Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-01-05
COMMUNICATIONS.


The Nural Free delivery.
EDITOR REGISTER For a good many
years the people of the cities of the
United States h Ave had the free delivery
of their mails at their doors. The post
Office department is authorized to divide
the cities into suitable sections or routes
and hire carriers to deliver the mails in
their prescribed sections as many times
day as the department may direct,
usually from two to four times according
to the density of population and business
needs. The carrier calls at the house or
place of business, and either delivers
the mail matter In person, passes it
through slot in the door into box
prepared for the purpose, or in such
other way as may be agreed upon and is
satisfactory to the patron. IL he sees no
one he usually rings the bell to notify
the inmates of his arrival. The system
gives the greatest satisfaction and any
administration that should dare to cur.
tail or deprive the people of the cities of
its convenience and benefits would re
ceive the greatest amount of condemna-
ton. 1t is found that a modification Of
this system is applicable to rural districts
and the farming communities can share
in its benefits. During the administra-
ton of President Harrison few eXper-
gave good satisfaction, but during the
second term of Cleveland next to moth
ing was done. During the present ad d.
ministratiOn the matter has been taken
up in earnest. Free delivery routes have
been naugurated in nearly every state
in the union. and plans are forming for
greatly extending the system. \ letter
of inquiry has been sent round asking as
to the working of the system. and al
most without exception the most favor
able reports have been received and many
are very enthusiastic in its praise. We
have one route in Addison county from
Vergennes south through the town of
Addison and return to Vergennes, which
is proving success. 1t was started
Sept. Is and in the last half of the month
2757 pieces of mail matter were handled
In October 62S1 pieces and in November
G507, and the receipts are steadily IN
creasing. Judge Powers prOnources It
the greatest move ever made in the in.
terests of farmers. In the report of the
postmaster general to congress the sub
iect is fully discussed and has his I'M
qualified approval. N. B. DOUGLAS.
EDITOR REGIsTER-The system of ri
raj free delivery of mails seems to be
gaining favor in Cornwall and vicinity
on the line of the propos ed route. When
people compare the value and convenience
of receiving daily mail delivered at
their door. or within a few minutes
walk if perchance their residence is a
little of the line, to travelling from two
to four miles and return for their mail,
they do not hesitate to endorse the sys-
TEN. Consider the team which has been
in the harness at hard service during the
day sent to the office three miles or even
more and return, TO receive the mail.
And still 1t has to be done If the mail is
got. Should every resident on the pro-
posed Cornwall and Whiting mail route
go on Saturday for his weeks mail the
distance traversed would amount to sew
eral hundred miles, where under the
rural system it can be measured by
about Twenty-Five, and the farmer can
read his daily news with the same plea
sure as his more fortunate city neighbor
People on the line of the delivery routes
are pleased with the system. The post.
master general favors it In his report,
The government is favorably impressed
with its workings, and rural free deliv-
cry of mail is coming TO us sooner or
later. Y.