The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-03
RURAL MAIL CARRIERS.
They Do Not Live Comfortably on the
Salaries Now Paid.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
In the Journal of recent date a
lengthy articles on the rural free delivery
of mail, in which it was stated by the man
from whom the information was obtained
that the rural mail carrier was paid $500
yearly by the government for his services.
In other States the statement has been
made that the sum is ridculously small,
and that it is eaten UP by expense. In In
diana, however, the place is eagerly sought
after, and there is lively competition for
the appointment. Experience has shown
that Indiana carriers, at least, have been
able to live comfortably and save money
from their salaries.
In regard to the competition for the
places 1 will say that is correct. but as to
living comfortably and saving money that
is not correct. a carrier must keep two
horses, and to feed and shoe them and
keep up the necessary repairs of the har-
ness and wagons will cost in the neighbor-
hood Of $3.50 a year TO say nothing OF the
wear on horse flesh. These horses travel
on an average 10000 miles a year, so that
every three four years a horse will give
out. 1t will take from two to three
months salary TO buy new horse The
government allows a mounted carrier in
the city $3.50 year for horse hire and
penses, and his horses do not work as hard
as those of the rural carriers. His horse
makes two trips a day, with a couple of
hours rest at noon, while rural carrier
horses travel from twenty-five to thirty
five miles before they stop. Rural carriers
hours are as long the city carriers, be-
ing seven TO ten hours a day. Take the
rural carriers expenses (S250 a year, and
deduct that from his salary of $500, and
there is about $3.50 left or about $50 a
month. Now, if any one can tell how rural
carriers can live comfortably and save
money on 800 a month he will earn the
everlasting gratitude of not only the rural
carriers of Indiana, but of the carriers all
over the country Twenty dollars a month
to pay house rent, grocery and butcher
bills, and buy shoes and clothing not only
for yourself but for family is very com
Portable living, indeed, and the only
trips to bank that the rural
carrier can make are trips to
draw from what little money he may have
saved TO help pay his expenses and not 10
the money the rural carrier makes 4" on
the side" and the gifts from the farmers.
l can safely say that the money made and
the gifts received by the rural carriers OF
our city (Outside of salary in the two years
that we have had rural service will not
exceed $50 for the eight routes. The rural
carriers stand to-day the poorest paid class
OF men in the country. They draw about the
same wages as a farm laborer. but he has
his board and washing thrown in and the
carrier has to pay for his out of his salary.
j would like 10 see the time come when
some of the large dalies would agitate the
subject of paying the rural carriers Just
compensation for their labor rather than
try by quoting men who claim To be in
formed, to make the people believe they are
satisfied and making money off their
salaries. The present Congress will be pc
titioned by nearly all the carriers in the
country for an increase in pay. and the
Indiana carriers VIII be among the petit
TONERS. RURAL CARRIER.
Fort Wayne. Ind, Nov 30.