The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1901-04-26
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Congressman Pad gett Tells of the
Advantages of the System.

EDITOR HERALD:-In the matter
of Rural Free Delivery, have been
asked number of questions aud
shall try to give the desired informa-
ton:
The purpose of rural free delivery
is to carry the mails dailv to remote
portions of the county, the residents
of which would otherwise have to
travel long distances to receive tn cir
mail.
The only expense attached to the
citizen is the cost of putting up his
mail box. There are a number Of
these boxes, any one of which will
be accepted by the Government.
They are metal boxes, having lock
and KEYS, and range in cost from
81 90 to SO 90. There is no tax, cost
or other expense attached to the
service.
Congl ess has made an appropria-
ton of about three and one-half mil
lion dollars to establish the service,
and being impressed with the firm
conviction that if we could secure it,,
it would be of great benefit to the
country people, have been making
efforts to do so.
The route or circuit must be an
proxImately twenty five miles and
must serve not less than one hun
dred families.
The Department requires that the
roads must be good and passable at
all seasons of the year.
The carrier is required to deliver
the mail along the route every day
in the year except Sunday. He is
also required to take with him a
sufficient supply of stamps, stamped
envelopes, and postal cards. He is
also authorized to register mail and
to accept money for money orders
and give receipt therefor.
He also collects the mail along the
route. In other words, he is a travel
ing post. office.
Under the system, as now estab-
lished, the pOstotfice is stationary
aud the patrons are required to go
after their nautilus being put to
the trouble, expense ana inconveu-
fence of so doing.
Under the Rural Delivery system
it is believed TO be more convenient
TO fit up carrier to carry the mail
to the people, so as to save the
trouble and inconvenience of the
system now in force.
Tie Rural System has been il
operation in Davidson county since
June 1900.
10 Inform myself, | addressed let
ters 10 w. j. Ewing, Editor of tht
Nashville American, and TO Mai
Wills, Postmaster. asking of them /
free expression of their opinion upOr
the service, as TO it's efficiency anC
how the service accommodates anC
meets the wants + the country PEG
pie, how the people like the service
and how the same compares will
, the service in fOl ce before the estab
lishmenr of Rural Delivery. In hi
reply, Mr.. Ewing says:- II an
sure the Rural Free Delivery is tn
most Satisfactory thing of the KIM
ever attempted by Uncle Sam"
Maj. Wills says: 1.-The service /
so acceptable that hope in time t
have tue Rural Delivery on ever
good road in Davidson county. Tn
patrons are delighted with tn
service. There is no comparison
between this service and the oil
Star Route Service. 1t not oni.
Orings rural residents closer tn TIL
world, but 1t enables them to seeur
the daily paper. and in this wa.
they are brought In daily cont4c
with the movement of the Who'll
country"
Comparing the volume Of maj
matter collected and delivered q
June. 1900 with March 1901, tn
volume If mail matter aiOug IN
several routes has increased abou
two and q half times. thus shown
how the people appreciated it b