The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-01
ENEMY TO LOCAL INDUSTRIES
Because Posting Names Of Patrons
Affords an Easy List for the Big
Mail Order Concerns to Utilize
As a consequence, Competition Up
sets the Country Store.

celNeu dI the pOoL OIuCe uepdICHcut
CT late. the days of the cross roads
general store" are numbered.
During Postmaster General Payne's
absence from Washington, Acting
Postmaster General Wynne issued
an order instructing postmasters
throughout the country to prepare
lists of rural delivery routes and post
them in conspicuous places in their
offices.
Since the issuance of that order
the complaints regarding the serv-
ice as an enemy to local industry
have been more numerous than ever,
and petitions addressed to the post
master general have been received
a; the department by the score.
Mr.. Wynne's order was intended
primarily to obviate some of the con-
fusion resultant upon the discontin-
uance of star routes and the estab-
lishment of rural delivery, with the
consequent changes in the names Of
post offices and the addresses Of
patrons. But the complaints which
have been coming in say that this
posting of rural delivery routes and
the addresses of patrons along their
lines has worked very serious harm
to the trade of rural communities.
1t is said that a number of large
mail order firms, which sell and ship
everything from a package of pins TO
4 bedsteaA. including live stock and
CT ,nir do >f
sending representatives to postoffices
throughout the country to copy the
lists of the routes and patrons, which
were later used in sending out cata-
logues and circulars descriptive Of
thtir wares.
It is admitted by the post Office de-
partment that as result of the gen
eral establishment of rural free de-
livery routes, the mail order business
has grown enormously This is true
as well of the subscription lists of
newspapers, which We're wonderfully
affected as to growth by the extern
sion of the rural free delivery sys-
tenn.
The complaints received at the de-
partment contain general admis-
sion that the country general stores
cannot compete in prices with the
big mail order concerns. and the
statement that great deal of this
local business has been won away
by the more modern and enterprising
competitors in the big cities.
AS the interest of the rural com
munities in the whole country is cen
tered in this question. Mr.. Payne's
decision is of Importance. His let
ter to T. NJ. Lake & Sons of Higgins
vile, Mo-. from whom protest was
received, is as follows:
This order was issued by the first
assistant postmaster general for the
reason that the introduction of the
rural free delivery service has caused
the greatest confusion in the matter
o. the proper addressing and deliv-
cry of the mail to parties residing
upon the rural free delivery routes
when established, and it was believ-
ed to be for the public interest that
the department should cause publ
city of the names of parties residing
upon routes whose post office ad-
dress had in consequence thereof
been changed.
1T seems to me that you will read
That. incident to this posting of
names. merchants. manufacturers
and others may be enabled to obtain
such lists by copying them is not
think, sufficient reason for re
fusal on the part of the department
to furnish information which will
tend to reduce the confusion, annoy
ance and trouble incident to the
change of address of the many mil
lions of patrons of the rural free de
livery service throughout the United
States
1T is probable that after the rura
delivery routes have been in opera
ton a sufficient length of time. Sc
that the patrons of the post offic,
department are familiar with the
change in address, it will not be nee
essary to continue such posting: bu
under present conditions. and havins
in view the greatest good and con
venience to the greatest number, We
believe the order of the first assist
ant postmaster general to be justifia
ble."
Post Office department officials be
lieve that the competition introduce,
by the big mail order concerns will
70 Cd
the rural communities. in that tn,
general stones will Of necessity brin,
more modern methods into the bust
ness, keep in stock a better class o
wares and reduce their prices to tn
minimum IN order to secure the loca
business.
Swell line of wash waists at Will
sons.