Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-12-20
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Philadelphia Press.1

Since Granger widened the work of the
post office, Kendall reorganized the trans
portation of the mail and Blair introduced
city delivery no step as important has
been proposed in the United States Post
Offices as the rural free delivery, urged by
Postmaster General Smith in his annual
report. This proposal will revolutionize
TIE relation of the nails to third of their
customers and place the United States
mail service, at this point, on level with
the old and thickly settled lands of Eu-
rope.
This epoch making step is rendered
possible by recognizing that the unequal
distribution of rural population creates re-
gions as clearly defined, though less gen.
orally recognized, than city or borough
boundaries. If all our 100000 square
miles be considered rural delivery seems
impossible. If 100000 square miles
which have about six persons to the
square mile or one to 107 acres be taken
up rural free delivery becomes a mere
dream.
But our population consists Of city
and town population of 81 100000 which
already has free delivery. Next there is
rural population of 100000, or a
little less than 100000 square miles,
with about twenty-one to twenty-five
persons to tie square mile. These rural
regions have a population of sufficient
density for rural free delivery. The re-
mainder of the population is too thinly
settled to render free delivery possible at
present.
Exactly as cities and towns already
have free delivery because of dense pop
ulation so, by selecting the regions where
the rural population is twenty-one and
more to the square mile, it is practicable
to have rural free delivery. In this State
about 90 per cent. of the area is thickly
enough settled for this work In Kansas
about 50 per cent. The States between
vary. In some New England States the
entire area admits of free delivery. In
some Western States only small share is
of this character; but by selecting the
country as the unit it is possible to secure
definite areas in which the cost and re-
turn of free delivery can be predicted as
closely as in any city.
This area, as already shown, is about
100000 square miles and has q 900, 900
of population. 1t constitutes population
as distinct and definite as that in which
free delivery now exists The cost over
this area, reckoned after numerous ex-
periments and 10y several methods is
about 81 per head, or S20,555, 600. This
ratio is almost exactly the present cost OF
serving population of 1901, 524 on 66,-
S42 square miles now Supplied at a cost of
81, 100000. An experiment on an area
larger than that of England may be ac.
copied as conclusive for the entire terri
tory in question.
Considered in this way, with. reference
to definite rural area thickly settled
enough to permit free delivery, the prob
lem becomes simple and capable of a prac
tical solution. Post offices discontinued
and increased receipts meet one third the
proposed cost, or Sc, 772, 376, and the re-
mainder, $13, 7S2, 224, can be met by
reform in the use of the mails, by books
and publications which have no right to
the pound rate.
This great advance in postal facilities is
therefore rendered possible, first by Sc.
ectiLg the proper areas and next by in
PRODUCING needed economics. 1t is no
guess. 1t rests ON experiment and sound
administration.