Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-12
Now Proposed to Extend Its
Benefits to All the Small
Towns
CONGRESS MUST FIRST ACT
Results of Rural Delivery Have Con-
WINGED the Department That System
Should Be Extended to Every Ham
let-onIy 400 Per Year Can Be Added
Petitions Should Be in Early.

Washington, Nov. 12.-General Super
cry system of the postal service of the
United States favors its extension to
smaller towns, and is ready to inaugu-
rate the work whenever congress au-
thorizes 1t.
The existing law provides that the
free delivery system may be establish
ed in cities and towns containing pop
ulation of not less than 10000 within its
corporate limits, according to the last
general census, taken by authority OF
state or United States law, or at any
postoffice which produced gross rev.
enue for the preceding fiscal year OF
not less than $4,000.
During the first session of the Fifty
seventh congress Senator Nelson, OF
Minnesota, introduced an Important
amendment to the present law pro-
viding for the Inauguration of the sys-
tenn in cities or towns having a popula-
ton of 5000, according to federal or
state census, or at any postoffice show
ing gross receipts of $4,000 for the pre-
.ceding fiscal year.
This amendment, 1t will be noted,
fixes the requirements for eligibility to
the service, in both the essential ele-
ments, at half the present mini
mum. and Is the most radical and far
reaching change that has been seriously
suggested since the original enactment
creating the city delivery system.
The amendment, with some slight
changes. received the approval of the
postmaster general, whereupon the sen
ate committee on postoffices and post
roads favorably reported the measure,
which passed the senate on the 4th day
of June, 1902.
Under the title of senate bill No. 909
the measure is now before the post
office committee of the house of repre-
sentatives, and will doubtless be acted
upon by the committee during the COM
ing session, If it is properly urged upon
them. Should the amendment be en-
acted into law, Mr.. Maohem says ~ Will
affect exactly 1000 offices at the pres
ent time. The number of offices COM
ing within the provisions of the act Will
increase approximately at the rate OF
100 per year. If the present rate OF IN
crease in gross receipts turnout the
country is maintained.
1t is estimated that to inaugurate the
carrier service in these smaller cities
and towns would require on an average
two and one-half letter carriers to each
office, whose salaries for the first year
would be at the prevailing rate of $500,
H,r n +
$3.50. For years the smaller cities. ex-
cluded by the explicit terms of the law,
have been applying to the department.
for the benefits and conveniences of
free delivery. When at last the resi-
dents of these numerous towns Wit
messed the successful introduction OF
the rural free delivery system in the
territory Immediately surrounding
them, reaching the smallest hamlets
and villages, but passing by their
towns, 1t spurred them to redouble their
efforts to obtain a mail delivery SER
vice.
Under the organic lines along which
the rural service is laid down and es-
tablished, these thriving towns are rig
IDLY excluded from it's benefits, as that
service was primarily designed to be,
as it's name implies, n distinctly rural
service, and these towns were too large
ard their postoffices too important to be
discontinued. Therefore the residents
of these thousand towns now observe,
with more or less complacency, their
friends in the neighborng cities enjoy
ing the delivery and collection of their
mails from two to five times q day, and
turning toward the open country they
see the farmer having his daily paper
and market reports brought to his
door.
1t is therefore little wonder that
these towns are stirred to action, and
it is evident, that the time is fast APP
when these towns will no
longer be denied the free delivery ser
vice, and whenever congress acts IN
the premises, the postoffice department.
declares Mr.. Machen, will be found
ready to perform Its part toward ex-
tending its scope and usefulness. With
the work entailed by the present rapid
growth and extension of the service
in the larger cities, it would scarcely
be practicable for the free delivery Of
flee, as now constituted, to inaugurate
the service at these new points more
rapidly than at the rate of 400 offices
per year. as the smaller the office the
greater the supervision and instruction
required from headquarters.
According to the table, compiled with
reference to gross receipts for the last
fiscal year, the number of postoftices
in Iowa eligible for the free delivery
service on July /, 1902, under the pro-
visions Of the pending senate bill 909,
is 81.
In regard to rural free delivery Mr..
Machen says under the act of April
Il, 1902, q permanent organization OF
that service was effected on July lst
and a superintendent, formerly desig-
mated as chief special agent of rural
free delivery, was appointed and placed
in direct charge of the service, under
the direction of the general superin-
tendent Of the free delivery system. A
whose position is also au-
thorized by law, was given charge OF
the inspection of the service and as
signed to assist the general superin-
tendent and the superintendent of rural
free delivery in the general superVl-
sion of the organization.
From among the county rural free
delivery services which, during the past
year, have practically established them
selves on the principle of natural Sc
lection and by the aid of intelligent
supervision on the part of the special
agent in charge and conscientious and
painstaking Investigations by special
agents in the field Mr.. Machen has Sc
lected the following as examples.
In the western division, in Dubuque