Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-10-30
IOWA RURAL R|lII[g|
Isixty.two Rufal Nail Delivery
Routes II Operation In
tho GtatA
Fifteen Hundred ald Fifty Miles il
the sixth and Seventh
Dfstricts
Many New Routss Under lnvestiga.
ton Adams Express Rebber
Probably Located.

&1SNs NllSe past lev
weeks Maj. JEFFREY. special agent in
charge Of the work OF establishing rural
mail delivery routes, and who ir work
ing out OF Des Moines, has arranged for
the establishment OF sixty-two rural
routes in the Sixth and Seventh con-
gres.ional districts. The average length
of these routes Is twenty-five miles.
which means that farmers along 1850
miles OF country >roads in south central
Iowa are coon to enjoy the luxury Of
having their mail delivered at their
doors at least once q day, Sunday ex-
|cepted.
It 10 estimated that after they are
once established about 200 families will
be served upon each route The service is
not confined to houses directly on the
route, for provision is made by which
boxes are erected at convenient points
along the routes 20 that people living
within mile or two of them can drive
over once day and receive their mail,
much as the city patrons of the postal
service receive their mail thru lock-
boxes. This means. II expectations are
realized. that 1900 families Will be
served. Figuring that there are five
persons in an average family, about g.
600 people Will receive the benefits OF the
service.
1t is claimed that the rural mail serv-
ice has passed the experimental stage
that 1t is a success, and that the deliv-
cries once established will be continued,
provided it liz found that residents along
the routes encourage the project. Col
lecttons of mail will also be made
The routes established and over which
deliveries will be established and over
which deliveries Will be commenced be-
tween November land Is are as fol-
lows:
Out Of Altoona, two routes: Valley
junction. one route; Mitchellviile. one
route: Abel. two routes; Dallas Center,
one route; De Soto. one route: Dexter,
one route; Linden, one route; Perry,
three routes. Knoxville, two routes;
t.ieasantYille. three routes; Winterset,
1hree routes; Earlham, three routes;
tAmes. two8routes; MAXWELL one route;
Indianola, three routes; Ottumwa, three
routes; Eldon, one route; Hedrick,
three routes: Batavia, one route; Os-
kaloosa, four routes: Sigourney, one
route ,Richland, two routes; Grinnell,
one route: Brooklyn, four routes: Pu-
laski, one route; Abba, one route; Co
lumbus Junction, four routes
IN addition to these, about ten other
routes will be asked for out Of the post
once stations in the Seventh district.
and in all probability two of these will
be from offices in the north part OF Polk
lcounty.
Maj. Jeffrey said yesterday tina,
about $500 petitions for rural routes
have been received and are on file in
the department at Washington, and
that 1t Is likely that, as fast as the Off
GERS can get around to it TO Investigate
them, the majority OF the petitions will
be granted.
There are number of routes in CEN
Btrai and northern Iowa that have been
established for some time past and
which will be continued permanently.
Maj. jeffrey and Col. H NJ. Clark, a
brother officer, who served with him II
the Philippines. will go into the Second
congressional district in the next few
days to investigate petitions for routes
in that portion of the state, and expec,
to establish a large number Af add.
lional routes there. Other districts ii
Iowa will be taken up as rapidly az
possible, and it is expected in shor
time to have the rural delivery servic.
pretty generally established in tn.
/ state. provided the farming communt
ties manifest a desire for routes ane
take the proper interest to supper
Them.