The Republican journal., 1900-02-22
Rural Free Delivery
Will Probably be Established in this Vic


Will Probably be Established in this vicin
| ity.
The Journal mentioned last week the fact
that movement had been started to have
rural free mail delivery established in this
vicinity. The following extracts from cir
culars and reports recently issued by the
Post Office authorities will be of interest in
this connection:
1t must be borne in mind that the intention
of Congress in authorizing the free delivery
OF mail in rural districts was not to grant a
suburban delivery to cities included in the
| free delivery service, nor to establish village
free delivery. The purpose of the free deliv-
cry system is to give postal facilities to those
who have none: to carry the mails daily to
remote rural communities, the residents of
which would otherwise have to travel from
two to twelve miles to receive their letters
| and newspapers.
No route can be established that is less
than from 20 to % miles in length, or which
serves less than 100 families.
The routes are so arranged that the carriers
are not required to travel over the same
ground twice the same day.
The roads must be good
Those desiring the delivery must be pre-
pared to put up, at their own expense, appro-
priated and secure boxes for the reception of
the Q, S. mails, at such localities as can be
reached by the carriers without dismounting
from their buggies.
Rural carriers are not required to deliver
m to Ston hon OBJ th,
road. The service is one of mutual accom-
modation and patrons are expected to meet
the Department half way in affording facili
ties for its establishment.
Rural carriers give bond in the sum of
$500, with two securities. Each bond REQUIRES
SO cent revenue stamp attached They are
paid directly by the government, upon GER
tihcate forwarded by the postmaster. Their
rate of pay is fixed by the department. One
or more substitute carriers are provided for
each route, who must give bond in the same
sum as the regular carrier, and who are
alone permitted to carry the mails in the
absence or disability of the regular carriers
All rural carriers are under the control of
the postmaster from whose office the service
is established.
Rural carriers take with them supply of
stamps, postal cards, etc. are authorized to
give receipts for money orders, and, if pat
rons so desire, to enclose the order when
granted, in addressed envelopes confined to
their charge. Instructions are in prepara-
tion and will shortly be issued, authorizing
them to register letters.
One serious drawback has been the reluc-
tance of patrons to provide suitable boxes
for receiving and depositing the mail. These
vary from ordinary wooden boxes, without
suitable covers or locks, to tomato cans.
drainage pipes or even sections of stove
funnel, frequently set up on hedge rows or
in places out of the reach OF the carrier.
Suitable boxes are made, in two compart-
ments, one for the receipt and one fer the
delivery of mail, and with an automatic flag
attached to show whether or not there is
mail in either side. These vary in price
from 80 cents to S. 90 each
The committee on post offices and post
roads of the Fifty-thrd congress, in 1891,
declared the scheme impossible of execution,
as it would require an appropriation of at
least $50 100000 10 inaugurate it. The Post.
master-General agreed with the committee,
as did also the First Assistant, in whose de-
partment rural free delivery comes. In his
annual report in 1894 Postmaster-G General
Bissell declined to expend the small appro-
prlaton OF $4,000 made by Congress to test
the scheme, stating that the plan, if adopted,
would cost $20,000,000 and the people were
not ready for the change at so great an ex-
pense. Congress made $4,000 available in
1896, and Postmaster General Wilson, with
many expressed misgivings put the service
to the test. Forty-four widely divergent
routes were selected for the experiments,
located in twenty nine States. The appre.
citation of and the demand for rural free
delivery increased to such an extent that
Congress appropriated $50, 600 for the pur-
pose for the fiscal year 1S97-9S and $500, 900
for 1S9S-99. On the first of October, 1899.
rural free delivery was in successful opera
tion from 583 distributing points, radiating
over 40 States and one Territory Of these
were in Maine.
To obtain rural free delivery a petition
must be presented addressed to the First
Assistant Postmaster General signed only
by the heads of families, and should give
the number in each family 1t should set
forth the nature of the country where
the delivery is desired, whether densely or
sparsely populated, the principal avocation
of the people, the character of the roads,
and the distances which. under existing
conditions, each patron has to travel to re-
ceive his mail; and should be accompanied
wherever possible, by rough map indicat-
ing the route or routes proposed. The petit
tion, when properly signed, should be sent
to the Representative in Congress, or to one
of the Senators from the State, for indorse.
ment.
Secret Societies.
AS the storm last Sunday prevented the