The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-01-31
Postmaster Hambleton,s Defense.

EDITORS MIDLAND JOURNAL:
In view of the personal and malicious attacks
made upon me at the hands of a few persons
living and being in the vicinity of Pennington,
and possibly Greenhurst, in reference to the
establishing of Rural Free Delivery Route No. 9,
and disseminating of post offices at Pennington
and Greenhurst, &C., desire with your permits
sion, and through the columns of your valuable
paper, to make the following statement
To all whom it may concern 1t is well known
that Rural Delivery first started in this county
through the efforts Of the Cecil Farmers Club
ito which Club some of my scalpers belong.
Through the cooperation OF Mr.. Haines and
myself. we succeeded in getting the route laid out
and established and put in successful operation,
and it is now reaching proportions far beyond the
most sanguine expectations, having jumped from
1000 pieces in November to GO00 for January
The citizens of Port Deposit district, seeing the
advantages of its operation here, concluded that
they too must have Rural Delivery, and forthwith
proceeded with two petitions, diverging from that
point, covering the entire population far north
as Principle. The two routes were laid out by the
Special Examiner with the recommendation of
disseminating post offices at Woodlawn and
Principle. The routes were adopted as recon-
mended by the examiner and will go into effect
March LIST.
Then Colora, not to be outdone, goes in with
their petition. The examiner is again sent out
with instructions to give them what they asked
for This being established, it became absolutely
necessary to provide route for the people lying
between here and Principle and Theodore. The
Department seeing the ACCESSIBILITY of doing away
with the Star Route, believe ordered the exam
liner to lay out the route, disseminating the Star
Route and the post offices at Pennington and
Greenhurst. Now what want to get at is at
hand. The people of our neighboring town of
Pennington have conceived the idea, las they did
not care for rural delivery that the instigation
Of the whole business is upon me, and through
me brought about. l want to say, and say most
emphatically, that never asked for this route,
never wrote word to the Department concern
ing it and was never asked by the Department
one word concerning it The whole business
was simply brought about by the action of the
petitioners from Port Deposit and Colora. 1 will
confess this much, that was of the opinion that
this would be the result at some future time,
(dbOut that there is question: as it is being done
in every State in the Union as fast as possible
But that this route would be established on March
LIST never dreamed of, and cannot, in the name
OF all that is righteous, see how these people can
put the blame upon me for taking awayltheir
post offices, and feel only too sorry tor the post
masters as it has been source of some revenue
to them. But as far as the people are concerned
they not only receive good, but will say better
service by the new system, and only will have to
go to their front gates to receive it. This is no
experiment, it is past that stage, and wherever
established it is giving universal satisfaction. l
trust that all farminded people will now see that
am blameless of the charge, and ask their hearty
cooperation in the new service and their assist
in trying to build up the new order of things
1t will go greatly toward promoting a successful
mail service on the Rural plan. l already feel
and only ask as your servant your kind and
courteous assistance in bearing it.
SAINT. HAMBLEToN,
Rising Sun, Md, 2S, 'O2, Postmaster.