Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-24

without dismounting from his Garage,
appropriate and secure boxes for the
reception of the United States rnails,
and the carriers are not REQUIRED to
deliver mail at houses which stand
pack from the road, as the service is
intended to be one of mutual accom-
mediation whose patrons are expected
to meet the department half way in
affording facilities for its establish
ment.
After the route is established by the
department, rural carriers are selected
VINO gave bond in the sum Of $500,
with two sureties. The carriers are
pald by warrants directly is
sued by the treasury depart
ment upon certificates of the
postmaster at the supervising office
The rate of pay is fixed by the depart
ment, and includes horse hire. In case
there are tolls or ferriage separate
account is rendered. Each route has
to have one or more substitute car
rlers, who may be called upon and per-
mitted to carry the mails in case of
disability or absence of the regular
carrier. These carriers are under the
control of the postmaster from whose
Office the service is established. They
carry with them on their rounds q
limited supply of stamps, postal cards.
etc, and also give receipts for money
orders to enclose in addressed en-
velopes confided to their charge.
In actual service the carrier does
not go, as many suppose. into all the
cross roads but supplies the houses on
the roads, and at convenient corners
boxes are established where he leaves
the mail for the families living on the
cross roads, from which boxes the
families collect or deposit their mail
about the right hour to meet the car
rier. This is a great convenience even
to the people on the cross roads and
often saves a very long ride beyond
that point to the postoffice. ono Mis-
souri, farmer figured out that h had
travelled in - years 1900 miles going
10 and from the postotiice.
IN discussion On rural free delivery
in public debate in Pennsylvania.
the estimate was made that every
farmer Went at least once on twice to
the nearest postotlice each week for his
mail. ana that hr occupied on an aver
age one-third Of working day On 4
nip. Figuring the value Of time thus
lost in the busy farming season at
only 30 cents i head. they were amazed
at the magnitude Of their own figures
which ran up in the many millions Of
dollars loss NJ the agricultural inter
ests through the necessity imposed
upon them Of sending to the village
postoflice for the mails
, So, ~, 1.,-
pointing out what the actual results If
this great experiment have been. I'll
has been found that wherever rural
free delivery has been introduced that
there have been increased postal re-
ceipts, more letters are written, more
newspapers and magazines sub
scribed for, and so marked has this
been that the additional business on
many Of these routes has more than |
paid for their establishment. Second: |
Enhancement of the value of farm |
lands reached by such delivery. 1t is !
reckoned as high as $500 per acre in |
some states, and the government |
makes the average increase about s.. 90 |
to $500 an acre. Third: The immedi- |
ate general improvement OF the condi- |
ton of the roads traVerSed by the |
rural carriers. This has been one of |
the greatest features of the introduce |
ton of the service, one county alone in |
Indiana expending over $1,000 in the |
of single route. Fourth: |
Better prices obtained by the farmers |
who are brought in quicker touch with |
the city markets and are enabled to |
take prompt advantage Of the in
1t is unnecessary to point out the |
moral value of the civiliZing influences |
which come with the added educa-
tional benefits of better postal SER
vice.
With this short recapitulation of the |
principal features of this great service, |
and viewing the remarkable success |
and advancement that has come to it |
in the past four years, 1t is not neces- |
sary for man to have the gift Of |
prophecy to foresee that before the |
year 1925 the rural free delivery ser |
vice will be as firmly established as |
the present free delivery urban service |
IS in all cities of 10000 or more popula- |
ton. ri re- |