The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-17
RURAL DELIVERY OF MAIL
An Appropriation of 100000 to
Be Available on July I.

How Communities May Obtain the
Free Scrvice-Instruction Issued
by the PostoHice DePartnaeut-EiI-
lagos Must Repair the Roads.
An appropriation of 100000 for the ex-
tension of the rural delivery postal sery-
ice becomes available the first of the com
ing fiscal year. Chief Machen, of the free
delivery service, estimates the average
yearly cost of one route at $500 At this
rate. approximately 500 routes. allowing
for clerical hire and supervision. viii be
installed during the coming year
The Postofice Department has issued
instructions, embodying department or
ders and regulations, intended to guide
communities desiring to obtain rural
free delivery system. The first step TO be
taken is to present a petition, addressed
to the First Assistant Postmaster Cen
eraI signed by those who desire the ser
vice. This petition should be signed only
bv heads of families. and should mention
the number of persons in each family over
sixteen years Of age 1t should set forth
the nature of the country where the deliy-
cry is desired, whether denseiy or sparse
y populated, the principal avocations OF
the people the character of the roads,
and the distances which, under existing
conditions. each person has TO travel to
receive his mail. and should be accompa-
MED by a map or plat indicating the route
/ o. routes proposed
This petition, when properly signed,
should be sent to the Representative in
! Congress. or to one of the Senators, with
a request that he endorse thereon his rec
/ ommendation of the service asked and
/ forward the petition to the department.
~To,71d he horne in mind thai he i74fev1
/ ton OF Congress in authorizing the free
| delivery of mails in rural districts was
! not to grant a suburban delivery service,
! nor to establish a village free delivery.
| The purpose of the rural free delivery
| system is to give postal facilities 20 those
| who have none; TO carry the mails daily
/ to remote communities, 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 es-
/ sential prerequisite to any investigation.
No route can be established under or
/ binary circumstances that is less than
/ from twenty to twenty-five miles in
/ length, or which serves less than 100 fam
/ lies The route should be so arranged
| that the carrier will not be required TO
/ travel over the same ground twice on the
! same day. Those desiring the delivery
must hereafter be prepared to put up,
at their own expense. appropriate and Sc
| cure boxes in accordance with the orders
| of the department.
! Rural carriers are not required to de-
| liver mail to houses standing back from
the main road, except in the case Of reg
| Istered mail, special delivery and pension
/ letters. The patrons are expected to meet
the department half way by affording the
carriers every facility for the perform
! ance OF their duties. by keeping the roads
clear after heavy snow falls. and using
! their influence to maintain the condition
| of the roads in all weather up to the
standard required by the department. Ru-
raj carriers are permitted to deliver non
fnaiiabIe packages provided their doing
| so does not Interfere with the prompt
| handling of the mails, which must be
/ made the first consideration
| An tltimatiQn Of intention on the part
Of hetitfpnefs to comply with these coadi-
tons viii greatly facilitate the investiga-
ton and subsequent establishment Of
service. Upon receipt OF petition. f4y
voTably endorsed by Representative IN
Congress, the department refers the pa
pers TO a special agent in charge of the
division which includes the State in which
the petition originates. He assigns a spe-