The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-25
TINE NEEDED.


advanced from time to time in sustain
ment of the claim that rural free de-
livery has been an unqualified success.
The system is one which in It's nature
should be encouraged. It is in process
of trial, and wherever the conditions have
been at all favorable there can be no
question that it has proven successful.
But it has not gone far enough as yet
to justify any one In declaring it's en-
tire feasibility.
The fact that the present national adj
ministration is using the plan and its
alleged success as an agent for~the man
ufacture of political capital will not aid
in any degreerin convincing the country
that the experiment has proven success
full, or that it would be advisable to utiI-
ize the public funds to the extent that
will be necessary in case it is put into
general operation.
Thus far-or at least I'D to last Novem-
berthe extent of the operation of the
system was net-@sueh~ to- justify any
general conclusions. Seven experiments
have been tried in this state and have
been found successful The largest num-
Der of free delivery districts in any state
in the Union at that time were 40 in
Ohio. Then came Indiana with A, New
York with "a. Iowa with %, South Caro-
lima, strangely enough, with q and Kan
sas, Illinois, Wisconsin and Penn
sylvania with. II each In all
the other states represented in the
scheme, the number Of stations We're
trivial and unworthy of being con3id-
cred in determining the probable success
of the undertaking
That distinguished political manager
who is nominally first assistant postmas-
ter general, Perry S. Heath, has made
a very long but not very convincing re-
cital in his report of the advantages
which have ensued from the experiment
Because few of the districts have sue
ceeded in paying the expense involved,
the conclusion is sought to be arrived
at that the United States should go into
the undertaking generally To do this
at this time would be folly. Yet there is
no citizen who reflects upon the advan,
tages which are Inherent in the system
that will not entertain the earnest hope
that the time is not far distant when
the federal government can engage itself
generally in the undertaking.
Time will no doubt suggest means
whereby the expense may be materially
lessened and the most substantial ad-
vantages of a free delivery system De
placed at the disposal of our rural COM
munities. The experience of the depart
ment in Carol county, Md, which is
one Of the Oldest communities in the
country, and one of the most thickly
settled, and the only county in which
the experiment is in operation througil-
out its entire limits, is one which leafs
to the expectation that the great barrier
of expense may one day be removed.
In that county the government has
established the innovation. of postof1ice
on wheels-a postal wagon specially built.
1t is eight feet long, with a folding door
i'll the center, painted in blue and gold,
and lettered ~. S. Postal Wagon" It
is fitted UP with counter, drawers and
letter boxes. 1t is drawn by two horses,
and has a driver and postal clerk, the
latter authorized to receive, cancel, col
lect and deliver all mails; to receipt 70.
all applications for. money orders and
registered letters. 1t covers a daily
route of thirty miles in all weathers,
collects mail from sixty letter boxes,
placed at intervals of half mile aud
delivers mail to all the houses on the
way. Its expense last year was only
$1,S75, and it takes the place of eight
fourth-class postoffices and four STAR
route carriers, the combined cost of which
was about $1,000
While there must remain for some time
serious doubts as to the advfsability Of
carrying the experiment out too extern
sively, the record which. has been made
in Carol county will help materially In
preparing public opinion to accept a con-
siderable expenditure for the purpose of
having the mail delivered generally
throughout the country districts, at least
of the welI-settled and older states.