Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-12-13
OUR MAIL SERVICE.
Tie Postmaster General Makes
His Annual Report.
EXTENSION OF RURAL FREE DELIVERY
It stimulates Correspondence and swslls
the Postal Receipis, Makes Farms More
valuabls aud ans~s KOads to
he improved.

Washington, Dec. lD.--Postmaster
general Charles Emory Smith yester-
day made public his annual report.
In part it is as follows:
"yhe financial operations Of the de-
partment for the last fiscal year are
shown briefly in the following state
ment: Total receipts from all
sources, 'Sl02, 1854, 579.29; total expend.
lures for the year, $1O7,74o,96799;
excess of expenditures over receipts,
s5,6oS.70.
"rhe extraordinary extension OF
rural free delivery" the postmaster
general says, during the past two
years has proved to be the most
salient, significant and far-reaching
feature of postal development in re-
cent times. We have had other strik-
ing advances, but they have been
along lines already well settled. The
fast mail service, carried to the high
est attainable point, is only the logi-
cal outgrowth of the constant strug-
gle for the quickest dispatch. The
admirable railway post office is only
the elimination of the incessant eff
fort to save time, obtain the straight
est line and secure the least handling.
The frequent and rapid distribution
in great cities, now often outstripping
the telegraph in local use, Is but the
perfection of concentrated organiza-
ton. All these and the many other
improvements of method which keep
pace with general modern progress are
the natural developments OF an e.
tablished system.
"Rural free delivery has now been
sufficiently tried to measure its eff
fects. The immediate and direct re-
suits are clearly apparent. 1t stimu-
lates social and business correspond
ence and so swells the postal receipts.
Its introduction is invariably followed
by large increase in the circulation
of the press and Of periodical litera-
ture. The farm Is thus brought into
direct daily contact with the currents
and movements of the business world.
A more accurate knowledge of rul-
ing markets and varying prices is
diffused, and the producer, with the
quicker communication and larger in
formation, is placed on a surer foot
ing. The value of farms, as has been
shown in many cases, is enhanced
Good roads become indispensable,
and their improvement is the essen
tial condition of the service. The ma
terial and measurable benefits are
signal and unmistakable.
"In my last annual report | pointed
out the fragrant abuses which prevail
in connection with second-class mat
ter, and urged the Importance of re-
medal legislation. The measure Of re-
form naturally encounters the strenu-
GUS hostility of the limited special in
terests, the expenses of whose private
business is now largely paid by the
government instead of by themselves.
1t is not sought to change the policy
Of the present law or to abridge the
privileges it confers upon regular and
legitimate publications for 1.-THE dis
semination of public intelligence. 1t
Is only sought to cut off the abuses
which the law never contemplated and
which have crept in through the am
biguity of its provisions or through
doubtful interpretations that have
opened a wide door for wrongful en-
tries"
Postmaster General Smith then de.
,.sss some attention to the service in
Porto Rico, Hawai-, Philippine islands
and Cuba, after which he quotes sta
tistics Of stamps sold, mail matter
handled, post Offices established and
arrests made for violations Of postal
laws.