The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-13

nant with IDEAS lOf the ufDan,
4 n. suburban. and rural resident.
all three, appears in the state
ment Just issued by Superintendent
Machen. setting forth the present con-
ditions and future possibilities of that
department of the United states post
free delivery service.
After saying that. great as is the
area of the United States. it is possible
to extend the rural delivery system
everywhere when desired. the princi-
pal question being of course the cost,
he gives itemizcd details and further
estimates showing how largely the
postal receipts have been already in
creased by it. and how greatly the de-
mand for its extension is growing.
Following that detail comes the para
graph we refer to- superintendent
Machen writcs:,
Aside entirely from the nr,tnihlr benefits
at 80 diverse und Tar reaching Il nature to
hr almost without limit. the general result OF
compelling ih" maintenance of good roads III
the nit"i States viii he more than ,Gnuicn.
~utatr with the cost "f the entire system. When
! say compel, mean it il the fullest s"n>c,
and will give YOU m example. This spring. by
reason Ut bad roads. "" have been occasionally
Obliged t" abandon irioS several routes in
the West We have notified these communities
tia, unless the roads kept III such perfect
'rdcr that this Years experience will not he
repeated. the >cr,ic" will be discontinued. as it
viii be- Advocates po,d roads will thor.
nr.hly apprc cal" Tie meaning al this order. as
will also the communities who want free dclv-
cry, and most rural communities do and it
r.oanS briefly ''good roads no rural free mail
delivery" ;hc probabilities | am discussing are
reasonably certain because uf the liberal policy
shown by "ongtrss, The Spontaneous demand for
f,ral free delivery from all sections. the uulri;
icsponsC of the farmer to maintain good roads
and the broad minded policy of Postmaster Gen.
r,dl smith in riih"rn- the interests Of the
system and executing the law.
There has been an energetic cam
paiGn going on in many states for sew
cral years past for really good roads
That campaign has borne considera BILE
good fruit, though far from enough
The farmer in some sections of coun-
try has come to appreciate the value
of roads easily paSSablc in all seasons
of the year, for the sake of getting his
produce to the railroad or the market
town with an amazingly minimized
wear and tear on himself, his draught
animals and his vehicles. The urban
and suburban resident has been cdu-
cate' to the need for good roads by
wanting plenty of fresh vegetables
from the aforesaid farmer every dav,
and the other desire for good cycling
and good driving.
Now comes to the farmer every
where and to his family this practical
appeal for wisdom in their own behalf
from the pustotlice department. With
good roads for travelling over, bringing
the mail facilities of the cities to his
door. and now also with the facilities
the electric roads increasingly offer for
social life, farm life viii very soon re-
gain and hold its own with the younger
element which. in the majority of cases
deserts the farm to the deserters own
great loss for all future time. The
glamor of the occasional conspicuous
,,eNcoptions will be for the thought ful
NQuntry youth presently overbalanced
by the opportunities for competence
and abundant social ana intellectual
life on the farm. So Superintendent
Machen's free postal delivery report in
It's emphasis on the departments or
der, good roads, or no rural free de-
livery" is doing double work for good
lis exemplifying for good purpose the
saying about two birds with stone.