Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1904-01-21
ANOTHER VIEW OF IT
:(Contlnued from page ~

by rural carries amounted TO about
1890, 200, while the wages paid TO the
same rural carries for the six months
was about s4,500,0 900, OF practically
FIVE times as much. Rural Free dellv-
cry has been established in only
moderate portion of the country thus
far, and this net expense 10 the Gov
erment will be Increased enormously
in few years, when the system /
adopted universally. The showing i
made that rurai uwellers.whn receive
letters answer about two-thirds oil
them, and the Post Office DEPARTMENT
reports that the average ca collation.
per month on each rural route wa
slI.22. and the average pay OF the
carrier was a shade under $50, 20 thai
$50 man Is doing about a SO busl
ness
When Rural Free Delivery was hrsi
proposed. it's advocates gave array
of figures showing how 1T could bS
made TO pay. 1t Is now evident thai
tr e service can only be regarded az
an expensive luxury, given by kline
and paternal Government TO the Tar
mers' Whether any arguments no"
or hereafter, may prevail upon the
Government to withdraw these tavors
the time is com ng when the question
will be regarded as ser ous-and IRON
more important standpoint than IL
direct cost. Economic truths which
have to encounter the inclinations OF
desires of men are difficult TO incui-
cate. The people believe that Free
Rural Delivery is a good thin!; that
they are entitled TO it, and that the
country is justified in going to the eX-
pense. How long time Il may re-
ouire to show them that it is working
against their best interests. and will
in the end be very bad thing for al
and the farmers most Of alive DC
not attempt to say.
The most serious argument agains'
the Rural Free Delivery system i
furnished today by the sentiments o.
the merchants, mechanics and artl
sians dwelling within the small coun
ty towns. The tendency has heen tol
the small towns to gradually improve
in wealth and standing, and through
their improvement to enhance th'
value of adjacent farm property ant
farm products raised. Now. since tn
esta blishment of the Rural Free d.
livery, the great mail order house
pcat d in the large business centere
r. abe TO deliver their bulky cate
Ii -1es ITO De- h uGs % ever iaruc
IA .nc result ~ tuat ifDntus aavCr
isements of goods Casually low Il
price and low in valuel are ordere
upon approval by the farmer, and tn
village merchants near at hand -utfe
, decrease in business. The Post ON
&c Department now carries parcels 1
he ext-nt of four pounds weigh
through the mails at merchants
ates, so that any small articles ma
be ordered t ON these mail orde
houses and livered at the farmers
| luor; besid which there Is now a
active campaign gong on to increas
he bulk and weig ht Of such package
which may be carried. The countr
districts thus have their small parcei
sent directly 10 them, and heavie
roods a~e sent 10 their nearest raj
road stations from the city Tn
country merchant is being put out o
the reckoning.
r This is not tn oret'cal matter, a
/ nav be lie rned by a canvass OF IN
mall town. ia districts where ltura
Free Delivey Is now in force. Vlllag
merchants who have been grt & ahea
,lowly for We rs, and have thought q
E making impro, ements in heir stor
rooms and stocks, now declare sue
improvements TO be unjustitied, an
{ predictions are freely made that u
line will come VIII they may b ADJ
: 10 do business at all at profit. VINE
the villages and county towns sto
making improvement 3, and their bus
ness men grow discouraged or 90 GU
IF business, then will he farmer com
20 see the elements of direct injury t
himself. 1t has become stereotype
0 argument that the best excuse Tor tn
Z Department store lies in the creates
. rood given to the greatest number
people. 1t will be shown in the en-
that Rural Free Delivery does nc
give the greatest good to the great
|, number; and that instead, 1t Is sowin
, the seeds of trouble and depression.
Seeks Officers for Congo.