Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1900-09-27
RURAL MAIL SERVICE
STARTED BY M'KINlEY.
History of the Daily Delivery
in the Country.
Democrats Said that the Plan Was In
practicable, but the Republicans
Have Thoroughly Demonstrated
Its NsIue 10 Farmers.

"a AAE 80
yeIopmenr from an Insignificant begin
ning Of foriy-foas routes and an appro-
proation for the fiscal year which closed
in 1851 TO its present magnificent pro-
portioas with the rurai routes numbered
by the thousands aud an appropriation
OF 81. TJO.OO0 voted for its further extern
sion during the present fiscal year, has
all been brought about by the Mckinley
administration.
A movement to broaden the free deliv-
cry of the mails was started by POST
master General Wanamaker under the
Republican administration OF Gen. Har-
rison. 1t took the form Of village free
delivery, and was more an extension OF
city delivery TO smaller communities than
q free delivery TO farmers. but limited as
was its scope and successful though 1t
was in increasing postal receipts u
postal facilities. it encountered Demo
cratic opposition. When Mr.. Cleveland
came in, his Postmaster General fearing
its effect in popularizing Republican prin-
ciples and disseminating Republican lit
e~rature, ordered ii dropped.
1t was a Republican administration
that conceived and executed the idea OF
Frightening the home of the farmer, edu-
eating his children, increasing the value
OF his land, compelling the Improvement
of the roads, and bringing the news of
the markets and the weather SO as TO Sc
cure him a better price for his crops by
delivering daily his mail TO him on his
farm. Every Democratic House OF Rep
resentatives since the idea was first
preached of carrying the mails into the
rural districts, has declared against it.
The Forty-third Congress, with a Demo
crat from North Carolina as chairman Of
the committee on postofices and post
roads. proclaimed the plan impossible,
and turned it down. Postmaster Gem
eral Bissell. Postmaster General Wilson
and First Assistant Postmaster General
Jones in the Cleveland administration,
all took up the cry of extravaganza and
impossibility Of execution. Consequently
little or nothing was lone to give the
farmers access to the mails until Cleve-
land went out of office.
When First Assistant Postmaster
General Perry 9. Heath took up the
rural service under the direction Of the
President and the Postmaster General in
March, 1897. it was ianguishing to the
point Of extinguishment, and in a few
months more would have been starved to
death, like Mr.. Wanamaker's village de-
livery. The official reports OF the Post
office Department record that ii was with
surprise that President Mckinley and
those to whom he entrusted the admins
trat.on of postal affairs, learned that
there was such a thing as an expert
mental rural free delivery mail service
in progress.
They at once grasped its possibilities
and advocated its immediate development
and a Republican Congress generously
seconded their efforts. Under this vivi-
flying touch, it has grown until there is
not now a State in the Union that has
not felt the civilizing and educational in
nuence of rural free mail delivery, and
not one that does not desire a further
expansion of the service. On the 1st Of
June. 1900, there were 1,200 rural SER
vices in actual operation and 1900 ap-
plications for an extension of the system
In process Of establishment by special
agents appointed for the purpose.
The appropriations for the rural free
delivery service have been increased from
$4,000 in the fiscal year 1S91-0S to $780,
600 in 1S9S-99, and then to $4,000 In
1S99-19OO, and lastly to 81. 1000 for
the present fiscal year 10000.
Three years experience has shown that
In well-selected rural districts the mails
can be distributed to the domiciles of the
addresses or in boxes placed within rea-
sonable distance of the farmers homes
at some cross roads or other convenient
spot at a cost per piece not exceeding
that or the free delivery in many of the
cities OF the United States. In the vast
majority Of communities where IL has
been tested, the rural free delivery SER
vice has obtained so strong a hold that
public sentiment would not permit its dis.
continuance. 1t has been a revolution
and revolutions do not move backward.
1t costs very little more than the old
colonial style of postal service which II
supersedes, and it invariably bring. n
large and compensating increase In tbe
amount Of postal receipts turned into the
treasury. But even IL it does cost moro
than the obsolete old plan. are moi IN.
m entitled to some OF the benefits
OF the government which they help so lib.
orally to support by their taxes? The
country can well afford to continue and
extend a system which makes better citi-
zens and happier homes and contributes.
AalSciy W the HIeHtal, moral and material
advancement of all the people.
Rural free delivery OF mail has come
to stay, and the Republican administro.
ton which brought it into being will stay
with 1t.
Trade Expansion I'm south America
According to the Manufactured. tho
present disturbances in China have am.
phasized the necessity OF American MAJ
ufacturers developing an outlet for their
goods in Central and South America
above what thy now control. Produc.
ton has reached a point OF dcvelonmen,
that manufacturers are seeking everv
outlet for TIE production OF thor mill
and works. Quite a number OF tho Load.
ing exporters are looking south for new
fields OF enterprise. This is as Il sborld
be, for the more goods that are manufac.
tured and exported the greater the pros-
perity and chance for wage worker {,
home.
'"""'"n Commerce.