Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-13
Rural Free Delivery
CONTINUED from Fifth Page.)

VI nun Il abOsJ
ined" quarters in the old building housed
the clerks of the rural Free as the name
Is contracted, until the Postofnce depart
ment removed to the new postofice build
ing on Pennsylvania avenue in 1899, when
extremely liberal quarters were assigned to
Mr.. Machen for the new branch Of the free
delivery service, but which are now as
crowded as were the original quarters a
few years before.
At this time Mr.. Machen's entire force OF
clerks numbered thirty-seven for city and
rural delivery, twenty-five however, being
engaged on rural work alone. Today 215
clerks are on the rural free delivery roll
in Washington, while thirty are employed
at division headquarters in New York.
Philadelphia, Nashville, indianapolis, Chi
cago, Denver and San Francisco and /. Is
expected to add two more divisions after
July 1 of this year, Omaha being a strong
candidate for one OF the two divisions to
be created. And all this has been brought
about within the short space of six years.
Has Grown In Appropriation.
1t is interesting in this connection to
know that the first appropriation which
congress voted for this service was so 900.
The last appropriation asked by the post
$500 NhNa' " N"AA Ut ~ II "
so modestly commenced and to meet the
constantly growing demands OF rural COM
munities to be included in rural routes
is 1888, 900, with an additional $275, 900 to
pay for clerk hire in Washington alone.
Nearly 5000, 900 for this one branch OF the
Postofice department alone and the service
Is still in its swaddling clothes. BY the
time this immense sum is expended, or at
the end Of the dscal year 1908, for the es-
adjustment Of free delivery routes, but
one-third OF the available territory OF the
United States will be gridir0ne6, so that
Mr.. Machen's prediction that the service
would cost 500, 900, 900 before the country
was properly routed, which he made in
1896, seems to be wholly within conserva-
tive bounds.
About the Man Himself.
August William Machen, during whose
term as general superintendent OF rural
and free delivery service the rural service
had its genesis, is of French descent and
a native OF the Buckeye state. having been
born on a farm owned by his grandparents,
In 1861. near the city of Toledo, o. His
grandparents came from France in 1895
and settled in the Maumee valley, and here
his father settled as we'll, but, being an
artist with a love for the beautiful. Machen
pere never took kindly to the filling OF the
fields, but followed the river In its mean
derings to Lake Erie, painting pictures as
II went. And August Machen's love for
the lake and the sea, which is still as
pronounced as 1t was in his salad" days,
may be largely due to his fathers fond
ness for the water. For a number Of years
Mr.. Machen was connected with the yacht
ing interests OF the lakes. serving as COM
modore Of the Toledo Yacht club for six
terms and vice commodore OF the Interlake
Yacht association.
Mr.. Machen was graduated from Can
isius college, Buffalo, N. Y, in the class
Of 1878 and two years later Joined the en-
cheering corps OF the Lake Shore & Michi-
gan Southern railroad. with which he re-
manned until 1884. During this time ne be-
gan to take an active interest in politics,
having espoused the democratic faith, and
In 1885 was appointed assistant postmaster
Pat Toledo. which position he held until 1890.
During his connection with the Toledo Of
fee he inaugurated a system Of accounts
which Is still in vogue and his conduct OF
the office is today the subject OF hattering
comment from the business men OF his
native city, irrespective Of party, a tribute
in every way worthy the man. During his
connection with the Toledo postofice Mr..
Machen began TO develop those qualities
which have stood MIN so we'll In HE more
exacting work of superintanding the rural