The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-05-09
ABOUT RURAL FREE DELIVERY ROUTES
Pamphlet of General Information Has
Been Issued.

Pamphlet of General Information Has
Been Issued.
The Postoffice Department has is
sued pamphlet of general informa-
tion in regard to rural free delivery.
1t tells how to obtain rural free de-
livery service and gives form of APP
plication to be sent, properly signed,
to the member of Congress or to one
of the Senators, with request that
he endorse the petition. This appli-
cation should set forth the nature of
the country where delivery is desir-
ed, whether densely or sparsely pop
ulated, the average distance each
person now travels for his mail, the
principal avocations of the people
and the character of the roads. The
petition should give the length of the
route, indicating the same by rough
map or plot, and should be signed by
only heads of families. 1t should
mention the number in each family
over 16 years of age.
Good roads is an essential pre-re-
quisite to an investigation. The
routes which, under ordinary circum-
stances. must be from 90 to 25 miles
in length, should be so arranged that
the carrier will not travel over the
same ground twice. Those desiring
free delivery must put up at their
own expense, appropriate boxes in
accordance with the orders of the de-
partment.
The Postmaster General has desig-
mated a number of boxes as comply
ing substantially with the require
ments laid down by commission ap-
pointed by him for that purpose.
Before service will be established it
will be necessary for the patrons to
select one of these boxes for use on
the route, the boxes.on each route to
be uniform. The prices of these
boxes range from 81 up to little
oyer SO, including locks.
When a rural free delivery route
has been uniformly equipped with
boxes, the Department will consider
these boxes entitled to the protection
of the United, States Statutes which
provides severe penalties for wilful
malicious injury to them or interior
ence with their contents.
The carriers are not required to de-
liver mail to houses back from the
road, except registered mail, special
delivery and pension letters. The pa
irons are expected to assist in keep
ing the roads in passable condition.
Only packages weighing over three
pounds or those otherwise unmaila-
BILE may be delivered by the carrier
without postage, provided their do
ing so does not interfere with the
prompt andling of the mail.
The carriers are under the general
control of the postmaster from whose
office the service is established. They
must give bond for $500 and receive
maximum salary of $500 per annum
for a full route. They cannot sublet
their work, but in case of sickness or
when on leave of absence, their du-
ties are performed by their regular
substitute, who must also give bond
for $500, and who receives the full
pay of the carrier when on duty.
Carriers are required to take with
them each day responsible amount
of stamps, postal cards and enve-
lopes. Unstamped letters found in
boxes accompanied by the proper
amount of money will be stamped by
the carriers. They are required to
cancel the stamps on all letters col
lected by them. All letters collected
by carriers are subject to the two
cent rate of postage.