The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-12-04

The farmer, if he needs repairs for his
machinery sends word by his carrier te
bring it to him, thus saving trip tc
town at time of year when hours are
dollars to him. The good housewife car
supply her larder from the village gro.
Ger through the same channel, and in
innumerable ways the faithful carrier
serves his patrons aside from the mere
routine work of distributing the mail
daily Under the rural free delivery the
farmer is kept in daily touch with the
news and commerce of the world. He
takes his daily paper (if he does not he
is not worthy of free service) and knows
every morning what the price is of every
commodity that he has to sell, OF is re-
quired to purchase. He reads the presi,
dents message as soon as his city
neighbor and is as well qualified to
Judge of political affairs as anyone, fol-
his means of information are equal to
the man who sits in his office in the
large city. He reads the details OF
great industrial combinations and OF
reciprocal calculations. He knows what
society is doing in Washington as well
as he does of what it is trying to do in
Pedunkville. If he owes a past-due
bill the merchant can reach him otter
and easy and if he wants to 'round up
his neighbor in the daily paper for some
real OF fancied wrong, he can do SC
to his hearts content. In short, the far.
mer, through the service that you gentle
men are performing is favored beyond
computation and he is appreciative OF
your faithful work.
1t is not necessary for me to cause
the chills to creep down your spina
columns by adverting to the fact that
about this time of year you have 8
cold, cherries and underpaid job. re
drive twenty five miles every day (Sun
days excepted) would become wearisomt
even if good roads and pleasant wea
Their could be relied upon, but when YOU
are required, as you are in fall an(
spring, to trudge through mud almost
axle deep, in the downpour of rain thai
sends the shivers creeping over your en-
tire body, the poetic thought that car
rier has 50 snap" goes glimmering
When it freezes in the fall, you art
bounded over rough roads until you
| flesh is sore and in winter you are fore
ed to face the blizzard with as mucl
apparent complacency as though the SUI
smiled on you with a midsummel
warmth. All these hardships you art
| required to endure and still wear thu
sweet smile of contentment and salts
faction that becomes government ser
| want.
| Were the compensation tor your ser
vices comparable to the duties of tn,
position l am sure that you would fee
more cheerful. To be sure the service
is comparatively new and it takes Uncl
Sam a long time to so adjust his spec
tacles as to see so far from the nationa
capitol as the rural free delivery ex
tends. If you were sure that the presen
salary of 5000 per year was the limit
| dare say there is not carrier befor,
me who would not have resigned his posi-
ton before now. "Hope springs eterna
in the breast" is trite and true say
ing. This very element of hope that thu
congress of the United States will forth
with comprehend the inadequacy of YOU
compensation and remedy it by a sub
stantial increase is what has held you il
the service and encouraged you to faith
full work. That you will be the bene
fcieries of congressional action is {
foregone conclusion, the only uncertain
element being how soon it will happen. Il
does not take a very profound mathe
matician to figure out that 5000 yeal
for a mans time, the ownership anC
maintenance of at least two horses anc
| in the northwest most of the carriers
have three, together with wagon, harness
ETC., leaves little to the employee for sub
sistance. 1 think speak within bounds
when | assert that it will cost the aver.
age carrier in this section of country al
least $3.50 year to take care of his
horse flesh, and if he figures taxes and
interest on his equipment it will take $5C
more-making a total of at least $500
that he must take from his salary before
, he can draw for his own and his family's
care. If this deduction be correct, and
l believe it to be under rather than
over the actual figures, the carrier has re-
manning less than dollar a day for his
work.
The average city mounted carrier re-
ceives an annual allowance of 5000 per
year for horse keep, and one animal