The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-08-24


for one. One has but to take a trip over
the favorite driveways almost any
pleasant afternoon to realize the ex-
tent to which this form of outdoor
pleasure has become general. Hundreds
who several years ago did not know
how to drive, are seen handling the rib
hons over horses that can step close
TO the 2:20 mark.
We clip the following from our most
excellent contemporary, the Farmers
Voice. It is by Mr.. B. F. Workman, of
Auburn, ILL.,:
In December 1896, the postal depart
ament put in operation the rural free de-
livery OF mail in this locality as an
experiment. and the farmers who are
patrons OF this office have been enjoy
linz that luxury ever since.
It was said by many at the beginning
Nthat this was too good to last; some
Thought It would be called or within six
months, or even less than that.
Such predictions no doubt have kept
many farmers from taking daily papers
that would have done 80 had they
known 1t would have been continued
] even to this date.
How along this 10 to be continued ls
not known, but thefarmers of this Of
nee desire It to become permanent
feature Of the postal service. Much
sdependsi however. on the interest taken
IN this. matter by the patrons of the
/ ONCE themselves.
According to the report Of the first
asssistant postmaster general for 1898.
there are now over thirty-ave states
and territories in which the experiment
~ being tried. This report Is very in
1terestng reading. pages 81 to 81 treat
ing on rural free mail delivery.
In this report It 10 shown that rural
HPA9A Anl3Vnrv NQn no N nf IN al N
many sections Of our country at less ex-
pense than is done under the present
system and with much better service.
Many fourth-class offices and star
routes can be dispensed with and the
!. cost OF maintaining them be transfer
rcd to the credit OF the delivery SER
vice. GA d
10 illustrate, will describe this Of
nee and its operations The carriers.
!. OF which there are three, travel two
thirds the distance to each OF the sur
rounding Offices to the northwest. Our
carrier goes within twelveB miles Of
$Laomi: twelve miles distant. Nearly
IL another ONCE called Sulphur. Now.
tf Laumi should have free rural deliv-
: cry. the distance for Auburn could be
made shorter and the Office Of sulphur
According to the report above refer
red to, nine stations were laid out In
rtwo OF our well-populated states. In
1 . saving Of 1439.13, II the abolition Of
Il the fourth class Offices and the star
i routes had been carried out.
And thGt ID not the most important
hpart 70 consider. Many Of our most
Intelligent and prosperous farmers are
scnlty and expense OF getting their mail
xagularly. The free delivery system
nvin check this tendency and improve
nhc intellectual life Of the farm. The
three carriers FOR this ONCE each cost
31Oo per annum, or q total Of $500.
When the roads are fairly good the
TRIMS are made In from ave to six hours.
e hours In the report for the fiscal year
1So7 the cost Of delivery In one station
sof California 10 given out az three
tflfths OF 4 cent for each piece Of mail
For the month OF November. 1898. Au-
sshurn's expense was about one and one
nth cent TOR each piece Of mail. ! Do
X not want TO he classed as q calamity
showler. but Il u true that agriculture
\ has not received the attention It de-
serves from the hands OF our legisla-
II tora. eith0r state or national. Farmers
sah0uld. by all means honorable, en-
courage rural free mail delivery. While
4 thie q perhaps not practical In all sec.
ana win no doubt be increased from
II year to year.
The department sent out last year 9
number of circular letters, giving In
1ifralct lions how to obtain free delivery
Ther can 10 obtained by writing Il
ReGHy M Heath. assistant postmaster
a 1enesaA N aahinE ton. p.
IdDIFULI VALUE OF ALFALFA,
varnos,f ska <tn,, # y,vn..u