The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-02-06
RURAL DELIVERY AND GOOD ROADS.
The Two Now Really Go Hand in Hand.
Saving For the Farmer.

Postoffices in communities where
free delivery has been established
show an augmented revenue which
means the people along free delivery
routes are stimulated to increase pa
tronage of the mails, and this increase
of patronage and revenue is bound
to keep ever on in an expanding ratio
to the material reduction of the actual
cost of the operation of the system.
Good roads go hand in hand with
the routes, and they must be main
tanned in a good state of repair. In
the maintenance of good roads alone
more than recompense is given the
farmer and the people at large for the
entire cost of the system. Good roads
in the United States are an impera-
tive necessity. In one stroke the
problem of good roasds has been al
most solved, and it is a splendid
achievement.
The isolation of the farm life will
be largely alleviated, and one of the
obstacles to remaining ON the farm"
removed. Farm values have been
and will be maintain and in many in
stances enhanced. All things being
equal, farm on a rural free delivery
route is worth fair sum over farm
which is not. The time the farmer
saves in going to and from the post
Office has been estimated to be worth
$12.50 per route per day. The amount
that he saves by hauling his products
over good roads to market cannot be
estimated, but it would aggregate an
enormous sum. To be able to trans
port his products at the right time
and at the right season over the good
roads the department demands means
a large actual cash return to the
farmer.
The circulation of the county week.
lies and periodicals and all reading
matter has been greatly increased.
When the farmer can have his county
or State paper served at his door he
will subscribe, whereas if he had to
drive to town in the cold and snow to
get his paper he would not.
Obstacles in the perfection of the
system are gradually being removed
and the twists and wrinkles smoothed
out as the carriers, clerks, inspectors
and the people served are becoming
better acquainted with the service.
The work undertaken and accom-
plished has been tremendous. The
system of periodical inspection of
routes has been most beneficial to all
concerned. Delinquent carriers are
caught up and instructed or removed
and communities are required to full
fill their end of the contract as re-
CARDS roads, bridges, boxes, etc.
Routes are regularly inspected once
every six months and as often as spe-
cial cases demand.
Patrons now know with some de-
gree of certainty at what hour the
carrier will pass their gates or the
points where their boxes are located,
and carriers are required to make
trip reports. Uniformity and regu-
larity of service is sought and in most
instances obtained. The carrier is
practically travelling postmaster.
He sells stamps, registers letters, sells
money order receipts, and is well
come visitor and an important factor
in the community in which he travels.
Their duties are hard, but they per-
form them with willingness and
fidelity worthy of praise. In fact,
out of the thousands of carriers only
thirty-three were dismissed last year
for cause, and only four arrested for
theft of mail entrusted to them. He
is an important spoke in the wheel of
the postal service.
The hold upon the people benefited
by it is astonishing and is shown in
many ways. Carriers may register
letters or accept money orders and a
special receipt for the latter purpose
has been used to marked good effect,
the people taking advantage of both
facilities, over 175,OOO money orders
haying been issued through the car
riers last year and over $4,000 letters
registered. The farmer is thus en-
abled to shop by means of money Or
ders in stores in the large cities with
out leaving his house. The expert
ment of registering letters by carriers
was first tried in Carroll county, Md.
A farmer living several miles from
post Office, but on post route, can
have his letters returned directly to
his house, if undelivered, by a special
ly prepared stamped envelopes, which
gives his name, number of route,
postoffice and state, precisely as
though he lived in city with a street
address. These are very popular, as
his letters are returned to him in
stead of going to the dead letter Of
flee. 1t is hoped soon to place the
weather reports directly into the
hands of over 100000 farmers, the
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