Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-21
A PROGRESSIVE MOVE.
New Contracts Will Improve the Mail
Service in Maine.
Congressman Burlcigh Takes a Leading Part
In Securing a Postal Reform.

/ has become a disgrace to modern
| transportation. The great cause Of
! this has been the wholesale taking Of
contracts by star route contractors.
who made it business to sublet
these to local carriers at figures which
did not give the carrier living price
and yet insured large profit to the
original contractor without cost Or
risk.
The favorlte method of these con-
tractors was first to obtain certain in
formation about any given route, and
knowing what the government was
paying, to underbid the price and Sc
cure it. The contract would then hold
good for four years. They would then
offer it to the regular stage route at
about half the price they received from
the government. II the regular carrier
resisted. the contrac tor would place an
opposition line upon the same route and
not only carry the mail but divide the
natural business Of the stage itself
This would quickly kill out opposition.
and the old carrier would submit to the
dictates Of tho contractor or a new
line would be started by some other
man more pliable to the contractors
wish
This state of things has caused the
stage service throughout the United
States to become demoralizel. ANA in
stead of smart teams Of horses ana
bright stages. the equipment has 50
deprecated that ID Is generally Il dis
grace to every locality.
When this state Of affairs finally ey-
4..fa 10 1,
mail vans and equipment had reached
the same level as the country stages
the postmasters in the larger offices took
the question under consideration. ana
by their efforts last fall at III national
convention. We're able 10 bring about
such legislation as now compels every
contractor on star route to agree To
live upon the line Of the route This
action undoubtedly will completely
wipe ont the tester spot Of wholesale
contractors.
IN this reform. which Viii bring abou;
50 much better stage service. not IN
speak Of better mail service fpr coun-
try people. Congressman Burleigh has
been very conspicuous ana has done
very much. Thoroughly conversant
with the needs Of a rural community.
as well as the details IF this service
Il" has shown great intelligence ana his
usual activity i'll securing the needed
changes
We are pleased to announce that the
postofficc department. which has had
an experimental box delivery star
route in the town of VassaIboro. has
already given notice to various post
th1f I
govern the contracts in the State az
Maine going into effect July /. 1901. will
appear this coming September. and
that they will embrace box delivery.
which insures nearly all the benefits
Of the rural free delivery. upon the
present stage routes CARRYING mail
The system which is proposed. and
which Governor Rurleigh hopes Will be
placed on every stage route in Maine
Is outlined by the government az fol
lows:
Any person living On Or near the route
who desires his mail deposited in a box
by the carrier on lid route may provide
and erect 4 suitable box on the roadside
located in such manner a. TO be reached
as conveniently as practicable by the
carrier and such person shall file with
the postmaster AT the poStoffCc to which
his mail is addressed (Which shall be one
ot the two poStoffices On the route on
either side of and next to the box a re-
quest in writing for the delivery Of his
mail to the carrier on the route for de-
posit in said mail box. at the risk of the
addrcSSCc.
1t shall he the duty of the postmaster
at every such pOStoffice, upon a written
order from any person living on or near
the Star Route. to deliver to the proper
mail carrier for that route any mail mat
ter. except registered mail. with iuStruc-
tinnS as 10 the proper mail box into
which said mail matter shall be depos-
tied: but no mail matter SO delivered % I!
carrier for deposit shall be carried past
another "stoticc on the route before be
ing deposited in mail box.
The postmaster AT each intermediate
postottice. upon receiving from the way
pouch on any trip the packages Of mail
addressed TO his office. Will Immediately
sort out before the carrier proceeds on
his tripl The mail intended to be depos
tied in boxes along the line between his
office ANA the next office a which the
carrier will arrive. ana shall deliver the
same to the carrier to bc deposited in
such boxes on the same trip.
The carrier on the Star Route Will he
required 70 receive from any postmaster
on the route any mail matter that may
he intrusted to him. outside Of the usual
mail bag ana shall carry such mail mat
ter and deposit il in the proper boxes
nllced on the line If the route for this
purpose; such service by the carrier to be
without charge to the addresses.
The mail carriers must he Of good NOR
nj character. able to read and write the
English language. and ne of sufficient IN
telliecncc to properly handle and deposit
the mail for boxes along the routes.
The law provides that every carrier of
the mail shall receive any mail matter
presented to him. if properly prepaid by
stamps ana deliver the same for mailing
at the next pOStofiiCe ut which hc arrives,
hut that no fees shall be allowed him
therefor.
The contract price covers All the service
required of the carrier that is indicated
herein.
While this Improvement in the service
cannot commence until a year from July,
every reader will at once sec that ii will
| bring more money to every stage driver.
! ana that the vast profits which have been
! congested by these few wholesale star
route contractors will now De circulated
where they legitimately belong in the
territory where the service is given. 1t
! means many thousands Of dollars
| brought into Maine. a greatly improved
stage service and 4 general rural postal
! service which gives nearly all the adj
vantages Of the rural free delivery and
insures that small postofiices will not be
wined out Congressman BurleiSh's iden-
tidr1tion with this movement is mcritO
| ;ious and deserves the thanks OF every
ncrson living in his district.