The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-09
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Special Agent III. c. Coles Talks Inter-
estingIy About 1t.

H c. Coles, of Washington, d. c., who
has been inspecting the work of the middle
division of the rural free delivery service
with relation to the civil-service feature OF
the service, has about completed his work.
He has been in this division for several
weeks. 1--WE find the civil-service feature
a distinct success" he said at the Denison
Hotel last night. at is bringing a better
class of carriers because there is some en-
enlargement for a young man to take hold
of ii. He can earn from $500 to $500 year.
and he knows that there is a chance of bet
ter wages and that he has a lifetime job
if he wants it and obeys the rules and regu-
lations. Many young farmers are taking
hold of it, and we prefer to select car
riers from the ranks of farmers If possible.
"A good many women are getting inter
ested in the service. and we have several
women carriers who are doing very salts
factory work. 1 was somewhat skeptical
on the proposition OF women taking hold
of this work until some time ago in Wis
cOnsin i had interview with q young
woman who was seeking place as carrier.
In talking with her l asked her II she
thought she would be physically able to
stand the work. She replied that she had
been teaching school for six years and was
compelled to drive seven miles to her school
every morning ana the same distance BACK
each evening. She earned about $50 month
at this work for five months. She figured,
she said. that she could take mail route
and receive $50 month for every month
in the year and only ride a few miles more
each day. Then besides she would be rid
of the worry and fatigue incident TO school
teaching. L had to admit that her argu-
ment was rather good one. She took the
examination, but her papers have not yet
been passed on.
II am convinced that rural free delivery
has been one of the greatest things for the
country that the government has started.
There are now about 5000 routes I'm opera
tion, and by July will have 100 more
going. BY that time / think that every
State and Territory In the Union will have
free rural delivery IT has been a good
thing for the newspapers / am convinced.
AS an instance. / once made report 10
the department on route I'm the State of
on the entire route was taking a daily
newspaper when the route was started.
Four months later 112 daily newspapers
were taken on the same route. The govern
ment allows the carriers to become agents
for newspapers, and some of the carriers
tell me they make enough per cent. on
handling the papers to pay for their horse
feed.
81 am OF opinion that the rural free de-
livery will have a tendency TO keep young
men on the farm. OF recent years there
has been a sort OF exodus from the farm,
among the boys as soon as they get old
enough 10 do something for themselves.
The fact that they can now get the news
papers, the magazines and their letters
fresh every morning will have a tendency
10 put them closer in touch with what is
going on, and the young man can sit down
and look over his newspaper and magazine
the same as the city man and yet stay on
the farm. OF course some of the merchants
in the smaller towns make some objection
to the rural delivery system contendinp
that IL deprives them of some OF the farm
er's trade because he does not have to come
TO town for his mail Now, I contend that
with the exception Of the saloon the bust
ness OF a town Is really helped by the new
system. The carrier is given permission by
the government. TO do shopping for his
patrons. but he must not carry them LIQUOR
Now the farmer can get anything he wants
except intoxicants by sending for IL by the
carrier, whereas in many cases the saloon
might get good deal OF his money instead
/ self"