The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-10-25
tical demonstration of what followed
it, out it beats me how that fellow
ever heard the story of the two gov.
ernors
Star Route Mail Delivery.

The postal regulations recently
issued by the department. relative to
Star route mali carriers contain
new paragraph that is Of great inter
est to large number of South Caro-.
lima people. As will be remembered,
all the Star route contracts are to be
given out afresh for four years this
fall to the lowest bidder; and all bids
must be filed by November 60 next.
The new regulation requires that
bidders for mail contracts in this
State shall include in their bids the
delivery Of mail free along their
routes whenever suitable box is
provided and certain formalities are
complied with
This is substantial adoption, as
far as South Carolina is concerned, of
Congressman Stokes Star route mail
delivery, which attracted so much
attention all over the country last
winter, and which the News and
Courier very ably advocated Curl
ously enough, the proposition failed
as "rider" to the annual appropria.
ton bill only by the enforced absence
of Senator Quay from a conference
committee during his remarkable trial
for the wrecking of bank.
Representative Stokes was not
dauuted by this, however. He urged
the department to undertake in an
experimental way what had failed
only through an accidental combina.
tion of circumstances.
This recent order of the postal
authorities, in line with his sugges.
ton, secures for South Carolina sub.
stantially the benefits be proposed for
the entire country.
When seen by your correspondent,
Mr.. Stokes expressed himself as
highly grati6ed with the result.
1.-The proposition" he said, sis too
important, its benefits too patent, It's
fairness too manifest, to admit Of a
doubt that the feature will become
permanent, not only IN the postal
system of South Carolina, but of the
United States 1t is here to stay
Mr.. Stokes attributes much Of the
credit for this result to the intelligent
and vigorous fight made for the
measure by the daily and weekly
press of the country Almost with
out exception the press Of South
Carolina warmly commended the
proposition, and the rural press Of
the United States took up the fight
for it.
Here is the text of the Instructions,
applying specially to South Carolina:
'.In addition to proposals for carry.
ing the mails on the routes and SUBJ
ject to the conditions hereinbefore
set forth, proposals will also be re.
ceived for carrying the mails on the
same routes in the State of South
Carolina, subject to the same condi-
tions, aud also subject to further
requirements, as follows:
Any person living on or near any
star route herein described who de.
sires his mail deposited in box on
the line of the route by the carrier on
said route may provide and erect
suitable box on the roadside, located
in sGch manner as to De reached as
practicable by the carrier, aod such
person shall file with the postmaster
at the postofice TO which his mail
is addressed (Which shall be one Of
the two postoffices on t5e route on
either side of and next to the boz. J
request in writing for she delivery
of bis mail to the carrier on the route
for deposit in said mail box, at the
risk of the a6dressee.
"It shall be the duty of the post
master at every such postofice, upon
written order from aby person liv-
ing On or near the. star route, to,
deliver to the proper mail carrier
for that route any mall matter, exceps
registered mail, with Instructions as
to the proper mail box at which said
mail matter shall be deposited !;
but no mail matter so delivered to the
carrier for deposit ehall be carried
past another postofdce on the route
before being deposited in a mail box:
1.-The carrier On the star route will
be required to receive from any post
master on the route any mail matter
that may be entrusted to hin, out.
side of the usual mail bag, and shall
carry such mali matter 10 deposit
it in the proper boxes placed on the
line of the route for this purpose
such service by the carrier to
without charge to the addresses y
OraDgeburg cor. News and Courier.
The Y M. G.. A. Work.