Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-11-28

wrongfully deplete the postal revenues,
but they faint and harm great bust
ness by injurious methods on unequal
ground; and legitimate publications,
for the honor of their own mission and
work, and in their own interest, will
welcome and sustain the effort for the
enforcement of the law and the main
tenance of its Just standard. The re-
demption of the postal service from
the incubus which works a great in
justice to the people and to all law
abiding publishers and which impairs
the power of the department for eff
| cheney and Improvement in many di-
rections is felt to be the highest duty,
and to that duty the department adj
dresses itself, relying on the support
of all who would have the law faith
fully observed"
Rural Free Delivery.
Rural free delivery is discussed at
length, with the recommendation that
the present experimental service be
made permanent and also that it be
largely extended
| The rural free delivery has advanc-
ed with increased strides. Its extern
sion during the past year has been
nearly three times as great as the
whole amount of service previously
established The number of routes in
operation at the beginning of the fis-
cal year YVES ,276, and at the close
4,301. During the current year, with
an augmented appropriation and a
more experienced force, the work will
proceed still more rapidly. At the OPP
ening of December 5000 routes will be
running, and under present plans the
number will increase by July /, 1902,
to 5000.
The rural population now receiving
daily service is about 100000 and at
the end of the fiscal year it will reach
100000 The delivery system will
then cover more than quarter of the
eligible portion of the country, and
at the present rate of establishment
the entire area suited to the service
that is, as estimated a million square
miles of territory with 21,000,000 of
rural residents-will be brought with
in its scope in less than four years
The mail will then, if the work goes
on, be delivered at every door in the
\ United States except in the most re-
mote, mountainous and sparsely set
/ tied sections, and in villages of limit
within easy reach. The demand for
the service grows with the public ex
perience of its convenience and util
ity. The number of applications fol
new routes at this time last year was
t2,159 Those now pending and await
ing action amount to 6,129. Thus the
5000 routes which have been organ
lied are only, one-half of the number
already asked for.
Advantages of the Policy.
The policy of rural delivery is nc
longer subject of serious dispute. II
has mistakeably vindicated itself by its
fruits. If the financial results are still
undetermined and require greater ex,
perience and more complete data be.
J fore conclusive Judgment can be
pronounced, the practical benefits and
the popular appreciation and demand
have been decisively demonstrated II
has been made plain that this service
!; is a potent educational force; that it
brings agricultural life into far closer
relations with the active business
; world; that it keeps the farmer in
Idaily touch with markets and prices
that it advances general intelligence
through the increased circulation OF
: legitimate journals and periodicals
stimulates correspondence, quickens
all interchanges, promotes good roads
. enhances farm Values makes farm life
less isolated and more attractive, and
unites with other wholesome influences
in checking and changing the hitherto
prevailing current from country tC
city. The national value of these ad
vantages is incalculable. They are
not theoretical, but real, direct and
immediate. In diffusing them the be
!, nefcent agency of the government is
brought into the daily presence anG
thought of the people. A service which
: has within three years wrought such 6
great Improvement in the conditions
. of rural life cannot be halted. 1t must
! go on until it is fully completed.
A closer consideration of the mater
,, ial interests involved enforces this
conclusion. On an average there are
!, 1875 families on route. Under the ole
, system they travelled from two to foul
miles in going to the postofiice. Il
the cost in time and other factors BIZ
reckoned at 10 cents day for eacf
family, it is clearly a moderate esti
mate. That made an aggregate O
, $12.50 day. The government can de
liver the mail at the doors of all fol
! So. Why shouldn't it do so and save
: them the larger burden? Extend the
calculation to the whole country. There
: are about 4,O00,0O0 families Dependent
j. on the rural service. The aggregate
cost of them going to the postoffice
l reaches an enormous sum. The gov
eminent can carry the postoffice tt
: them for fraction of the amount. Tn
: der such circumstances the claim tt
J, the service becomes irresistible. Il
is the business of the government tt
J. delivery the mails as far as practic
r able. The apprehended obstacles t.
) rural free delivery have largely van
: ished with actual experience, and thu
t manifest advantages, now clearl!
!. shown, urge the full development Q
the policy.
Even the fear that the ultimate cos
of this service would SO far exceed
the return as to make it heavy ma
tional burden is sensibly dissipated b!
the results of the experimental trial
1t is demonstrated that the establish
ment of rural delivery is invariabl.