The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-09-12
TALK ON GOOD ROADS.

' Austria. calling for the establishment
/ of house to house delivery of ma
throughout the countries belonging t
the postal union. The American dele
, gates were foremost among the advo
2 Gates of the movement The, resolu
ton was agreed to tout of courtesy
the American representatives, on Jul
4. 1891. The American delegate
presented their report to Postmaste
General Wanamsker in the fall o
1891. At that time the deDartmen
was conducting an experiment of fire.
delivery in small towns and villages
which at the time was generally, bu
improperly termed rural free delivery
"The proposition to establish a FIRE,
delivery in rural districts, or rura
free delivery service such as we nov
enjoy, was looked upon by almos
every one connected with the postoffic,
department as impracticable and un
desirable. The question, however. hat
attracted the attention of congress,
and during the first session of the
fifty -second congress, two or three
attempts were made to secure an ap-
preparation for an experiment Of rural
free delivery outside of towns and
villages. An item of $40. 900 was in.
serted in the postal appropriation bill
for the year beginning July 1. 1898.
81 had the honor to be superinten-
dent of free delivery at that time, and
was ready to begin the experiment
which congress desired, but decreas-
ing revenues, followed by increasing
deficits, caused the postmaster general
to decline taking any step which he
believed migth further involve the de-
partment and entail too great drain
on the future revenues of the postal
service. The appropriation for the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 1898. was
not used.
Although the item was not in
cluded in the departments subsequent
estimates, congress repeated the sp-
preparation for each IF the three sue
ceeding years, and the appropriation
for the fiscal year ending July 80,
1897, carried the sum of $500, 90 for
AN experiment of rural free delivery.
1.-THE first route was established
Oct. 1, 1896, amid the misgivings of
many of those connected with the
service July 1, 1897, found forty
three routes in operation. The new
administration had just taken charge
of the affairs of the department It
foresaw, in measure at least, the
great posi- abilities of the new service,
and the benefit it's introduction would
probably bring to the farmers Of this
country. Consequently every dollar of
the $50. 600 appropriated for the year
ended June 80, 1898, was spent in ex-
tending the experiment and broaden
ing its scope. AS result, about 100
routes were established during that
year.
''For the year 1899 congress trebIed
the appropriation, making it $3.50, 900.
For the year ending June 80. 1900,
congress not only provided $500, 600,
doubling the amount of the proceed |
ing year. but promptly allowed in the
urgency deficiency bill of that year an
additional appropriation of $3.50. 900,
IN fb ~ total oe eA6n Onn ,,os uo;I /
able for the extension and main
tenance of the service. At the end of |
that year 1903 rural carriers were
serving as many routes.
"For the year ending June 80. 1909,
The postmaster general requested an
appropriation of So, 800, 900. which was !
granted by congress. In fact,
f it had not been for the firm position
aiken by Postmaster General Smith
against congress giving the depart
nent more money than he believed
could be properly used to advantage. +
he appropriation would have been
S5, 600. 900.
SAT the close of the last fiscal year
;, 600 routes were in operation, show
ng an increase of 100 per cent in
Twelve months. Congress, in it's last
session, was especially generous to the
service, and an appropriation of
=, 600, 600 was set aside for the salary
If carriers alone; the aggregate appro-
,riations on account of the rural free
delivery service reaching almost
8, 900. 900.
In the beginning of the expert
nent, it was thought that the system
would be confined principally to the
mere delivery and collection of ordi-
AIRY mail. and at first the duties of
ural carriers were limited to that
york. The 6rst addition was the de-
livery of registered letters. This was
DON followed by an order authorizing
ural carriers to register letters on
QUITE. giving receipts for the same,
which insure patrons as much security {
8 if the letters were registered in
ostoffice.
About two years ago provision was
made for the extension of the money
rider service to rural routes. Rural
arriers are now provided with a
pecial form of receipt, which they
i've to patron for money for the
urchase of money order. When it {
5 explained that the first year 175. 600
money orders were issued to about two {
rural carriers for patrons of I
heir routes. and during the second 6
ear 900. 900. one can easily see how t