The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1900-12-08
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Continued from page j J

RURAL FREE DELIVERY ExTEN DIsD
Tie continued and rapid growth
of the free postal service is a sure
index of the great and increasing
business activity Of the country.
This most striking new develop
ment is the extension OF rural free
delivery. This has come almost
wholly within the last year. At
the beginning of the fiscal year
I8o9-1ooo, the number of routes in
operation was only 3eI, and most
of these had been running less than
twelve months. On the 18th of
November, 1900, the number had
increased to 2,6I4, reaching into
forty-four States and Territories
and serving population of 1901
524. The number of applications
now pending and awaiting action
nearly equals all those granted UP
to the present time, and by the
close Of the current fiscal year about
1000 routes will have been estab-
Elished, providing for the daily de-
| livery of mails at the scattered
homes of about three and a half
millions of rural population. This
service ameliorates the isolation of
farm life, conduces to good roads
and qttiekens and extends the dis
semination of general information.
Experience thus far has tended to
allay the apprehension that it
would be so expensive as to forbid
its general adoption or make it a
general burden. Its actual app1i-
cation has shown that it increases
postal receipts and can be accom-
plished by reductions in other
branches of the service, so that the
augmented revenues and the &C
comp1ished savings together mate
rally reduce the net cost. The
evidences which point to these con-
illusions are presented in detail in
the annual report of the postmaster
general, which, with it's recon-
mendations, is recommended to the
consideration of Congress, The
: full development of this special ser
vice requires such an outlay O.
money that should be undertaken
only after a careful study and thor
ough understanding of all that il
involves.
, ALASKAN BOUNDARY.
t The work of marking certain
provisional boundary points, fol
t convenience of administration
5 around the head of Lynn canal, il
accordance with the temporary ar
= rangement of October, 1899, was
$ completed by a joint survey in July
| last. The moduS uivendi has so fa1
: worked without friction and thu
r Dominion government has provided
= rules and regulations for securing t
z Our citizens the benefit of the recip
z rocal stipulation that the citizens O.
? subjects of either power found b!
r that agreement within the temper
airy jurisdiction of the other shall
: suffer no diminution Of rights ant
privileges they have hitherto en-
2 joyed. But however necessar.
= such an expedient may have beer
to tide over the grave emergencie
of the situation, it is at best but al
unsatisfactory makeshift, which
J. should noe be suffered to delay tn
q speedy and complete establishment
. of the frontier line to which we ar,
{ entitled under the Russo-America1
: treaty for the cession of Alaska.
q In this relation I may refe
V again to the need of definitely mark
$ ing the Alaskan boundary where i
r follows the I4Ist meridian. A con
c vention to that end has been befor
" the Senate for some two years, bu
f as no action has been, I contem
# plate negotiating new convention
4 for joint determination of the me
9 ridian by telegraphic observations
9 These, it is believed, will give mor'
r. accurate and unquestionable result: