Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-11-12
RURAL FREE MAIL DELIVERY.
Its Extension to be Completed In
Three Years.

Three Years.
A. w. Machen, general superintendent
Of the free delivery system, in his re-
port for the fiscal year 1902, estimates
that within the next three years, when
the extension Of the rural free delivery
service is completed, there will be 10000
! carriers employed, who will cover ter
ritory of 100000 square miles and make
necessary an annual appropriation of
about $240OO,000. The territory of the
United States available for rural free
delivery embraces about 100000 square
miles, or one-third of the country's
area, including Alaska, and the 1850
routes now in operation cover a little
more than 100000 square miles, so that
almost one-third of the available terri
tory has been provided with service.
Mr.. Machen says that while for the
last five years the annual increase in
the appropriations for the rural service
has averaged over 200 per cent. in two
or three years, when the complete ex-
tension shall have been effected, the
| rate Of increase ought not to exceed 8
or per cent, the rate maintained in
the older branches Of the service. The
report says:
The sooner the service Is completed,
the more quickly will the full effect Of
it's influence on the postal revenue be
felt. Hereafter the extension Of the
CHI no 10 % he 70 nf
$4,000 routes year until 1t becomes uni
versal. To do this the department will
require such largely increased appropri-
tions that the annual postal deficits for
the ensuing two or three years will
probably reach 1000, 900 or 10000, 900, If
not more, but once the service Is COM
pleted and thoroughly organized, the
patronage from 20,000,0O0 Of our people
who have thus far had little opportuni-
ty to enjoy the full benefits Of the mail
service, will increase to such a marked
degree that the additional revenue de-
rived will soon reduce the present fig
ures, If not entirely wipe them out.
An additional appropriation Of $780,
600 is asked for the current year to ena-
BILE the department to carry out its
plans for the uninterrupted extension
Of the service.
On July 1, 1901, 1901 rural routes were
in operation, and during the year 4,165
routes were established, the service
practically doubling itself in twelve
months. On July 1, 1901, the number
Of petitions for routes received at the
department since the establishment Of
the first route in 1896, reached 1928,
while during the year 1902, 12,403 petit
tions were filed, exceeding by over 1000
the total number filed during the pre-
ceding four years. Since July 1, 1902,
about 2,4OO petitions have been received
or about 600 month-a large aver
age for this season Of the year.
The observations made by the de-
partment Of the working of the rural
free delivery system in Carroll county,
Maryland, where a complete and model
system Is in operation, shows that rural
free delivery causes a healthy and
steady increase in the gross receipts of
the postoffices in the locality in which
free delivery is general, and is also res
ponsible for portion of the increased
revenues Of the larger offices accruing
from the stimulated use Of the mails by
merchants and others who are now able
to reach patrons Of rural delivery
throughout the country.
Supt. Machen recommends that rural
carriers be authorized to pay money or
ders to patrons as we'll as to issue them.
In several localities postmasters have
at their own risk permitted rural car
riers to pay money orders. The innova-
tion has proved most satisfactory and
in no case has there been wrong
payment Of money by carrier or loss to
postmaster on account Of the practice.
Mr.. Machen recommends that fifteen
days annual leave be granted rural car
riers and that substitute carriers be
paid fixed living salary in place Of the
81 a day they now receive from the
government.