The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1902-03-22
Rural Free Delivery.

There are always plenty Of members
Of congress,who will oppose on grounds
of narrow economy anything that tends
to the general welfare OF the country
and this is especially 30 when the mat.
ter is not one that concerns their own
immediate and personal interests. 1t is
not surprising therefore. that there
should he objection to the continuance
and extension Of the free mail delivery
In the rural districts, but 1t would be
hard to find any good or sufficient argu-
ment against the system which has been
so successful in operation and has been
so eagerly welcomed and approved by
those whom it is intended to benefit.
That the general intelligence of the
people Is a benefit to the nation and
may properly he made the object OF
Of governmental care and expense is so
well established as a principle Of the
American republic that it is no longer
subject to argument. And it is Of equal
Importance that the government should
do what it can within reasonable limits
to promote c0ntentment. morality and
high standards of living among its
people. The population of the rural
districts are especially worthy Of atten-
tion for two reasons: they are so stu
ated that they cannot Uf themselves
maintain that constant touch with the
life of Il nation that is possible in the
more thickly populated cities. and they
are particularly valuable to the govern
ment as citizens. Besides that, the
work done in the rural districts is OF the
utmost Importance to the nation and it
is directly for the national advantage to
make country life as agreeable as pos
sible.
1t is not fair and it is not right that
special favors should he shown to the
people of any class or section. The
residents of the cities should not be
taxed to give exceptional advantages to
the farmers. Bnt. on the other hand.
the people of the country have right
to expect the same treatment from the
government that the city people receive.
and the mere question Of additional cost
should not decide, the matter against
them. The application OF this principle
is seen in the school system. 1t un-
doubtedly costs more per capita for the
child in the country school house than
for the city child, but both arc entitled
to an education and the state feels that
neither must be neglected. The same
principle applies to the rural mail de
livery. 1t costs more to get the news
paper or the letter to the farmer and the
farmers wife and the farmers children
dren, but they need them more, aud the
nation is doing an injustice to no one in
seeing that they are served wherever it
is reasonably possible to do so.
When the system of rural delivery
was introduced by the postofliee depart
ment it was with the understanding
that it was in the nature of an expert
ment, and that If it was successful it
would be gradually extended to cover a
larger area Of territory. The expert
ment has been tried and it has been
found to be even more successful than
was expected by its founders. There
should be no hesitation in carrying out
the original purpose. The rural mail
delivery should be extended as rapidly
and as far as it is possible to do So
Colorado Springs Gazette.