The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-08-18
Democratic Senators Of Georgia
Claim Authorship for
TIL OMAS E. WAITS ON.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY, |


cry in rural communities; but as |
understand it-and the chairman OF
the committee, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Henderson,,
makes the same statement to the
hcrse-the law has been construed
to mean cities. towns, aad villages,
and there are now n operation ex-
perimentai free deliveries IN certain
towns and villages.
The law expressly provides tor
rural communities, and 1t seems to
me where the generai laws make
such provision there is no hardship
in taking a small amount from the
appropriation. only $4,000, and ap-
propriating it for experimental free
delivery in Absolutely rural commu-,
mites, that is to say. III the country
pure and simple, amongst the farm
ers, in those neigh5orhocds where
they do not get their mail more than
once in every two weeks, and where
these deserving people have settled
in communities one hundred years
old and, do not receive newspaper
that it not two weeks behind the
times
The amendment was adopted by a
vote of 70 yeas to II nays. Mr.. Wat.
son introduced his amendment to ex-
pertinent in the free rural delivery
service, carrying $4,000 for this .pur-
post, less than ten years ago. which,
from the best information | haze been
able to obtain, carried tile first ap-
preparation ever made by congress for
rural free delivery.
Mr. Wanamaker had tried what he
called free delivery in towns and vii
lagos, but the experiment had not
been made for free delivery OF coun-
| try mails, Who would have thought
that the good work begun by this dis
| ltinguished Georgian ten years ago
would have grown TO such magnitude
| in SO short period OF timer When
this amendment was introduced the
fpublfo mind had not grasDed the inn
lportance OF this subject, and few COM
pretended the great good that would
flow from this humble beginning i'll so
short period.
In 1897 the appropriation grew to
| $40 900. and only forty-four routes
were in operation. In 1898 the appTo-
lpriation was increased to 0,GO0, and
148 routes were established. In 1899
the appropriation was increased to
| Si50,00 and the routes had grGwn to
391 In 1900 $450,00O was appro-
priated for this purpose, and the num-
| Der of routes increased to Lit In
1901 S1,750,000 was appropriated, and
the routes had increased to 4,SU1 And
In 1902. S3,993, TAO was appropriated for
| the same purpose. and the routes laid
off and put in operation had increased
to S,476.
On November L. II $50 routes had
been established, and the carriers en-
gagged in taking the mails to the far
mers travelled 275, 200 miles of country
roads to 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 this service has been sc
great as to force congress 70 appro-
PIRATE Sl2.000.0 900 during the present
lses5ion to further extend this service
There is no reason 10 expect a de-
crease in this popular demand for ru-
raj free delivery until all available
sections of the country have been
lowered by the service.
Wherever this service has been es.
tablsshed there has been q study and
healthy increase In tre gross receipts
OF the postofiices in the locality In
waich free delivery has ben put In
operation, aud there has also beer
large Increase In the revenues. and
In all probability when the system Ii
thoroughly established the Increased
receipts viii more than meet the In.
creased expenditures
TIE popular demand and the mar,
veloua growth OF thia great work dem.
onstrate that the farmers are bone.
fitei by the service. ON July /. 1901
ts0i ire delivery roE,es were IN op
Grafton, and during the year ala
routes We're established. an ayerae.
ot 3il a m0a,h The service prartl
eally doubled IN twelve months. On
July ! 1901, iu.sia pelillons had beer
flled with the pouloflce Department
asking tor free rural delivery routes