The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-04-12

point OF hOneSU enueaVOr ana unSeI-
fish devotion to the community in
which he lives, | am not afraid of
the final score ~ the country editor. -
---------------
RURAL DELIFERY OF MAIL.
Rural delivery of mails has no
stronger advocate in or out of con-
gress than Major Lacey, and through
his untiring efforts he has succeeded
in having one established at Brook
lyn, one at Hedrick, one at Newton,
one at Ottumwa, and one at OskR-
loosa, and he is now zealously at work
trying to secure a number of others
for the district. 1t must be remem-
bered that the number to be estab-
lished each year is limited, and that
hundreds and hundreds of petitions
go in from all parts of the country.
The rural delivery is experimental
yet, and expensive, and appropria-
tions for them are made by congress
outside the postal receipts, and this
gives uncertainty to it being extern
sively extended. 1t is hoped, and
First Assistant Postmaster General
Heath thinks, the system will increase
receipts sufficiently to nearly pay the
expense, but this will take time and
will depend upon those accommo-
dated. The present congress has APP
propriated 81, 1850, ,OO0 for the continu-
ance of those now in operation, and
for the further establishing of routes
and it is very likely that the delivery
of mail by the Star Route mail car
riers in various parts of the country
will be attempted, and this no doubt
will be much appreciated By those
along the route, for it will be in real
ity rural delivery and in many in
stances viii be superior, especially il
the Star Route is daily one, as mail
will be delivered "both coming and
going" and if the route passes one
or more postoffices mail will be taken
from them for delivery along the
route.
1t is the intention and purpose of
the Postoffice Department to so en-
large the delivery of mail that the
country as well as the city may have
all advantages of quick and prompt
delivery, but 1t means time, patience
and expense to accomplish it.
Every plan and scheme for the bet
terment of the service has had the
aid, the support, and the energy of
John F. Lacey. He has given every
detail study and investigation, ,aEd d no
man in congress to-day is better post
ed on all the workings of the depart
ment than he, and none are more
ready or more anxious to extend it
to all than he.
The dispatches from Washington
tell of petitions for the extension of
the rural delivery being received by
all Iowa congressman, and that Major
Lacey is engaged on plan to unite
in an endeavor to have the system
established all over the state.
The attempt of few populistic and
semi-republican newspapers, coupled
with few political enemies, to create Q
little political buncombe among the
country folk by trying to make it ap-
pear that Mr.. Lacey is opposed to
rural delivery, falls very fiat upon the
people of the Sixth district who know
Major Lacey and appreciate his worth
and value as their representative, and
who realize that each year of his SER
vice he becomes more and more val
liable to the district and to the state,
and each year he becomes nearer and
dearer 10 the whole people.
In tho older states of the east it has
been the continual service of their
representatives in the halls of con-