The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-01
Living Issues.
THE LATEST INSTRUCTION as TO RURAL
FREE DELIVERY.

"4u1 WILMA "S
instructions as to the establishment
of routes. But in several particu-
lars the instructions which he gave
were out of date. For the benefit of
Progressive Farmer readers we give
the very latest instructions, those
now in force, as follows:
PosToFFICE DEPARTMENT,
First Assistant Postmaster General,
Office Gen. Supt. Free Delivery Sys-
tenn,
Washington, D. c., August 1, 1901.
The following instructions, which
neutrality-suspicious. orders and regu-
lations up TO date, r issued for
general information:
HOW TO OBTAIN RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Present a petition, addressed to the
First Assistant Postmaster General,
Rural Free Delivery Division. This
petition should be signed only by
heads of families, and should men
ton the number in each family I'VE
sixteen years of age. It should set
forth the nature of the country where
the delivery is desired, whether
densely or sparsely populated, the
principal occupations of the people,
the character of the roads, and the
distances which, under existing con-
ditions, each person has TO travel to
receive his mail, and should be ac-
oompanied by a map or plat indicat-
ing the route or routes proposed.
FORM OF PETITION.
To the First Assistant Postmaster
General, Washington, ID. c.:
The undersigned heads of families,
residing in - county, State of
-, respectfully ask that the rural
free delivery service be extended to
them, the delivery to start from
- postofice, - county, -
State, or such other point as the
officers of the Department may deem
best adapted for the service. Amap
or rough sketch of the proposed
route is herewith inclosed. Your
petitioners are mostly (here state
occupations, such as farmers, truck
gardeners, dairymen, cattle raisers,
or whatever the chief occupation of
the people may be). The roads over
the proposed route are Estate whether
pike, graveled, or otherwise).
There are no unbridged creeks and
the roads are passable at all seasons
of the year.
We agree to conform to the official
regulations governing the service,
and to erect boxes which have been
approved by the Department, for the
reception of our mail.
The petition must also show:
1. Name of head of family.
2. Number in family over 16 years
of age.
8. Distance in miles from nearest
postofice.
This petition, when properly
signed, should be sent to the Repre-
sentative in Congress, or to one of
the Senators, with a request that he
indorse thereon his recommendation
of the service asked, and forward the
petition TO the Department.
CONDITIONS OF Fl SERVICE.
It must be borne in mind that the
intention of Congress in authorizing
the free delivery of mails in rural
districts was not to grant a suburban
delivery to cities included in the
free delivery service, nor to estab-
lish a village free delivery. The
purpose of the rural free delivery
system is to give postal facilities
to those who have none; to carry
the mails daily to remote communi-
tiec, the residents of which would
otherwise have to travel from two to
twelve miles to receive their letters
and newspapers. ,
The roads must be good. This is
an essential prerequisite to any in
vestigation.
No route can be established under
ordinary circumstances that is less
than from twenty to twenty-five
miles in length, or which serves less
than n hundred families.
The route should be so arranged
that the carrier will not be required
To travel over the Same OrOund EUice
IN the same day.
Those desiring the delivery must
hereafter be prepared to put up, at
their own expense, appropriate and
ecure boxes in accordance with the
orders of the Department.