The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1903-03-18

New free rural delivery routes are
being rapidly established in thls sCaVe
and soon there will be complete sYs'
tenn throughout Georgia. The says
tenn is a great agency in the SUD-
stantial development and material
progress of the commonwealth. The
authorship and origination of the sys'
tenn belongs to a distinguished Geor-
oian. that brilliant orator and interest,"
ing historian, Hon. Thomas f. Wat
son. Mr.. Watson performed this
splendid service when he was mem
Der of congress from the Tenth dis
trict of Georgia. MIR. Watson's work
has been of vast benefit to the farmers
of the United States. In giving them
daily mail facilities he has conferred
great boon of blessing. The growth
and popularity of the rural delivery
system in the union has been marvel
GUS. Hon. Martin " Calvin, of Rich
nond county, has contributed to the
Augusta Chronicle an interesting ar
5icle on the origin of the rural Dolly
cry system in which he gives full cred
it to Mr.. Watson as the author of this
highly important branch of the postal
system of the country. Mr.. Calvin
culls from a recent issue of the Con-
rressional Record the able speech OF
Senator Clay aud the terse remarks of
Senator Bacon in which they showed
that TO Congressman Watson Is due
the honor of originating the the sys'
TEN.
In his opening remarks Mr.. Clay
said: "Mr. President, an examination
of the Congressional Record of Febru-
ary Il, 1898, shows that the postoffice
appropriation bill was pending in the
house of represen tatives, and when an
item of free delivery service, includ.
ing existing experimental free deliv-
ery Offices, of 81, 254,943 was reached
Hon. Thomas Watson, who was then
member of the house of representa-
tives from Georgia, introduced the fol-
lowing amendment
The free delivery service, includ-
ing existing experimental free deliv-
cry offices, 81, 254, 943, of which sum
$4,000 shall be applied, under the d.
rection of the postmaster general, to
experimental free delivery or rural
communities other than towns and VII
lages. '"
The amendment was adopted by a
vote of 70 ayes to Al nays.
Mr.. Watson introduced his amend
ment TO experiment in the free rural
delivery service, carrying SlC,OOO for
this purpose, less than ten years ago.
On November | 1850 routes had
been established, aud the carriers en-
gagged in taking the mails to the farm
,ers travelled 275,000 miles of country
roads 10 serve about 100000 OF the
strictly rural population of the United
States. The area covered by these
routes is fully 100000 square miles.
The popular demand for the further
extension of the service has been SO
great as to force congress to appropri-
ate Sl2 100000 during the recent ses-
sion TO further extend this service.
In concluding his speech Mr.. Clay
said:
1.-The distinguished Georgian who
introduced the first resolution which
was adopted providing for an appro-
priation of $10,0 900 to experiment look
ing forward TO this great work had
spent his boyhood days upon a farm;
he knew the disadvantages upon which
the farmer labored in regard to his
mail facilities.
He not only knew of the disadvan-
fages under which the farmer labored.
but sought most diligently to inaugu.
rate a system that would bring to the
farmer the relief he so mach sought
a6bd deserved. The amend nent, though
small, was bitterly opposed, and at one
ssiRae was likely to meet with defeat,
but through the energy and well :di-