Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-11-29
More About Rural Free Delivery.

funnC. yesterday, Hts H'''iiE ''''-'N''i''''
facts about the extension Of the rural
free delivery system ard the plans oi
the department regarding the work
which will be Of much interest to the
public. particularly in this section
where so many new routes ar" beng
onened. The report shows that the
service is advancing with increased
strides. Its extension during the past
wear has been nearly three times ae
great as the whole amount of S"rN ice
previously established. The number Of
routes in operation at the beginning Of
the fiscal year was l.,s, and at the close
1901. During the current Year fi,h
an augmented appropriation ana
more experienced force. the work Vii
proceed still more rapidly. At the
opening; of December 5000 routes will b"
running, and under present plans tn
number will increase by July |. !@G..
70 $500.
The rural population now receiving
daily service is about :,20".IO". and at
the end of the fiscal year il will reach
300, 900. The delivery SYSTEM will ,htn
cover more than a quarter Of the elisi-
bic portion OF the country. and 1T III"
present rate Of establishment the en-
tire area suited 10 the service that j..
rs estimated. a million Square miles Of
territory with al.0oon0c OF rural resi-
dents-Nil b. brought within its Scoop
in less than -four years. TIL" mail VIII
then. if the work goes oG. h" delivered
a; every door in the United States cN-
.opt in the most remutt, mountainous
and sparsely settled sections. and in
tillages OF limited receipts W'!rtc the
postoffice is within easy re- J. TIE
demand for tn" service sHOWI With IN"
public experience of its ,."arcni"nr,
..nd utility. The nurHhcr W apllica-
tons for n"N routes at this ;in.'. Last
year was 2159. Those now p-niin- and
awaiting action amount to 61-H. Thus
the 5000 routes which hay" ben organ
ICED are only one-hali Of me 3luUb"r
already asked for
The report declares that tn i'"licy
Of rural delivery is no longer 4 suhj'"'
Of serious DISPUTE. 1t mas ui,mis'ak-
ably vindicated i:eif rs ~ fruits. l.
the financial results 1ra still Wnl.ter-
mined and require greater experience
and more complete data before a con-
elusive Judgment can he pronounced,
the practical benefits and the popular
appreciation ana dt;uGnd nave been d.
ciSively demonstrated. It ms hecli
maie plain i,lat this service Is 4 30
Gent educational force that it hri;t;s
agricultural iira into Ear clJacr v,lt
tiers with the active business world.
that it keeps the farmer in daily tn,:rl:
with markets ard prices; that II AL
rances general intelligence through the
Increased circulation Of legitimate
Journals and periodicals, stimulates
Correspondence, Qulckens al Nor
changes. promotes good roads, N
hances farm values, makes farm life
less isolated and more attractive, ana
unites with other wholesome Influences
IN checking and changing the hitherto
prevailing current from country 10 city.
The national value of these advantages
Is inca.cuable. They are not theol ct
jcal, but real, direct and i'm nediat.
In difIusing them the teneficert agency
Of the government is brought into thu
daily presence and thought of the pco-
pie. A service which has within three
wears wrought such . great improve
ment in the conditions OF rural life
cannot bo hailed. 1t must go on I'M
I'll 1t shall be fully Completed.
\ closer consideration of thu mate
:iat interests involved as elaborated by
Nr. Smith. "nforccS this cCnclu-
sion. On an average there arc H. fam-
lilies on n route. Under the old system
tAey Travelled from > 10 miles in ~
Ing To the postoaic". H the eos, in
time and oth"r factors b.: rccxoned 1T
10 cents ,;aE tor each tumilv il i.
-''"''' = iIi't'i u cStltltl'. In:tt
mad" ~ aggreSnt- Of $3.50 a day.
me government can deliver th.. maj,
Al the doors OF Ill for = WHY
shouldn't II do 50 ami sa:- them the
larger burden" Extend the calculation
!" the whole country. There az. about
*.ooo"oC families dependent on tn. r,,rai
service The aggregate cost To Them o.
GONG to tho postofficc reaches ..,, ...-.,.
nous sum. The government o,,,, rar1v
ne postof!ic" 10 them for It fraction of
the amount. Under such cir,r,,y.af,.s
me clam to the service ;,.,nrn.. ,,,..
Astible 1t is the business cr Ina .o,--
eminent to deliver the mails ms far -.
practicable. Tho unprecedented .h.,:r,..
10 rural delivery have largely VANISHED
win actual experience. and IT,. mani.
advantages, now clearly sho",i
urge 'he :ull Development Of tho noii,v
h'ien III" fear that the ulrin.,, I'LL
" inns servic" would So far rx.o,., r. .