Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1900-04-05
Rural Free Delivery.

II the business men of Missouri Valley vii
put forth the proper effort, rural free delivery
system for this section of the county is posai-
bility.
Postmaster Album is the recipient of the
following letter from Congre.sman Smith Nc
Pherson relative to the subject:
Warrington, ID O., March l000--D Album,
Mo -l|ey,-Dear Sir:-l think the chances are
fairly good. to get ono Free Rural Delivery"
in your county. doubt whether 1 can get
more than one any way soon. One has just
been established in Mills county, which 10 the
onlv one in the district
Iwish ou would take this matter up with
the postmasters of the leading Offices in the
county, and advise me which territory ought to
be covered. hand you circular to aid you in
consu lting with other postmaaters.
Yours truly,
Smith Mcpherson.
The pecuniary benefits tho business men of
this city would derive from q rural free mail
delivery system operated from this city are OBJ
viou,. Il puts tho farmer In daily touch with
the buain ess man % the purpose of the rural
free delivery system ia TO give postal facilities
TO those Who have none, to carry the mails into
tho remote rural communities, the residents of
which would otherwise have to travel from two
to twelve miles every time they receive their
mail. In communities where the rural free
delivery places tho farmer in daily touch with
the merchant. it has been found to be produo-
tiee of most successful trade relationn The
following are few Of the conditions required
by the service:
Present petition, addressed to the First
Assistant Postmaster General, signed By those
who desire the service. This petition should
should mention the number in each family. It
should set forth the nature of tho country
where the delivery 10 desired, whether densely
" sparely populated, the principal avocations
Of the people, the character of tho roads. and
tbs distances which, under existing conditions,
each patron has to travel to receive bis mail,
and should be accompanied wherever possible
by a rough map indicating the 1onte or routes
proposed
This petition, when properly signed. eLouid
be sent to your Representative in congress- or
to one of your senatora with . request that be
endorse thereon his Recommendation OF the
service asked, and forward the petition to the
department.
The roads must be good This is an essen
tial prequisite to any investigation.
| No route can be established that is let's than
from 20 to 25 miles in len 9Th, or which serves
less than 100 families
The route should be 40 arranged that the
carrier will not be required T., travel over the
same ground twice ON the same day.
Those desiring the delivery must be prepar-
ed to put up. at their own expense, at some
convenient location, which can be reached by
the carrier without diamounting from his bug
~. appropriate and secure boxes for the re.
ception Of theIU. =. malls.
Rural carriers are not required to deliver
mail to houses standing back from the main
road. The service 10 one of mutual accomoda-
ton. and the patrons are expected to meet the
Department half way in affortiinR facilities fol
| itA establishment.