The L'Anse sentinel., 1900-05-05
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Nearly 100000 Country Homes See
Uncle Sans Postman-very
successful system.

Washington.-"The credit of rural
free delivery belongs almost exclu-
sively to the Mckinley administration"
said Hon. Perry S. Heath, first assist
ant postmaster general. "A movement
to broaden the free delivery of the
mails was begun by Postmaster Gen
eral Wanamaker under the administra-
tion of Gen. Harrison. 1t took the form
of village free delivery, and extended,
as an experiment, the plan of deliver
ing mails by carriers, as existing in
cities Of 10000 population, or $4,000
gross postal receipts, to 40 or so select
ed villages of less population and small
er postal receipts. The experiment was
success as far as it went, but the
succeeding democratic administration,
fearing its effect in popnlarizing repub-
lican principles and disseminating re-
publican literature, ordered it dropped.
1T was republican administration
that conceived and executed the idea
of Frightening the home of the farmer,
educating his children. increasing the
value of his land, compelling the inn
provement Of his roads, and giving him
ready access to Il market for his crops
by carrying the United States mails to
him on his farm.
"Since the 4th of March, 1897, near
ly 100000 rural homes in all parts
of the United States have been brought
into close touch with the rest of the
world by daily visit of the rural post
man.
"The initiation of some form of free
delivery which should reach the hereto
fore isolated rural communities was
forced upon the last administration in
its closing year by congress, respon-
sive to the wishes of the people. Forty
four rural experiments were reluctant
ly started some of them in commu-
mites which neither asked nor appre-
ciated the service. 1t was difficult to
find such localities, but such were
found. and the service was started
there, apparently with the purpose of
bringing rural free delivery into dis
repute and demonstrating les imprac-
ticability.
! 1T is possible this result might have
been achieved in time. but under the WV
| flying influence of republican postal
policy rural free delivery at once sprung
into vigorous life. The appropriations
were increased by congress from $780,
OCo the first year to $l50,00O the sec
On the 2d of April. 1000, close upon
1000 rural routes had been established,
some of them serving as many as 1000
or 1.5OO people daily, the average be-
| ing $50 persons to route. Not one
state which has asked for the service
has been left unrepresented. The good
work is still going on. Nothing short
| Of revolution can now check it.
"Three years experience has shown
that the rural free delivery service is
not inordinately expensive. 1t costs
very little more than the old colonial
style of postal service which it super.
sedes. and it invariably brings large
and compensating increase in the
amount of the mail matter handled
and consequently in the amount OF
postal receipts turned into the treas
ury. But even if it does cost more than
the obsolete old plan, are not the
farmers entitled to some of the benc-
fl Is of the govepment which they helr
so literally to support by their taxa
ton?
THE country can well afford to con
tinue and extend system which makes
better citizens, happier homes. and
contributes so largely to the mental
moral and material advancement OF
| the plain people"