Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-03-24
STAR ROUTE BOX DELIVERY.
Congressman BurIeigh Interests Himself in an
Improvement Of the Postal Service.

world is the postal business Of the
United States. SO quietly and smoothly
does it work that but few people ever
realize its immensely or how dependent
every person in every community is
upon its successful management. At
no time in the history of postal affairs
has there been SO rapid an advance
ment and so great an improve
ment in SO short a time as under the
present postmaster general, Charles
Emory Smith, and the efficient corps
of assistant postmaster generals form
ing his staff. These heads of the de-
partment are all practical business
men who have been selected on ac-
count Of their progressive ideas and
executive fitness for the stations they
occupy. The most recent advance is
the establishment Of what is called the
star route box delivery as an improve
ment Of the present system Of carrying
mails in country districts and by
! stages, which are generally denomi-
mated by the government as star
routes.
| Congressman Burleigh, who thor
/ oUghly understands the requirements
Of his rural constituents and is always
| alert to obtain advantages for his dis
| trict that the governVent will give to
| any part of the country, and who be
| lieves that the voters of the third dis
! trict are entitled to the very best, OBJ
\ tanned one Of the first routes Of this
| kind ever established which Went into
effect the first of the present month.
We copy entire the notice providing
/ for the new contracts on star routes in
| the state of South Carolina, as show
/ ing exactly the intention of the new
| contracts.
STAR ROUTE BOX DELIVERY.
Notice is hereby given to the public
that the contracts for the carrying the
| mail on all Of the Star Routes III the
state Of South Carolina, taking effect
July /, 1900, provide that those who so
desire may have the mail that is adj
| dressed to them delivered by the car
riers into boxes along the lines Of the
| several routes.
ANY person living on or near any
Star Route in the state who desires 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 such a man
ner as to be reached as conveniently
III AiIttbIc ny INC Call 4tl, anu SICIl
! person shall file with the postmaster
at the postofffce to which his mail is
| addressed (Which shall be one of the
two postoffices on the route on either
side of and next to the boX) a request
in writing for the delivery of his mail
to the carrier on the route for deposit
in said mail box, at the risk of the
| addressee.
1T shall be the duty of the post
master at every such pOstoffice, upon
a written order from any person living
on or near the Star Route to deliver
to the proper mail carrier for that
route any mail matter, except regis
tered mail, with instructions as to the
proper mail box into which said mail
matter shall be deposited; but no mail
| matter so delivered to a carrier for
deposit shall be carried past another
| pOstoffice on the route before being
deposited in q mail box.
The carrier on the Star Route will be
required to receive from any pos tmaster
on the route any mail matter that may
be intrusted to him. outside Of the usual
mail bag, and shall carry such mail mat
ter to ana deposit it in the proper boxes
placed On the line Of the route for this
purpose; such service by the carrier to
be without charge To the addresses.
THE mail carriers must be able Ia read
ana write the English language ana be
Of sufficient intelligence to properly han
de and deposit the mail for boxes along
the routes.
The law provides that every carrier Of
the mail shall receive any mail matter
presented to him, if properly prepaid by
stamps, ana deliver the same for mail
ing at the next postoffce at which he
arrives, but that no fees shall be al
lowed him therefor.
The contract price covers all the SER
vice required Of the carrier that is indi-
Gated herein.
W. S. SHALLENBERGER,
Second Assistant Postmaster Gen'l.'
1t is probable that advertisements for
the new contracts on the star routes in
the State Of Maine will be advertised at
an early date, ana Congressman Burlegh
has already been consulted by the de-
partment relative to the practicahiity Of
this extension being made general in
such contracts. 1t already exists to a
limited degree by parties erecting these
/ boxes III front OF their houses, as will be
| seen on every country road; but this is
merely matter Of mutual accommodl-
! ton by the mail carrier ana the patron
of the office for which the latter pays
the carrier gratuity. Congressman
| BurlcigfF however, has endorsed the pro-
| jeCt 50 that it is hoped it will become
general in this district; and instead Of
| private payment of fees the work will be
| done at government expense and will be
very general.
This will be good news to people in the
| country districts who are hoping for an
| carly establishment Of the rural free
| delivery. As has been pointed out by the
Journal before, the appropriation for ru-
raj free delivery is 50 limited and 50 un-
| certain that the carly establishment Of
! many Of these routes cannot be expected
but under this star route box delivery
4 the patrons of the different postofTiccs
will obtain very similar service and at an
carly date. BY this arrangement it Will
be seen that almost all the good work Of
the rural free delivery is performed by
/ the star route carrier. 1t is safe to con-
clude that whatever advantages can be
i obtained in the postal service in the
| third district will he looked after closely
at Washington, ana as far as possible OBJ