Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-06
FREE DELIVERY
BY FIRST OF MAY
FOR EVERY FARMER OF DANE
COUNTY.
MANY CHANGES WROUGHT
Country Post Offices Galore Will be
Discontinued, All Star Routes to Go
and the New System Likely to be
Self Sustaining From the Outset
SIS Post Offices in Dane County.
Madison, Feb. 2.

Madison, Feb. 2.
The strong probability IS that
the projected system CT free
rural delivery for the whole
of Dane county will be in COM
plete operation by May |; and what
a series of important changes it argues
in the post Offices!
Dane county has SO postottices, 70
of which are on railroads. There are
% money order offices in the county,
II of them not on railroads. The new
system will require at least Il rural
free delivery money order stations.
Dane county contains 1,247 square
miles. of which about so square miles
are covered by lakes, cities and vii
lagos. leaving 1877 square miles to be
supplied by the rural free delivery.
The population of Dane county by
the last census was $69,435. Less the
population Of cities and villages, which
was 27,619, there is a rural population
to be supplied of 41,S16.
1t is probable that in the arrange
ment at least 80 country post offices
away from railroads in the towns will
be discontinued, and of course the pa
irons of the same will be supplied by
the county system to be inaugnrated.
There are 81 star routes, so-called,
in Dane county; that is, mail routes
under the old system wherein the mail
is transported in wagons. Eighteen
of these are daily, eight three times
week, two twice week, and three
special messengers. All these routes
will be discontinued
E. w. Shriver the special agent Of
the postofice department, who has
been here for few days past, looking
over the ground, making his estimates
and calculations in reference to start
ing the service, is Of the opinion that
it will require upwards Of IS rural
carriers to conduct the service. This
gentleman is really the father of the
service. He resides in Westminster,
Carroll county, Maryland. He sug
gested it in the first place about two
years ago to the postoffice department
and the department upon a full in
yestigation of his scheme came to the
conclusion that it was eminentIy prac-
ticad and that it would work success
fully and that it would really be mat
ter of economy; and in Carroll county
where it was first inaugurated, such
provide to be the case The saving of
expense to the department arises from
the fact that all the star routes are
discontinued and very large proper
ton of the pOstOffices as well, thus do
ing away with the expense of trans
portation of the mails as we'll as the
expense of running the postoftices and
paying salaries to postmasters. The
first years experience in Carroll
county showed several thousand dol
lars saving in expenses over the pre-
ceding year under the old system.
Mr.. Shriyer has nothing to do with
the establishment or ordinary rural
routes in towns. His duties are de-
voted exclusively to the county sys-
tenn. He has made this a specially
and is thoroughly versed in the organ
cation of the same
The postoffice department is prepar-
ing maps of Dane county, which will
soon be completed and which are nee
essary in order to facilitate the wors.
From careful examination T Dane
county, its many advantages for the
work, its numerous railroads crossing
it in almost every direction. etc. MI.
Shrlver concludes that it is very IA
vorable county in which to inaugurate
the county system; that is, supplying
all the inhabitants thereof with daily
mail. He thinks it will work most
satisfactorily. He is very enthusiastic
in behalf Of the scheme, and will So
report to the postoffice department.
Mr.. John Danielson of the Vaas.
Sturm Co., will leave for |
tomorrow morning where he |
will spend week purchasing spring |
goods for the firm.