Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-01
Daily kennebec Journ6:
LOCAL MATTERS.
ADVANCE IN SALARY
Given the Carriers Of the Rural Free
Delivery Service.

The daily bulletin received at the Au-
eusta post office contained, Friday. this
order issued by Postmaster General
Payne on the oath inst:
That on ana after March l. 1902, the
letter carriers of the rural free delivery
service heretofore appointed and whose
names appear on the roll of the depart
ment ut the close of business, Feb. 2S,
1902. receiving salary at the rate of $500
per annum, and those who may be APP
pointed after that date shall be paid at
the rate of $500 per annum until other
wise ordered; and that the salaries of
carriers now receiving less than $500
per annum snail be increased 20 per
cent This order does not apply to car
riers or clerks in charge of rural postal
stations"
This is gratifying to the people here
abouts. acquainted with the work which
which falls to the lot of the five rural
carriers that run out from the Augusta
office. These carriers not only deliver
and collect ordinary mail but registered
mail as well, also take money orders
sell stamps, attend to special delivery
letters and parcels and in addition
thereto are looked to as a sort of bu
reau of postal information. The de-
STABILITY of having in the rural carrier
a man of good character is evident and
the need of an intelligent, well-informed
man is even more obvious. Any erro-
neous information rural carrier might
give out would be more miscellaneous
than were it given by a carrier in the
city where the parties receiving it
would be in easier way to have it cor
rected by reason of their access to the
post office.
In Il country like this there Wou.d
have to be a chronic condition of hard
times should there be plenty of men
both of good character and excellent
intelligence. willing to drive 25 miles a
day and furnish their own team for do
ing this every day in the week summer
and winter, excepting only Sunday, for
the sum of $500 per annum, there being
little opportunity to make much out
side the salary. The reason the gov
eminent has thus far had no great
| trouble in getting good men to under
take the work doubtless has been that
all have looked to see the salary made
much nearer adequate to the demands
| of the service. Hence it is the service
has been so creditable. During the fis-
| cal year ended June 30, 1901, according
| to the recently issued report Of the de
| partment, only SO carriers were reduced
| from the service. and only 90 others
were criticised by inspectors. This with
| 430l services in operation is worth
noting.
The above order applies to the service
generally and not to that which is in
any locality. But the considerations of
| locality have attracted the notice of the
| department, it seems, for the report
| states that 'one of the chief difficulties
| encountered in arriving at uniform
adjustment has arisen from the vary
ing conditions prevailing in different
sections of the country. In some states
where horses are cheap and forage
| abundant. $500 a year for a service
which occupies only a part of a day
is regarded as good pay. and there is
almost a scramble among farmers sons
for the appointment. On the other
hand. in New England and the extreme
Western states. where forage is scarce
and dear. a man who owns a horse can
command higher wages than a rural
carrier receives. especially during the
summer months, and he is accordingly
dsinclined to enter the rural service al
the rate of pay prescribed
As the increase to $500 is a general
one. the carriers out from the Augusta
office, over long and, in the winter, hard
routes. will naturally conclude thai
Uncle Sam will be doing nothing more
than justice if he decides they are de-
serving of still another raise in wages