The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-01-24
to maintain daily rural SER

eminent to maintain daily rural SER
vice, under any conditions, was dem
onstrated early in March, 1900, when
a severe blizzard swept over the
country. The roads were blocked
by impossible snowdrifts-in many
places from fence to fence. Traffic
was practically suspended throughout
the country. The contractors who
hauled the postal wagons, however,
were instructed to hitch four horses
to each wagon, and gangs of shovel
lers were sent out several hours in
advance to cut the drifts. Amid storm
and sleet the service was performed,
without interruption and with but lit
tie delay much to the surprise, of
course, of those who had waited
cheerfully to see the government con-
founded.
After this experience there was not
one among all the farmers who was
not enthusiastic about the new SER
vice, and the few who complained
were compelled to admit that they
had not fully realized the great i'm
portance of the service, nor the real
convenience it afforded. The men
who, every winter previously, had
been been cut off for weeks by snow
and the impossible condition of the
roads now received their cores
pondence and daily papers the same
as if they were in the heart of the
most populous community. Since
then there has been no doubt in the
minds of the postal authorities as to
the greatness and Importance of the
new service.
One more example may be cited,
however, as illustrating what really
can be done under difficult conditions.
1t is from report made by one oe
the special agents employed by the
government to inaugurate the system.
when, before my assignment to
the eastern division" he writes, 81
was called upon to inspect the rural
, region adjacent to Murphysboro, ILL.,,
it seemed to me that # rural free
delivery could exist there it would
thrive anywhere. The mud in the
roads appeared to be bottomless, the
population was sparse, the farms
were large, and Their was much waste
land l selected the most available
localities and the service was estab
lished. Very soon there was deman
for additional service. Under orders
again visited Murphysboro, AMI
found to my surprise that the ser
vice was successful beyond the high
est anticipations of it's most ardent
friends. The gross receipts Of the
: postoffice had increased so per cent
and there was not one complaint, ex
, cept from those who felt they had
been Sighted. recommended an ex
.. tension of three additional carriers
covering the entire region within {
y to miles of the Office. There was
: but one fourth class postoffice with
: in the Murphysboro district. The post
master resigned Immediately aftel
the establishment of the rural ser
! vice, and the Office was discontinued
, thus affording an opportunity to dem
onstrate the practicability Of rura
free delivery on an elaborate scale il
> a region devoid of stone roads ant
: traversed by numerous streams. Tina
which has been accomplished al
; Murphysboro can be duplicated any
where without cost to the department
: as the growth of receipts at the post
> offices from which the service origin
ated is more than sufficient to dcfra!
/ he cost of the SERVICE"
In the matter of the details of thu
actual service the tendency is tt
make is at perfect and wellappearins
as that now in operation in the larg,
/ cities. Thus at Lafayette, Ind, tn,
! postmaster and carriers seem to hav,
We'd with one another in their e.
; forts to establish model service.
The rural carriers are governed b!
: the same rules as the carriers of tn.
= city delivery service; they wear tht
same uniforms, provided at their owl
> cost, and each has furnished him
I self with special-delivery wagos
with Postal Wagon-U. S. Mail
painted on the front and sides. Eacf
wagon has a sliding door at the sides
with a glass front, and is fitted NJ
: with pigeonholes, in which the carriel
, sorts his mail as he goes along. There
t is also contrivance for heating the
a wagon in cold weather. All the boxes
= along the route are of galvanized iron
4 of uniform size, painted, and closely
resembling in appearance the regula
: ton boxes used in cities, and art
:. nailed to posts of such height as t.