Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-01-10
ABOUT RURAL DELIVERY.

AbUuI RURAL UG1l 1h l.
Congressman Calderhead Tells About
the Securing Of Routes.
Ina private letter referring to the
establishment Of rural free delivery
mail routes, Congressman Calderhead
gives the following information which
We take the liberty to publish, think
Ing ii may benefit some readers OF the
REFLECTOR who are working for new
routes. He says;
Referring to the matter OF rural
free delivery there are a very large
number Of applications on file for the
inspection and establishment Of rural
mail routes in this district. In many
cases routes have been applied for
which encroach upon the territory
rightiully belonging to postoiilce
other than the one from which the
route emanates, and there are many.
other cases in which routes conflict
by crossing each other, or by running
upon the same lines. Cases do arise
in which siguers Of petitions who
have been receiving their mail at one
Office may be able to get it more con-
veniently by being placed upon
route emanating from another office.
1t will be easily seen that many diff
culties will arise that will require
very careful work to properly and sat-
isiactorily adjust. This work will
have to be done by the inspector who
is sent by the department to inspect
the routes. This will be very diff
cult matter, because Of the numerous
petitions for routes in the same local.
ity emanating from different offices.
"In all these cases where any diff
| cult matter arises, or any differences
Of opinion exist, 1t will be better II
those who sign petitions and those
who are interested in projecting
routes will come to some amicable
understanding before the inspector
comes to them, There Is plenty OF
room for all routes applied for, and
In the course Of time they will all be
established, but by reason OF such
disagreements as | have mentioped'
some delay may be caused and some
petitions may be adversely reported
upon.
"In all cases where any difference
Of opinion has existed, have made a
personal request to the inspector 70
take these matters into careful con-
sideration and as far as possible to
Investigate contiguous routes one In
connection with the other, and to so
establish them that all who have
signed petitions may be placed on
some daily mail route.
"In all cases the inspector is sent
to begin his inspection Of the route
at the distributing point, and II
would be favor II those interested
IN the matter would consider the
above statement.
"After these routes are established
: they will be inpccted from time to
time in the same way that postolllces
are inspected, and whatever can be
done to improve the service, will Dc
done. In special cases where addi-
lions to the route will be better, the
inspector will examine them and re-
report his advice on such cases.
"The Rural Free Delivery has
grown rapidly. The first one IN
Kansas was at Topeka, and the sec
: ond in Manhattan, and then one a,
Marysville and one at Clay Center
Since then there have been establish
ed AZ in the First district, SO In tn
Fifth, 26 in the Second, "a In tn
Fourth, and 18 each In the Sixth AM
0 Seventh. The 33 in the Fifth wer
70 established on special orders at m.
& request. There are now over Az ap
a plications pending for the Fifth dis
y trict. These will be taken up in th
l. order in which they were filed an
10 will all be inspected in due time
10 There is but one inspector now q
y work in Kansas and be will work q
D. fast as he can"
~
% mil. mill YukApAsf MonU