The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-05-10
About Rural Free Delivery.

department, in charge OF the Eastern
division of the rural free delivery sys-
tem-compiising the New England
states, New York, Pennsylvania and
New Jersey established an experimental
line for rural free delivery in Kennebec
county few weeks ago, extending from
Gardiner through the towns of West
Gardiner aud Litchfeld.
While ia Augusta Col. Hathaway said
to Postmaster Stnson of that city:
"rhere is a widespread misunder-
standing, of the real purposes OF
rural free delivery. 1t is compare
lively new thing and there are many
misapprehensions regarding 1t In public
mind that need to be cleared up. The
newspapers can materially assist in do.
ing this. Let me state emphatically that
the idea, which seems TO be a prevailing
one, that it is an addition to the existing
service, thus affordng certain favored
communities already served double
service, is erroneous. Such is not the
purpose of the department. Rural de-
livery Is an effort to provide mail facili-
ties for people who do not have them.
Ii is strictly for rural people"
After speaking of the popularity of
the service and giving many instances
where they had been established and
received with favor, in reply to an in
quiry whether rural delivery had come
to stay he said:
"There is no doubt about 1t. 1t has
beer looked upon in many quarters as
nynuriranpfal aarxyino pannla IN,
many places, still think perhaps that
there is doubt as to its permanency, but
in this they are mistaken. AS [ have
already said the members of Congress
are united and the country enthusiastic
for it. Last year, the regular appropria
ton bill carried 100000 for the extern
sion of the rural free delivery system.
About four months ago an additional
$3.50, 900 was voted to carry out the
work of the year. The postmaster gen
eral, in his estimates for next year, has
asked for 81 800 600, but the committee
on appropriations has upon lis own re.
sponsiblity reported in favor of $l,750,-
900, and a large number of congressman
are in favor of increasing it to 81, 900, 900
which may very likely be done when il
comes into the House. Anticipating
this large contemplated increase in the
work TWO bew divisions have been
created, making four in all"
1t has been thought that, as the new
appropriation would be available on July
l, the service would best be promoted
by putting the new extension into opera.
ton in May so that they would be iE
perfect running order when the larger
work is undertaken at the beginning of
the fiscal year.
This is matter to whose Importance
the people of Maine should be awake
This money will not go begging. There
will be "a dozen different hands reaching
out for every dollar of 1t. Already a
perfect avalanche of petitions is pouring
in upon the post office department. 1t
Is said that even now more than 5000 are
piled up there awaiting action. The
method of securing rural tree delivery is
first of all 10 get up popular petitions for
ii addressed to the first assistant post
master general. These should be en-
dorsed by The local postmaster and the
members of Congress, and filed at the
department. Routes should he 20 or %
miles long with At least 100 houses upon
them and should serve rural communities
exclusively. Such are the facts let the
people of Maine be up and doing in an
effort to get share of this good thing
while ii Is going"
1t was planned that Col. Hathaway
should visit Somerset county when he
was in the State in April but the time
allotted by him to Maine was used else
where
The fact that rural free delivery would
make mail reach most people in Somer-
set who are supplied by Star route ser
vice, one day later than they now receive
it, will, we think, operate against the
establishment OF rural free delivery in
This vicinity
1t is now arranged and has been for
many years that mail which leaves Bos.
ton in the morning arrives in 5kowhe-
gan, Pttsfield, Hartland, No. Arson, etc.,
terminal railroad points, the same day
late in the afternoon and by stage lines,
mails for surrounding towns within a
radius of Is miles, reach these towns the
same evening. BY rural free delivery
arrangement, we understand these mails
thar arrive in Skowhegan, for instance,
at o'clock p. m. would not be likely to
be started by rural Tree delivery for dis
tribution until the next morning, and
thus the people along the line of the free
I delivery route would have their mail
delayed, MANY OF them, perhaps ma
jority, from 10 to "a hours.
Ii seems to US that the "Star Route
Box Delivery" plan for further mail
facilities would suit more people in SOM
erset than the straight rural delivery.
This plan is outlined in an order from
the post office department from which
we make the following extracts that
| give good idea OF the scheme:
"Any person living on or near any
Star Route In the State who desires his
mail deposited In box on the line of
the route by the carrier on said route
may provide and erect a suitable box on
the roadside, located in such a manner
rs to be reached as conveniently as prac
ticable by the carrier, and such person
/ shall file with the postmaster at the post
office to which his mail is addressed
/ (Which shall be one of the two post
offices on the route on either side OF and
next to the box a request In writing for
The delivery of his mail TO the carrier on
the route for deposit in said mail box, at
the risk of the addressee.
ut shall be the duty of the postmaster
nj every such office, upon written order
from any person living on or near the
/ Star Route, TO deliver 10 the proper mail
carrier for that route any mail matter,
] T.