Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-01-15
Rural Carriers Duties.

carriers to learn is that of absolute se-
crecy regarding mail matter passing
through their hands, which means that
they are forbidden to give any informa-
tion as to mail matter carried by them,
or official business transacted, to any
person, other than the person to whom
such mail matter is addressed, CT with
whom the business is transacted; or to
exhibit any mail matter except to the
person to whom it is addressed.
The instructions are to abstain from
drinking Intoxicating liquors while on
duty, and to maintain sobriety at all
times; to be civil, prompt and obliging,
quietly attend to their duties, and un-
der no circumstances to loiter or stop
for unnecessary conversation on their
routes.
They are permitted to carry parcels,
to receive subscription tor newspal ers,
and perform various private commits.
sions for the accommodation of the pat.
rons of their routes, with each Other
aud the business interests of the towns
from which they start, SO long as their
doing 80 does not interfere with the
regular performance of their duties.
They are not compelled to perform this
extra service, but if rendered the pat
rons must pay, therefor, and the com
pensation is one of private arrange
ment. But they shall not act as agents,
statesmen, or solicitors for express cpm-
panies, letter box manufacturers,
Wholesale houses, mail order honses,
corporations or firms, nor engage in
any business or avocation which wsuld
interfere with the proper performance
of their official duties.
They may also carry passengers, but
no person thus conveyed must, under
any circumstances, be permitted TO
handle the mails.
Rural carriers will take with them on
every trip an ample supply. of postage
stamps, postal cards, stalnpe& enSelops,
ETC., to accommodate their patrons; and
when nnstamped letters, etc. are de-
posted in the boxes with the requisite
amount of money to pay for the pos
! tage, they are authorized to atiix the
proper stamps thereto. They must also
carry the official rubber stamp furnish
ed by the department and cancel all
stamps on mail matter collected, keep
a daily account of the amount thus
cancelled, also record of the actual
number of peices of mail delivered and
collected each day, on blanks furnished
and report the same to the postmaster
They are not to bring to the postotlice
from which their routes emanate, mai
matter collected by them, which may
be delivered TO patrons at points furth
er along their routes, and they must ex
act 2cent per ounce rate on all first
class matter, except postal cards, with
in such delivery. The drop letter
once cent rate postage does not appl,
on rural routes.
They are required to register al
mailsble matter when requested by pat
rons, take applications for money ord
ers, and give official receipts therefor
Also take receipts for registered ant
special delivery matter delivered. Tn,
special instructions of the department
regarding these matters must be rigidl,
obeyed.
The department regulations strictl
forbid rural carriers furnishing lists o
names and addresses to their patron
for pay or favor.
The regular carrier must carry tn
mail regularly every day of the yeal
Sunday alone excepted, save when sich
or on leave of absence granted by tn
department, and theyIaresto make dc
llveries strictly according to instrut
tions and route descriptions. No chang
of routes or direction of travel will
permitted, except on orders from th
department at Washington.
: A carrier that drives off his route, fc
pay or favor, to make delivery, is sui
3 ject to severe penalties. The aim {
3 the department is to best serve tt
: greatest number of people in q give
distance travelled. lis mutual Sc
: vice on the part of the department an
. the people. The department in ms
!. jority of cases travels much more tha
i half way. Those not directly on tt
route, to secure the service, must
Q necessity go to the route.
y Mail will not be delivered or collectt
l. by carriers, except to and from appro
d ed boxes properly placed on posts
the roadside and Immediately accessib
y to the carriers without dismountin
!, The post master general, through
d commission, after an examination
If nearly one hundred styles of boxes, {
p lected and approved fourteen differe
/ kinds, and it is required that those
Or string the service, on routes hereafter
RS be established, must put up boxes to
is selected from the list. Carriers 6
le not required to serve those whose be
e, es are SO erected that they must drive
8 bank, in q ditch, shovel away snow,
ie dismount to exchange the mail. Unc
III no circumstance can carrier prese
is an acceptable excuse for extending I
g. service to those who have wooden
er other unapproved boxes or to tn,
er with Improperly or inconvenien
ar erected boxes.
'e- Carriers are instructed to insist Il
tn boxe, should be eerected on solid, smo'
TX posts, sY inches in diameter, plat
co two anc Sone-half feet in the grou
The post should lean at least TIVE