The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-18

During the year 1902, IL 2,4403 4403 additional
petitions were filed.
Thus it will be seen that the NUM-
Der of petitions received during this
last year exceeded by over 1900 the
total number fled heretofore. This Is
the highest evidence OF the increasing
popularity of rural free delivery and
shows universal desire from the
people for the completion OF the Serv-
ice throughout the country. The re-
port of the postmaster general shows
that from the beginning the demand
tor the service has far exceeded the
ability OF the department to establish
IL, and that since July 1, 1902, about
2,400 petitions have been receiy ed---
about 600 per month The demands
are growing every day for the com-
pletion Of the service,
The postmaster general informs us
that the requests for this service are
usually accompanied by the expressed
expectation Of The petitioners that
the routes will be established at once.
Nothing ebert OF immediate action
by the department satisfies them. They
know their neighbOrs are enjoying the
service. and can not understand why
| it is not extended to them at once.
He further tells us in his report that
Ievery part Of the country is claniuTous
for this service; and from those sec
tfOns where the least interest was
formerly manifested, and the people,
| from lack of proper understanding
of the matter. seemed loath to accept
the benefits OF free rnral delivery, and
were even antagonistic to it, the de-
mands Tor the service and importantly
for prompt action are now perhaps the
greatest
Well has the postmaster general
said that free rural delivery Is no
longer in the experimental stage, but
has become an established fact TX
| perinlents thus sfar made have been
most satisfactory, and its adoption az
a permanent feature OF postal admin
istration is assured. reports show
conclusively that the value Of isolated
farms have been enhanced because OF
the service Farmers have been
brought in close touch with the mar
kets by. receiving their mails daily.
The social and educational dement's
conferred by the mail being brought
daily to the farmers home are incal-
culable. The city and the country are
brought into close connection and the
farmer is somewhat relieved from the
monotony of rural life and given an
equal opportunity to keep abreast with
his neighbor in the city.
1t has been estimated that the ter
ritory of the United States available
for rural free delivery embraces about
q million square miles, or about one
third of the country's area, excluding
Alaska The routes now in operation
cover little more than 800 900 square
miles, so that almost one-thlrd OF
the available territory has already
been provided with the service. With
in the next three years the service can
be completed, and there should be
no halt in this work. for the people
are demanding 1t with earnestnesS,
and the sooner the service Is COM
pleted the more quickly will tne ef-
feet OF it's influence be felt upon the
postal revenue.
Should the extension OF the service
hereafter be made at the rate OF 49,
900 routes per year until 1t becomes
Iuniyersal. within the next three years
the work will be completed Then
nearly 20,00o.o00 farmers who hereto
fore have been given little opportunity
10 enjoy the benefits or daily mail Ia
ciIities will receive their mails daily
and country life will be relieved OF
isolation. and the farmer will be put
upon an equal footing with his city
neighbor
The farmer will receive mure di-
rect benefit from the $4,000 .D00 an
nuaIly appropriated 10 carry on the
system after completed than he has
received heretofore from the vast sums
appropriated annually 20 deifay the
expenses Of the government Country
life will become more attractive. tha
farmers Will keen In daily touch with
the events of Importance transpiflng.
daily newspapers will ind their way
into the country homes. all Glasses
will be brought into close touch xith
each other. tho farmer will br quick "a
avail himself of every opportunity ia
Improve his condition. 10 take al, au-