The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-25
MINI. R. F. D. IS HIT
Bristow Order Restricting Establish.
ment of New Routes to Those 4
Serving 100 Families.
Means That Minnesota Gets No More
New Routes Till Congress Fur
nishes More Money.

From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build
ing, Washington.
Washington, July 25.-The new rule OF
the postoffice department that future ru-
raj free delivery routes, until congress
shall increase the appropriation, are TO DC
established only In cases where at least
100 families are served, will result In an
immediate cessation Of activities in many
Of the western states.
Mr.. BristoW, fourth assistant postmaster
general, under whom this branch of the
service has been since the investigation OF
the department was put under way, ad-
mits frankly that the effect of his new
order will be to confine new routes to
the more thickly settled rural districts;
but his argument Is that the government
Is compelled to consider the country as
a unit in rural delivery matters, quite IN
dependently of state lines. and that, the
smallness of the appropriation compels the
estal Sishment first of routes which will
serve the largest number Of persons. II
all routes proposing to serve from 100 to
200 families each are establtShed-thls
means routes which have been. examined
and approved-the appropriation will be
more than exhausted; consequently, he
does not see his way clear to considering
applications for routes which propose to
serve fewer than 100 families each.
This ruling hits his own state of Kan
sas quite as hard as any other section, and
the pressure to which he has been sub.
jected by friends at home has been tre-
mendous, but he has resisted 1t steadily
and there is now no reason to believe
that the new order will be modified IN
any way.
1t is rumored here that Representative
Tawney and other members of the Min
nesota delegation will best1r themselves to
secure a resembling of the order, but the
department informs me that their efforts
will be futile. If it is the intention OF
congress to make rural free delivery gen
eral, 1t must appropriate accordingly, but
! with. the money now at hand the depart
ment feels that it must first pay attention
to those routes which propose to serve
the largest numbers of persons.
The states which have thus far been
hit hardest by the new order are Mime
sofa, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas,
Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi, but as
the work of investigation proceeds others
will undoubtedly feel the blow. BY the
time congress meets there will be good
many angry congressman 1t will be their
duty according to department officials, to
secure an increase of the appropriation
for rural routes; then the wide open policy
of Mr.. Machen can be readopted.
| Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, In
diana and Missouri, in the middle west
Mr. Bristow informs me, have not been al
fected by the new order, and routes viii
continue to be established there as for
merly; but in the states named above, ru-
raj free delivery business will practically
| come to a standstill, so far as new routes
.. are concerned, until congress acts.
Mr.. Bristow, contrary to a prevailing
opinion in the west, is not the enemy Of
the rural delivery system. On the con-
trary, he believes in it, and hopes that the
time is soon to come when congress Will
appropriate literally enough to permit the
establishment of routes as formerly. Bu
with the money now on hand he feels
that he Is compelled to take the stand he
!, does.
He hopes soon to evolve a plan under
which the cream of the business in Min
nesota and the other states which are
now suffering can be taken care Of. JUS
how this is to be done, of course, has MOI
!, been determined, but it Is possible that II
| Minnesota for instance, he will recon
mend that proposed new routes which are
contiguous be re-examined, with view
easy to adjust the pay of carriers so a!
to give them daily drives Of say thirt.
, miles, which would not be a hardship il
the prairie states.
1t IS apparent Judging from the Letters
from senators and congressman since tn
new order was issued, that it is the inten
ton of congress next winter to inquire
f into the rural route matter carefully TIL
v result of that inquiry, the department
+ thinks, will be radical increase in tn
o annual appropriation, which for the cur
q rent fiscal year is twelve million dollars
To take care Of all routes recommends
in Minnesota and other states, but ex
6 Guided by the 1OO-family order. would re
= quire at least $1S.OOO000 according to de
q | partment estimates.
! W. W. Jermane.