The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-10-12
History of the Daily Delivery
. in the Country.
Democrats Said that the Plan Was I'M
practicable, but the Republicans
Have Thoronghl, Demonstrated
IFS Value 10 Farmers.

Yelopment from an lnsignlncant Desln-
ming of forty-four routes and an apprO'
,proation for the fiscal year which closed
in 1897 TO its present magnificent pro-
portions with the rural routes numbered
by the thousands and an appropriation
of 81, 100, goo 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 deliy-
cry Of the mails was started by Post
master General Wanamaker under the
Republican administration Of Gen. Har-
wison. Ii took the form of village free
delivery, and was more an extension OF
city delivery to smaller communities than
free delivery to farmers, but limited as
was its scope and successful though it
was in increasing postal receipts and
postal facilities, it encountered Demo-
cratic opposition. When Mr.. Cleveland
came in, his Postmaster General fearing
Its effect in popnlarizing Republican prin-
ciples and disseminating Republican lit
erature, ordered II dropped
- 1t was a Republican administration
+hat conceived aud 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. aud bringing the news of
the markets and. the weather so as TO se-
cure him better price for his crops by
delivering daily his mail to him on his
farm. Every Democratic House of Rep
resentatiyes since the idea was first
broached of carrying the mails into the
rural districts, has declared against it.
The Forry-tbird Congress. with Demo
crat from North Carolina as chairman Of
&he committee on postofIices and post
roads, proclaimed the plan impossible
and turned it down. Postmaster Cen
eral Bisseil Postmaster General Wilson
and First Assistant Postmaster General
Jones in the Cleveland administration,
all took up the cry of extravaganza and
lmpOssiblity Of execution. Consequently
little or nothing was done to give the
farmers access to the mails until Clcve-
land went out of Office.
When First Assistant Postmaster
General Perry s. 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 few
months more You'd have been starved to
death, like Mr.. Wanamaker's village de-
livery. The official reports of the Post
office Department record that it was with
surprise that President Mckinley and
those 10 whom he entrusted the admins
tration Of postal affairs, learned that
there was such thing as an expert
mental rural free delivery mail service
In progress.
They at once grasped its possibilities
and advocated its immediate development
and 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. ciyilizipg aud educational in
fiuence of rural free mail delivery, and
not one that does not desire a further
expansion of the service. On the LIST of
June, 1900. there were 1,200 rural ser
vices in actual operation and 1900 APP
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 ,1S9I-9S to Sl50,-
900. in 1S9S-99 and then to $4,000 in
1S99-1900. and lastly to 81 100000 for
the present fiscal year 10000.
Three years experience has shown that
In well-selected rural districts the mails
can be distributed to the demiciles 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 OF the free delivery in many OF, the
cities of the United States. In the vast
majority Of communities where It 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 revolution.
and revolutions do not move backward.
1t costs very little more than the old
colonial style OF postal service which it
supersedes. and it invariably brings
large and compensating increase in the
amount OF postal receipts turned into the
treasury. But even. il it does cost more
than the obsolete old plan. are not the
farmers 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
largely to the mental, moral and material
advancement OF all the people.
Rural free delivery of mail has come
70 stay. and the Republican administra-
tiou which brought it into being will stay
VIII it,
TT 10 Expansion in South America.
a eording to the Manufacturer. the
pre- mt disturbances in China have en-
phi zed the necessity of American man
uf i1rers developing an outlet for their
go, In Central and South America
abb what they now control. Produc
tioi. Las reached a point of development
thu manufacturers are d. seeking every
Oh for the production Of their mills
an rorks. Quite a number of the lead
in. sporters are looking south for new
fei Of enterprise. This is as 1t should
Dr. the more goods that are manufac
tui and exported the greater the pros
per and chance for wage workers at
hone. W II