
ducts, but also know what. was going
on in the great word outside, which,
for the mos. Part. had been a sealed
book tC them.
Another feature of the system that
viii surprise you is that the cost of
delivery to the rural population is not
mere per piece than il is ID the urban
population. This is almost too much
to believe. but il is an absolute fact
Now, why should not the farmer have
his letters and newspapers brought TO
his door as vel, rs the jewellers iE the
cities when the COST Of such delivery
is actually less per piece than in the
city? AS a matter of simple equity the
service should be established wherever
there is any need CT it. Moreover. the
establishment of free delivery in the
cities has been accompanied BY 10
such increase in the amount OF mail
as in the country. In this respect there
is no comparison, thus showing the
eagerness Of the rural people for news
and correspondence
'One of the chief arguments against
the Introduction Of the system has
been the extreme expense estimated.
This has been put by some as high as
100 million dollars per annum for the
general establishment. But in this
there was no account OF returns. We
pay the carriers $40 per annum. THIS
remuneration being so small, we per
nit the carrier to carry packages, and
thus increase his income. This Is not
only a benefit 20 him. but to the whole
community, for the farmer or his wife
often wants some little thing from the
store when no one can go for it con
ventiently, and IS willing ID gay a
small compensation TO have it bTouSkt
to them "-Pittsburg Dispatch.