The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-12-11
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Satisfactory Progress Has Been 1ads
In South Carolina.

1
In South Carolina.
Columbia, Special.-Congressman A.
E. Lever of this district spent portion
of Sunday in the city on his way to
! Washington to be cn hand when con-
gress reconvenes. While here he talked
most Interestingly about the growth
and development OF the rural delivery
system, having spent considerable time
in getting routes established IN his
district.
Mr.. Lever said: "Only few years
ago rural delivery was regarded as
most questionable kind OF an ex-
pertinent in the development of our
postal system. While II was admitted
that it was most excellent thing for
England and the thicEly inhabited
countries Of Europe, where it had been
in successful operation for many
years, its application to our conditions
get with little encouragement from
the postal authorities in Washington,
and the meagre appropriations made
by a skeptical congress were allowed
to go unused by the department, and
1t is in very recent years that there has
been given it anything like genuine
tai authorities. But its marvellous
tai uthorities. But it's marvellous
| growth and popularity are shown In
the fact that congress in last six or
eight years has gradually increased the
appropriation for purposes Of its exten-
sion from $4,000 to s7.500,c00 in last
session, and this year Supt. Machen,
who all along has been its friend, will
ask for something like s12,000,000, and
there Is not shadow Of doubt that
there will be any trouble in inducing
congress to give all that Is deemed
necessary by the department.
1T is estimated that it will take In
the neighborhood of $4,000, 900 to ex-
| tend the system to the doors of all
the farmers in both thickly and spar
sely settled communities; but when II
ate over ST., ,000, 900 for supplying about
800 cities with free delivery, there will
hardly be any objection to even SO
large an appropriation which goes di-
rect to the benefit Of the farmers, who
have so long endured the antiquated
methods of the star route and fourth
class office.
No one can appreciate the great i'm
provement rural delivery Is over the
old system until both have been tried
live on rural route myself, and yet
my morning paper reaches me by the
time the paper is being read by the
people in Columbia, where it is printed
used to walk several miles for my
mail, and then could get it only at
noon. This Is the experience Of every
one served by the system and 1t is the
reason for its universal popularity with
those to whom it has been given"
"Is there any complaint against the
system?" None whatever, except
from those whom we have not been
able to reach as yet, and few fourth
class postmasters, whose offices have
been discontinued upon the Inaugural
ton Of the system. The demand for 1t
is general, and the impatience Of the
people not receiving 1t makes the life
of congressman trying his best to get
1t for all his people burden. We can't
get 1t fast enough for those petition
ing, because the hitherto limited /nds
OF the department have been INSULT
cient, and rule of prorating among
the districts has been adopted, and
each district must, to some extent
await its turn.
~, IL R.d ,,,,v lio
trict is its lack of good roads and
bridges. Good roads with streams
bridged make one of the conditions
precedent to the establishment Of a
route; and of course there must be In
circular Of not over rs miles not less
than Is white mail getting families,
and these are somewhat hard to find
in sparsely settled communities. These
requirements serve to retard the de-
yelopment Of the system with us, and
especially in our district, but my judg-
ment Is, in the course of few years,
as congress becomes more liberal in its
appropriations for This purpose, shorter
routes with less number of people on
them will be accepted and all the peo-
pie served. This is the end to which all
all the friends Of rural delivery are
working. and I confidently expect, in
the next decade, to see nine-tenths OF
the farmers Of my district receiving
their mail practically at their doors.
We are rapidly approaching that. as
can be seen from the statement that six
years ago the first route in the dis
trict was put into operation, while now,
beginning on the first of December,
there will be in active operation about
As, serving on an average rs white fam
lilies to the route; and yet there are
many petitions still awaiting the con-
siderat.on of the department
1--WE are rapidly coming to a gen.
eral rural delivery system. but we can't
get there in day or a year. We must
mix patience with systematic effort,
and work on"
THE States Finances.
Almost every wear in order 70 tide