Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-08-07
ABOUT RURAL ROUTES
Recent Order From Washing
ton Give Patrons More or
Less Concern
MUST PATRoNlzE THE SERVICE
Amount of Mail Handle, on Route
Will Have to Do With Its Suspension
or Continuance Average Amount
5000 Pieces Per Month-Less NUM-
Der May Result in Loss of Route.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Grinneli, Aug. THE recent and nu-
merous orders which are being issued
from Washington in regard to the ru-
raj route service has awakened the
Iowa farmers in all parts of the state.
a common inquiry is: DO you think
we will lose our route ?" That depends
entirely on the circums ttnces. one or
der coming out says that on each route
hereafter to be established it must have
at least 100 families who will take the
mail. Bear in mind not 100 families on
the route, but 100 boxes to be erected
and to receive mail. This is on routes
hereafter to be established, and does
not refer to routes now in operation, so
parties now on routes need not fear
loss on the score of not having 100 FAM
lilies who receive mail.
Now comes another order which says
that unless routes now in operation re-
ceive at least 5000 pieces of mail each
month will be discontinued. Now this
is where the chief danger lies-the lack
of business. The amount of mail based
on 100 families that each route shall
carry is simple arithmetic. One hun
dred families with one piece of mail
each day for thirty days make 5000
pieces. So If there are 100 boxes on your
route and each man takes one daily
paper, you are all right; but If your
route only has sixty boxes 1t will be
necessary for each family to receive
more than one piece of mail day--to
make up for lack of patrons. The
amount of mail your carrier is deliver
Ing can be ascertained by asking him.
Ii you are below the average 1t will be
necessary to increase the amount of
mail in some way. In most cases If
each party to whom the routes go by
or close to would put up a box and
take mail 1t would run in excess of
the amount required. My experience
has been that on most routes not over
75 per cent take advantage of the serw-
ice, and this is accounted for by the
people who hive on the 'tail end" OF the
route who get their mali at the postof-
fee: also the man who takes his chill
eren to town to school nine mon this out
of the year and goes without his mail
the other three months % save the cost
OF a 81 box. The government does not
care to spend $50 per month to cover
twenty-fiv miles of read unless the
parties along the road feel the need of
and appreciate what is being done for
them.
In many places the mail routes do
not leave the postofffce until 1880 to IL
O'clock. This not only hurts the tail
enders." but those on the first three
miles as we'll. as the average man liv-
ing that close to town can go and get
his markets. be home and do half
days business before the mail man
leaves town. whereas If routes left the
postoffices generally at 1880 a. m. near
ly all could have their mail to read at
noon when they come in from the fields
for dinner. This would be better for
both patron and carrier. as it would en-
able the carrier to be home for dinner
and he would have the whole afternoon
to do something else. would not compel
him to make his drive in the heat of
the day. and would bring better men
into tine service. I find in driving over
routes a great many would like to have
their routes leave early but don't know
how to go at it. Ask your postmaster
how it can be done.
People must not think that there is
going to be general cutting off of adj
routes that do not carry the required
amount of mail. They will be taken up
and each case investigated and
chance given to patrons to say whar
they will do about it. The service is
new and requires great deal Of ex-
perimenting with to arrive at the best
methods of doing business. and it will
all shape itself eventually; but If you
have a route appreciate it, investigate
how much business you are doing and
if under the average see that your
neighbor puts UP box, and each and
all take an interest, and you won't lose
your route.
GEORGE F. THAYBR.