Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-04
Life Of a Rural Route Mail Carrier
Anything But Easy.
SOME OF THE LATEST INSTRUCTIONS
Rural Carriers Must Maintain a Strict
Secrecy Regarding Their Business
and Must Abstain From All Intoxi-
cants-lnformation of Value.


and privileges of the rural mail carrier
is the principal topic covered in re-
cent set of instruction emanating from
the rural route department. Since OF
tumwa is one of the most important
rural route stations in the state, with
its four routes already ordered, two of
which are in operation and two more
begin Saturday, and with one more
nearly ready for business, these in
structions are very interesting to the
people of this vicinity. If the rural
carrier follows out these instructions
he must lead very strict life, and
there are not many privileges for him,
especially when he is on duty. People
living along these routes frequently
sponsibilities of the rural carriers and
the extent of the service they may
render the public in their private ca
pacity.
Late Instructions.
In answering these questions, the
Courier presents synopsis of the lat
est instructions from the rural Geliv-
cry department at Washington, which
are as follows:
The first important lesson for rural
carriers to learn is that of absolute
secrecy regarding mail matter pass
ing through their hands, which means
that they are forbidden to give any in
formation as to mail matter carried by
them, or official business transacted,
to any person other than the person
to whom such mail matter is address
ed or with whom the business is trans
acted; they shall not 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 under no circum-
stances to loiter or stop for unneces-
sary conversation on their routes.
Garry Parcels.
| They are permitted to carry parcels,
receive subscriptions for newspapers,
and perform such commissions as do
not interfere with the regular perform
ance of their duties. For all services
they render they must exact a fee.
Carriers shall not act as agents, sales
men or solicitors for express compan-
les, letter-boX manufacturers, whole
sale houses, mail order houses, corpor-
ations or firms, nor engage in any bus
mess or avocation which would inter-
fere with the proper performance Of
their official duties. They may also
carry passengers, but no person thus
conveyed may, under any circum-
stances be permitted to handle the
mails. /"
Sells Stamps, Etc.
Rural carriers will take with them
on every trip an ample supply of post
age stamps, postal cards, stamped en-
velopes, ETC., to accommodate their pa
irons; and when unstamped letters,
ETC., are deposited in the boxes with
the requisite amount of money to pay
for the postage, they are authorized
to affix the proper stamps thereto.
They must also carry the official rub
Der stamp furnished by the depart
ment, 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 report
the same to the postmaster.
They are not to bring to the post.
anate mail matter collected by then
which may be delivered to patrons
at points farther along their routes
and they must exact the 2 cents pei
ounce rate on all first class matter
except postal cards, within such deliv
cry The drop letter" 1-cent rate OF
postage does not apply on rural routes
Carriers are required to register al
mailable matter when requested by
patrons, take applications for money
orders, and give official receipts there
for Also take receipts for registered
and special delivery matter delivered
The special instructions of the depart
ment regarding these matters must be
: rigidly obeyed.
On Duty Every Day.
The regular carriers must carry the
mail regularly every day in the year
Sundays alone excepted, save wheI
sick or on leave of absence granted by
the department, and they are required
] to make deliveries strictly according
to instructions and route descriptions
, No change of routes or direction o.
travel will be permitted except on or
ders from the department at Washing
ton.
A carrier who drives off his route
for pay or favor, to make deliveries
is subject to severe penalties. The
2 aim of this department is to best serve
e the greatest number of people in {
( given distance travelled 1t is a mu
: tual service on the part of the depart
ment and the people. The department
in a majority of cases travels more
than half way. Those not directly OF
the route, to secure the service. mus
{ of necessity go to the route.
Must Have Proper Boxes.
; Mail will not be delivered or col
! lected by carriers except to and iron
/ approved boxes properly placed OF
: posts by the roadside and immediate
: ly accessible to the carriers withou
e dismounting. The postmaster genera
f through a commission, after an exam
: ination of nearly 100 styles of boxes
;. approved and selected fourteen differ
e ent kinds, and it is required that thos
I desiring the service, on routes herea1
ter to be established, must put u
boxes to be selected from the list
Carriers are not REQUIRED to Sery