The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-07-02

one, nor Is any one to be found who
will do the work for his health. And
the pay-well, it is just about half pay,
and you and | would figure il SO If we
had the "drill' ourselves.
All praise to the men who have thus
far sacrificed, and while we can not
substantially sympathise with pastcar-
riers because Of our well-drained purses,
yet we can provide for the present. till
the goverpment can come to our aid.
We want men to stay with the service
and be our servants, but not oursla
While we appreciate daily mail, there
are few of us who recognize all there Is
in this matter, nor can we do so unless
we take the job ourselves.
Some would kick their Unc,e S. be-
cause he does not make ample pruyis-
ion at once to meet all expenses Incl
dent to locality and extended service.
Such should consider that 1t takes time
and much study of conditions and ac-
tual trial to obtain definite data for
proper basis to regulate the whole sys-
tenn. Under the present arrangement
city carriers get 5000 per annum and a
monthly allowance extra for horsehire,
where such is required. This ] am
told amounts to something over $500
per year. Some such arrangement will
doubtless be brought about in the near
future to assist rural carriers by max
ing the provision ample for varying
conditions. Horse flesh is high, and
few months or year at most of steady
drag knocks out the animal for such
work or much else, and there are no
green pastures ready to recuperae the
poor beasts, and SO the carrier must
lose from start to finish. From two to
four are needed for the varying condi-
tiods Of roads, vehicles and size of an
imals for years run. Constant and
careful shoeing is necessary; and this
alone is quite an item. And then the
feed-well, you horse owners that have
to buy everything, | will leave you to
figure the bill that yon would have to
settle at the end of the year for such
animsls to be mercifully fed, Then
the vehicles Well, the carrier should |
be well equipped for his own comfort,
He has no time to use "lazy back, "
but 25-mile ride every day is not rest
full to most anatomies, especially over
the hills and rocks of this section. And
then he must be protected from the
weather to maintain average health,
and also to protect the valuable matter
that we like to have fresh and clean.
This is an item equal to half of the
horse proposition, and like the horse,
will wear out and need repairs. 1t
looks as if round thousand were
scarcely sufficient to induce a proper
person to engage in the service. And |
If he have a family-well, Uncle Sam
doesn't consider such things, but in the
writer's judgment, the above sum
would leave very small margins for |
more than the necessaries of life.
We have been grateful for the offered |
services of carrier in our extremity at |
an extra 5000. We have done well to
raise this sum, but he has to buy ev-
to begin with. Figure this
out of the pay, then deduct the eX-.
penses of the year. The balance looks
pretty small, doesn't it, to live on?
Well, let's do little better and start
our man right. We are trying to pur-
chase the wagon that is as so much
dead property on the hands Of former
cannot afford to make US
a present of it-and turn it over to our
coming servant. l know we don't like
to "dig up" this way but the writer is
that we shall not feel the loss
at the end of the year. So if you have
not subscribed to this end, step into the
bank the accommodating cashier will
examine your conscience in the mat
ter, ifyou haven't, and will give you
due credit for your deposit. Wen ask
Uncle Sam to do this next time.
G. A. WYMAN, Route No. |.