, 1900-02-12

whites and there is no demand for the
system. In the other three states men
toned ii will doubtless be inaugurated
this year.
Rural free delivery is a hobby with
Hon. Perry s. Heath. first assistant
postmaster general, and he has evolved
a magnificent adjunct to the postal sys-
TEN out of the chaos left by his prede-
cessor. He says there has been moth
ing in the history of the postal service
of the United States so remarkable as
the growth of. the rural free delivery
system. Within the past two years;
largely by the aid of the people them
selves, who, in appreciation of the
helping hand which tine government ex-
tended to them, have met these ad-
vances half way, it has implanted it
self so firmly upon the postal admins
tration hat it can no longer be consid-
cred in the light of al experiment, but
must be dealt with as an established
agency of progress, awaiting only the
action of congress to determine how
rapidly it shall be developed.
In the beginning, the service had
many trials to overcome. 1t was IN
demned by the house committee on
postofices and postroads of the Fifty
third congress as a scheme impossible
of execution, which would require an
appropriation of at least $40, 200, 900 to
inaugurate it," Postmaster General
Bissell said in 1898 the department
would not be warranted in burdening
the people with such a great expense.
In 1894 Mr.. Bissell declined to expend
he small sum of 10000 appropriated
by congress to test the feasibility of
the scheme. Congress replied by dou-
bling the appropriation, but the post
master general was Obdurate, Mr.. Will
son adopting the views Of his prede-
cessor. Again congress answered the
postoffice department by doubling the
appropriation, making 100000 avail
able. In 1896, with many misgivings,
Postmaster General Wilson put the SER
vice to the test. But the inspectors
placed in charge were hampered with
orders which left them no discretion.
They were instructed to start tests in
specifically named localities, no mat
ter whether the conditions seemed to
them favorable or otherwise. Some of
them because impressed with the idea
that the locations assigned them had
been chosen to show that rural free de-
livery was not desired and was impos-
sible Of execution.
Unsatisfactory conditions existed up
to June. 1898. Congress had made an
appropriation Of $50, 900 to give the
system a further test. Mr.. Heath made
a careful examination of the reports
on file and arrived at the conclusion
that great possibilities of social, indus
trial and educational development lay
behind the projected extension of post
al facilities in rural communities, and
that with proper care in the selection
Of localities the service could be eX-
tended far and wide, with great bene-
fit to the people and without any SER
ious tax upon the of the gov
eminent. inasmuch as the increased
postal business would go far toward
paying the extra expense.
On November 1, 1899, rural free de-
livery was in successful operation from
1888 distributing points, radiating over
40 states and one territory. With an
additional expenditure of $3.50, 900 rural
free delivery has been extended to
nearly $50, 900 persons at an annual
cost of "a cents per capita.
The application for service in the
valley of the Big Laramie will be the
first presented from the state Of Wyo-
ming. Senators Warren and Clark and
Representative Mondell will take hold
of the matter with their usual earnest
desire to faithfully serve their constitu-
ents and will doubtless push it to a
successful issue.