The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-11-24
WHY HOPPLE
WILL RESIGN
RURAL FREE DELIVERY CARRIER
MAKES STATEMENT.
POSITION lsA LOSING ONE.
G.
Continuation Of Service Possible Only
Only by Contributions from Pat
rons- Amount Required.

Since it's establishment ample time
and opportunity have been aorded to
prove the benefit and convenience OF
the rural free mail delivery service
as it has been maintained out of Bill
ings by Mr.. Hopple. Not only has it
been of great convenience to those
served as regards the daily delivery
OF their mail, but in many other ways
it has become to be regarded as in
dispensable, affording, as it has, con-
venient connection for the outlying
ranches with the city by enabling
them to do much of their shopping,
especially in the way OF smaller arti-
clas, without necessitaulng the loss
of time and attendant inconvenience
OF coming to town. In this respect
it has also proved of undoubted benefit
to the merchants of the city.
Now when everyone has become so
accustomed to the service as to Won
der how it was possible to get along
without it, Mr.. Hopple finds himself
under the necessity of resigning, owing
to the niggardliness of the government
in the matter of compensating the
rural free delivery carriers, to whom
only 5000 year is paid, and out OF
this they must furnish and maintain
their equipments. AS many have
tried to induce him to reconsider he
has consented to do so, provided
some way can be arranged by which
his compensation can Be made to
reach 5000 a year, or SIS a month.
Already number have become sub
scribers, and the hope is expressed
that enough more will contribute to
raise the amount for which he thinks
he can afford to continue. Because
of the fact that he has been unable
to make it pay 1t is regarded as ex-
tremely doubtful whether any one will
be found to take the appointment in
case the position becomes vacant,
which would undoubtedly mean discon-
tinuance of the service.
Mr.. HoppIe's Statement.
Herewith is given a statement from
Mr. Hopple, which is addressed to
the patrons of Rural Free Delivery
Route No. 1, under date of November
%:
Owing to the fact that it is i'm
possible to keep up, l am compelled
to resign my position as carried OF
the route, unless the patrons can make
up an amount sufficient to assure the
payment of SIS a month, commencing
with January 1, 1904.
81 herewith give an itemized account
of the epenses necessarily incurred
to establish the route and make possl-
BILE daily service:
wagon .............. @lVV.VV
-Four horses, SIS, each. ..... 10000
"Set double harness ....... $500
GAS the pay per year is only 5000,
this leaves a balance of $265 for the
first year for labor, horse feed, board
and current expenses. The monthly
expenses of maintaining the route are
as follows, each item figured at the
lowest possible amount:
"ROard $40. 90
HAY O.OO
Barn rent in Billings. s.......... $50
Oats .................. Ioo
"Total ................... $4,000
"Then there are always some repairs
for which $1.00 a month is a small
allowance. To this must further be
added the cost of keeping the horses
shod, which, as all know, costs Sc a
span. AS yet nothing has been al
lowed for personal expenses, except
the bare item of board. Ten dollars
month in addition to this item will
nrOho h1v oovor tho incidontalc max.