Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-10
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Nearly 100000 Country Homes See
Uncle Sans Postman-N~ry
Successful System.

Washington.-"Th credit of rural
free delivery belongs almost exclu-
sively to the Mckinley administration"
said Hon Perry S. Heath, first assist
ant post master general. "A movement
to broaden the free delivery of the
mails was begun by Postmaster Cen
eral Wanamaker under the administra-
tion of Gen. Harrison. 1t took the form
of village free delivery, and extended,
as an experiment, the plan of deliver
ing mails by carriers, as existing in
cities of 10000 population, or $4,000
gross postal receipts, to 40 or so select
ed villages of less population and small
er postal receipts. The experiment was
a success as far as it went, but the
succeeding democratic administration,
fearing its effect in popularizing repub-
lican principles and disseminating re-
publican literature ordered it dropped.
at was republican administration
that conceived and executed the idea
of Frightening the home of the farmer,
educating his children, increasing the
value of his land. compelling the i'm
provement of his roads, and giving him
ready access to a market for his crops
by carrying the United States mails to
him on his farm.
"Since the 4th of March. 1897, near
ly 100000 rural homes in all parts
of the United States have been brought
into close touch with the rest cf the
world by a daily visit of the rural post
man.
THE initiation of some form of free
delivery which should reach the hereto
| fore isolated rural communities was
| forced upon the last administration in
its closing year by congress, respon-
sive to the wishes of the people. Forty
| four rural experiments were reluctant
| ly started some of them in commu-
mites which neither asked nor appre-
| ciated the service. 1t was difficult to
| find such localities, but such were
! found. and the service was started
| there. apparently with the purpose of
| bringing rural free delivery into dis
| repute and demonstrating its imprac-
| ticability.
ut is possible this result might have
| been achieved in time. but under the Wv
| flying influence of Il republican postal
| policyrural free delivery at once sprung
| into vigorous life. The appropriation
were increased by congress from $780,
| 900 the first year TO S150,00O the sec
| ond wear. and $3.50 900 the third year.
| On the 2d of April, 1900, close Upon
| 1000 rural routes had been established,
| some of them serving as many as 1900
| or 800 people daily, the average be-
| ing 80 persons to a route. Not one
state which has asked for the service
| has been left unrepresented. The good
work is still going on. Nothing short
cf revolution can now check it,
Three years experience has shown
| that the rural free delivery service is
| not inordinately expensive. 1t costs
very little more than the old colonial
| style of postal service which it super
| sedes, and it invariably brings a large
| and compensating increase in the
amount of the mail matter handled.
| and consequently in the amount of
| postal receipts turned into the treas
| ury. But even if it does cost more than
the obsolete old plan, are not the
| farmers entitled to come of the benc-
| fits of the government which they help
so literally to support by their taxa
| ton?
| The country can well afford to con-
! tinuc and extend a system which makes
better citizens, happier homes. and
contributes so largely to the mental,
moral and material advancement Of
| the plain people,