The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1901-03-14
BUTLER'S
MONUMENT.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY OF
NAIL ORIGINATED
WITH HIM.
ne MAD All Up MILL FIGHT.

Growth Of :he system IN Four Year,
Confers Benefits and Increases Rsve-
nzes-A Permsneat Institution
John Boyle, in Raleigh Post, March
Sth.
Washington, March Tn de-
parting from public life Mr.. Butler
leaves behind a monument to his
zeal and activity in the rural free
delivery service, Of which he may
well claim to be the originator. As
far back as 1896 he was advocating
this system, which has now been en-
grated In our postal system as firm-
Iy as city delivery. The PCstoffice
Committee Of the Senate reported it
adversely, but on q vote of the Sem
ate, secured by Mr.. Buffers person
al efforts, it was carried by the close
vote of 80 to %. Even then Post
master General Wilson thought it
impracticable and at first declined
to expend the $4,000 provided for
experimenting with the service. On
ly after persistent effort Mr.. Butler
induced Mr.. Wilson to give the sys-
tenn trial in the thickly populated
sections of New England. Some Al
routes were mapped out and the ser
vice gave such satisfaction that in
the next year, 1897, S5O,OOO.was ap-
propriated, without an effort, to con-
tinue the service. AS it's advanta-
ges became known its popularity in
creased and in 1898 SI5O,OOO was
appropriated for the service. The
scope of the service was extended.
From this date 1t became firmly
rooted as part of the postal service.
In 1899 100000 was appropriated
for this service; in 1900 S1,75O,OOO,
and in this year, 1901, $4,000
There are now 4,2OO routes, cover
ing an area greater than Great Brit
tain. 1t is estimated that it will
not cost more than S14,OO0,O0O a
year tOextend this service to every
hamlet in the country and to nearly
every home, even in remote section,
of the country. This SUN is less
than that now paid for free delivery
in cities.
The increased receipts of the Post.
office Department come largely a
the result Of establishing and exten
ding free rural delivery, and 60 1
long way toward paying the expen
ses Of the service. Not since Sil
Rowland Hill established in 1874
the penny post in England has sucl
a revolution occurred in the p sta
service of any country. Mr.. Butle
carries with him into private life tn,
satisfaction of having originated thi
new departure and seen it grow un.
til now it could no more be detach
ed from the postal system, thar
could the telephone and city deliv
cry from business life.
The Postoffice Department official
from being antagonistic to it, ar
now its warmest supporters. Post
master General Smith finds in thi
system a partial solution Of the prob
lem of keeping the rural population
On the farms and betterment o
, farm conditions. The sons of farm
ers, reared in comfort and indepen
dence, instead Of crOwding to tn
cities and forced to accept places be
low their social position, now IT
main at home and at the same tim
, continue in touch with the busy lif
of the city, enjoying the comfol
, and independence of rural life. Th
influence of free rural delivery wi
3 grow each year, and those who hav
watched its progress expect from
). results that cannot be measured b
: mere dollars and cents. And NJ
Butler is one of these.