The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-12-20

carefully examined, competent firm
was employed to make perfect maps
for the permanent use of the depart
ment. In each case a blue print was
made of the accepted map of route
| and presented to the postmaster for
his future use.
'Then came the work of writing up
all of those reports. 1t is necessary
that proper persons shall be selected
to carry these routes. Each carrier
must have a substitute to carry the
mail when he is indisposed. Carriers
and substitutes must give bonds for
the faithful performance of their
| duties. 1t is the duty of the special
/ agent to see to it that the carriers
are properly instructed. The report
in each case shows clearly all salient
facts concerning the proposed route,
in order that the special agent in
charge of division thoroughly I'M
derstand the case, and give it such in
dorsement as meets with his judg-
ment.
| Each case is finally forwarded to
Washington, where the chief special
agent and his assistants reach final
conclusions concerning the work. The
general superintendent gives direc-
ton to all of this work and keeps it
so well in hand that he knows every
day where each employe is engaged
and upon what work. He has large
map of the United States in his office;
and there, with little stick pins bear
ing their names, he locates all special
agents and inspectors in the field.
Each agent is required to send to his
chief, week in advance, statement
of his itinerary for the ensuing week;
and thus it is known from day to day
where every man is at work.
''In my travels L made inquiry of
carriers concerning their work, it's in
crease or decrease. Without eXcep-
ton L found that the mails have in
creased during the past year in the
volume of mail sent and received.
"Another thing interested me every
where, and that was the interest the
people take in improving their roads.
Just north of Nevada, Ia, there is a
stretch of two miles of rich soil, so
rich that it would be impossible in
wet weather. The farmers along that
road raised $500 to pay for the gravel
ing of the road, in order that they
might have rural free delivery. The
same spirit is everywhere manifested
and l look for good roads as result
of this postal innovation. 1t is bet
ter way to get good roads, too, than
the way which Coxey proposed with
his tramps few years ago.
"The interest taken by the people
is something wonderful. AS we drove
along the roads, the postmaster
handling the reins while L had map
and pencil in hand, we met farmers
taking loads to town, or saw them in
fields, or in door yards; and, as the
postmaster would call out: Get your
mail box ready they would cheer and
say. Were glad you've come at last
In some cases the petitions have been
on file for fully year, and the people
anxiously waiting all that time. The
cause ofs.the delay has been the lack
of appropriations for the employment
| of sufficient number of special
agents to examine and report on the
proposed routes. There is enough
money this year, and there will be
plenty available next year, and the
good work will go on
When we remember the fact that
nothing like this work has ever been
undertaken before, that there has
been no precedent for any movement,
it rs simply marvellous that this rural
free delivery service has been built up
into such a systematic machine in the
space of four years. Mr.. A. w.
Machen, the general superintendent,
has been charged with the full re-
sponsibility of the work. He needs
and will receive no higher commenda-
ton than that uttered recently by the
postmaster general to "a senator:
mo complaint is made, except that
the service does not come fast enough
to please all of the people" With
ample appropriations, the work will
now go fast enough, until every farm
er has complete postal facilities.
SMITH D. FRY.