Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-24
The CARRIERS DUTIES
Special Postal Agent 7. j. Boylan
Instructs Delaware County
Carriers.
Covers Thoroughly Their Privi-
leses and Responsibilities.
Penalties, etc.
Must Observe Strict Secrecy Re.
garding Patrons and Refrain
From Intoxicants.

of the postal department for the estao-
lishment of rural mail routes, held a
school of instruction at Manchester,
Delaware county, where he is establish
ing a county rural service. His instruc-
tons to rural carriers cover the ground
If rural mail delivery so thoroughly that
they are here reproduced. The school OF
instruction lasted an hour and half.
Mr.. Boylan gave succinct directions to
the carriers present as to their duties,
and answered multiplicity of questions
as to the service. The ground covered
by the questions and answers and the
instruction of Mr.. Boylan we have con-
densed as follows, knowing that the in
formation impaired will be of the great
est interest to the large number of our
readers who are to be served by this adj
mirable system:
The first important lesson for rural
carriers to learn is that of absolute Sc
crecy regarding mail matter passing
thru their hands, which means that they
are forbidden 10 give any information as
to mail matter carried by them, or Off
cial business transacted, to any person
other than the person to whom such
mail matter is addressed or with whom
the business is transacted; they shall
not exhibit any mail matter except to
the person to whom 1t 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 under
no circumstances to loiter or stop for
Unnecessary conversation on their
routes.
They are permitted to carry parcels.
receive subscriptions for newspapers
and perform such commissions as do not
interfere with the regular performance
OF their duties. For all services they
render they must exact a fee. Carriers
shall not act as agents, statesmen or So
licitors for express companies. letter.
box manufacturers, wholesale houses.
mail order houses. corporations or firms,
nor engage in any business or avocation
which would interfere with the proper
performance Of their official duties. They
may also carry passengers. but no per-
gcn thus conveyed may. under any cir
umstances, be permitted to handle the
nails.
Rural carriers will take with them on
every trip an ample supply of postage
stamps postal cards, stamped envelopes
etc, to accommodate their patrons; and
when unstamped letters, etc, are depos-
tied in the boxes with the requisite
smount of money to pay for the postage,
they are authorized to affix the proper
stamps thereto. They must also carry
the official rubber stamp furnished by
The department. and cancel all stamps
on mail matter collected, keep daily
account of the amount thus Cancelled,
also a record of the actual number OF
pieces of mail delivered and collected
each day, on blanks furnished, and re-
port the same to the postmaster.
They are not to bring to the postoffice
from which their routes emanate mail
matter collected by them which may be
delivered to patrons at points farther
along their routes, and they must exact
the cent per ounce rate on all first
class matter, except postal cards, with
III SUCH ueIlNSTy. i lie uIOP reuter-
1-cent rate of postage does not apply OH
rural routes.
Carriers are required to register all
matter when requested by pat
rons, take applications for money or
ders, and give official receipts therefor.
Also take receipts for registered and
special delivery matter delivered. The
special instructions of the department |
regarding these matters must be rigidly
oheYed.
The regular carriers must carry the
mail regularly every day in the year,
alone excepted, save when sick
or on leave of absence granted by the |
department. and they are required to
make deliveries strictly according to in
structions and route descriptions. No
change of routes or direction OF travel
will be permitted except on orders from I
the department at Washington.
carrier who drives off his route, for
Jay or favor. to make deliveries, is sub |
Ject to severe penalties. The aim of this (
is to best serve the greatest (
number of people in given distance |
1t is a mutual service on the |
part of the department and the people. /
The department in a majority of cases