The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-13

of " respectfully ask that
the Rural Free Delivery Service De ex-
tended to them, the delivery to start
from ...... Post Office, ........ Coun-
ty. - State, or such other point
as the officers of the Department may
deem best adapted for the service. a
map or rough sketch of the proposed
route is herewith inclosed. Your pet ton
ers are mostly there state avocatioI,
such as farmers, truck gardeners, dairy
men cattle raisers or whatever the chief
occupation of the people may be) The
roads over the proposed route are Estate
whether pike. gravelled or otherwise).
There are no unbridged creeks and the
roads are passable at all seasons or the
year
Name of head of family.
Number in family over 16 years OF age
Distance in miles from nearest post
office.
This petition, when properly signed
should be sent to the Representative In
Congress, or to one OF the Senators, WIN
a request that he endorse thereon MS
recommendation of the service asked, and
forward the petition to the Department.
CONDITIONS OF THE SERVICE.
1t must be borne in mind that the in
tention of Congress in authorizing the
free delivery of mails in rural districts
was not to grant a suburban delivery 10
cities included in the Free Delivery SER
vice, nor to establish village free de-
livery. The purpose of the Rural free
Delivery System is to give postal faclii-
ties to those who have none; to carry the
mails daily to remote communities, the
residents of which would otherwise nave
to travel from two to twelve miles 10
receive their letters and newspapers.
The roads must be good. This is an es-
sential prerequisite to any investiga-
ton.
No route can be established under ordi-
nary circumstances that is less tnan
from 20 to % miles in length, or Whlch
serves less than 100 families.
The route should be so arranged that
the carrier will not be required to travel
over the same ground twice on the same
day.
Those desiring the delivery must here
after be prepared to put up. at their own
expense, appropriate and secure boxes IN
accordance with the orders OF the De-
partment.
The Postmas ter General has designated
the following named boxes as complying
substantially with the requirements iaid
down by a commission appointed by him
for that purpose:
/. The Postal Improvement Box, OF Nor
ristown, Penn.
2. The Bates Hawley Postal Signal Box,
of Joliet, H.
3. The Henry Rural Free Delivery Box,
manufactured by the American Metal Co.,
of indianapolis, Ind.
4. The Century Post Company Box, of
Adrian, Mich
S. The Bond Steel Post Company Box,
of Detroit, Mich.
Z; The Corbin Cabinet Lock Company S
Box, of New Britain, Conn.
g. The c. G.. Folsom Box, of South Bend.
Ind
.. The p b. Engler Box, of Taney-
town. Md.
TO- The John H. Forney (Enterprise)
Box, of Burlington, Iowa.
H. The Kelly Foundry Machine Com
pany Box, of Goshen, Ind
r. The W. w. Sweigart Box, of York
road Maryland
49, The Beaver Manufacturing Company
Box, of Beaver, Pennsylvania.
a. The Geo. A. Writ Box, Of Green's
burg, Indiana.
Before service will be established, it
will be necessary for the patrons to Sc
lect one of these boxes for use on the
route.
The prices of these boxes range from
81 up to little over SO, including locks.
When a Rural Free Delivery Route has
been equipped with boxes Of any one Of
the above named description the Depart
mil ~
titled to the protection of the United
States Statutes which provide severe
penalties for willful or malicious injury
to them or interference with their con-
tents.
DELIVERY OF RURAL CARRIERS.
Rural Carriers are not required to de-
liver mail to houses standing back from
the main road, except in the case or reg
istered mail, special delivery and pension
letters. The patrons are expected to meet
the Department half way by affording the
carriers every facility for the perform
ance of their duties, by keeping the
roads clear after the heavy snow falls,
and using their influence to MAINTAIN
the condition of the roads in all weather
up to the standard required by the De-
partment
Rural carriers are permitted to deliver
non mailable packages provided their do
ing so does not interfere with the prompt
handling of the mails which must be
made the first consideration.
HOW SERVICE is ESTABLISHED.
An ntimation of intention on the part
Of petitioners to comply with these con-
ditions will greatly facilitate the investi-
CATION and subsequent establishment of
service.
Upon receipt of a petition, favorably
endorsed by a Representative in Con-
gress, the Department refers the papers
to the Special Agent in Charge of the
Division which includes the State in
which the petition originates He as
signs a Special Agent to visit the location
indicated, to map out route or routes,
and to select rural carriers, to be APP
pointed by the Department. In such cases
the advice of the Representative in Con-
gress is sought, as regards the carriers
10 be appointed and in respect to other
postal service which may have to be
discontinued on the establishment OF
Rural Free Delivery,