The Delta independent., 1901-07-12
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Rural Free Delivery.

There is a strong probability that
during the coming fiscal year the mon
ey order system will be Incorporated in
the rural free delivery service, and that
carriers on rural routes will be permit
ted to issue money orders, the same as
postmasters at duly authorized offices.
An attempt was made to have this e1-
tension consummated during the pres
ent year, but the pressure for the eS-
tablsshment of new routes was so
great that little time was left for con-
sideration of improvements in the SER
vice. There has been some fear lest
this new provision might be a little
too progressive at this time, but the de-
partment Is about convinced that the
change can be made safely, and to the
benefit of the people living along rural
routes. The change, il adopted, will
not be made at once, probably not be-
fore next winter, but it is sure to come.
The forthcoming report of the post
master general will show that the cost
Of maintaining rural free delivery has
materially lessened d uring the current
fiscal year. This decrease is largely
due to two causes; the discontinuance
Of larger percentage of fourth-clasS
postoffices than heretofore, and the cor
responding discOntinuance of star
previous years the fourth assistant
postmaster general, acting under more
Or less pressure from the different
fourth-class postmasters. has been re-
uctant about discontinuing fourth-claSa
offices whose patrons were served by
rural carriers. Thus the department
had to support not only the rural ser
vice. but the postoffice as well. In like
manner. in the interest of the carriers,
he second assistant postmaster gener-
n did not favor the discontinuance OF
star routes. even when supplanted by
rural free delivery.
Since that time, however. the post
master general has talked the whole
| subject over with his assistants, and
from the beginning of the current fiscal
rear the two reluctant officials have
given in and have consented to
| he prompt discontinuance of fourth
| ,lass offices and star routes, when ask,
ID for by the rural free delivery ser
! yice There will be a large saving to
I the department as result OF this
| change 1t seems that the rural free
delivery Is the latest innovation in pos
! .al circles, and the older lines Of ser
vice are jealous of the universal popu-
,arity which has marked the spread
Of the rural service.
| Rural free delivery mas come 10 stay.
| On the 1st of July. 1899. there were
some 100 routes in operation in the
! United States. That was an increase
Of 800 over the year previous. 1t is es-
timated that on July 1st next. there
will be in the neishborhood of 1900
rural routes in operation in the Unit
ed States In addition to tins it is said
that this rural service is much faster
approaching the state of seif-suste-
nance than did the city free delivery,
when inaugurated back in the COS. 1t
is not contended that 1t will ever be-
come self-supporting. for 1t is not be-
lieved that postal service will lever sus-
tain itself. but it is fact pointed to
with pride that there are now num-
ber of rural free delivery routes In tho
thickly settled communities that are
now being operated at marked prone
The service is now pretty thoroughly
established in the East. 1t shows
greater proportionate gain in the West
than elsewhere, and its limitation In
those states is only because Of many
sparsely settled sections which cannot
supporS the service.