Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-01-14
SYSTEM COMPLETE.
kennebec County's Free Rural
Delivery Is Superb.
First County in State to Have Its
System Perfected.
54o3 Houses With 22,672 People viii
Be Served.

Seventy-five applicants took the civil
service examinations at the City build
ing, yesterday, for the positions of car
rier that will be open for the SO addi-
tional rural free delivery routes that
are being established to make a COM
plete county system in Kennebec
county.
| The examinations were conducted by
| W. c. r. Hazard, agent in charge of
| the eastern division of the rural free
delivery systems, with headquarters at
New York. Mr.. Hazard was assisted
| by Special Agent ]. E. Camp of Con-
necticut. Special Agents H. P. Reese,
A. S. Tallman and E. B. Norton of New
York, and Special Agent e. P. Boutelle
| of Bangor.
| The routes as arranged by Special
Agent Boutelle, assisted by Special
Agent Tallman, comprise in all 81
routes. of which 80 are new.
Following is a list of all the towns in
the county showing the numbers of the
several routes in each:
Augusta-Seven routes; numbers,
from l to I. inclusive.
| Hallowell-one route; number, s.
Gardiner-Seven routes; numbers,
from to Is.
Iitchfield-Three routes; numbers,
| from 16 to IS.
Monmouth-Two routes; numbers, 19
and 20.
Winthrop-Four routes; numbers,
| from q to "a
Wayne-one route; number, 25.
kent's Hill--one route; number, 26.
Readfield Depot-Two routes; mum.
bers. 27 and 2S.
Belgrade-One route: number, 29.
Mt. Vernon-Three routes; numbers,
| from 80 to 80.
Oakland-Four routes; numbers,
| from 33 to Sc.
Waterville-Five routes; numbers,
| from 81 to Al.
Clinton-Three routes; numbers, from
| ~ to A.
Albion--Three routes; numbers, from
| As to AZ.
North Vassalboro-Two routes; num-
bers. As and 49,
Vassalboro-One route; number, so.
Weeks Mills-Three routes; num-
bers, 81 to SO.
| The number of miles covered by the
above routes is 1293A. The number of
houses served is 54O3. The estimated
population served is 22.672 1t is not
definitely known when the new routes
will be opened, but probably as soon as
| the roads are in condition, in the
spring.
Each patron of the routes will be re-
| ;al, Ion
approved by the postmaster general. A
| list of these boxes with their retail
prices will be kept at the post office or
may be had of any carrier, some time
before the service is completely estab-
lished. so that each route may be prop
| erly equipped by that time. The old
| boxes. which at present are erected on
| the old routes in the county will be con-
demned on inspection and the owner be
! required to erect one of the new ap-
proved boxes, the same as the patrons
| of the new routes.
| The carriers besides delivering and
collecting the mails. once a day. viii
| act as agents for the newspapers and
| do a general errand business for the
! patrons of the routes. They will also
carry a supply of stamps and stamped
paper and will register and deliver reg
| istered mail. also carry money order
duplication blanks and, as they are un-
| der bonds. are authorized to take
money for money orders, which will be
issued a the post office.
An effort is being made in Congress
| to have the law so amended that car
| riers will be able to do everything that
| can be done for q patron at any first
class post office, in other words give
| the farmer a post office at his own door.
| To Kcnnebec belongs the honor of Sc
curing the first county system of rural
free delivery to be established in Maine.
The rural free delivery service has
grown faster than any other branch of
the government service. Commencing
| five years ago with an appropriation OF
$50, 900 and an employment of three or
four clerks and a field force of less than
a dozen. it now has an appropriation of
IS. 900, 900 and. including carriers, about
II 900 employees. with a prospective APP
preparation of $12,000,000 for next year
The 10 900 routes now in operation will
be continued with a probable increase
of 5000 routes.
The office and field force of the ser
vice will not be increased. all money
appropriated TO be used TO increase and
maintain the present service.