Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-04
REORGANIZE SYSTEM
ROUTE SERVICE TO BE
READJusTED ABOUT
JULY 4.
New Regulations viii Cause But Little
Change for Carriers From Ottumwa
Postoffice-WiII Interfere Somewhat
With Mail Order Business.

The Ottumwa rural route carriers
VIII not be very greatly affected by the
recent orders which have been issued
Tor the entire organization of the rural
route system. A few of the carriers
who nave worked up considerable mail
order business among the patrons of
Their ines nay be affected by the or
der which limits the carriers to doing
only those favors which may be asked
by patrons. None of the local carriers
have developed this business to any
extent and consequently they will not
be at much loss because of the order.
The rural free delivery service is
practically to be reorganized July 1.
On that date the number of divisions
in the United States will be reduced
from eight to six: additional route in
spectors will be employed, and official
ly designated as rural mail agents
and the new schedule of pay for car
riers and the new regulations relating
carrying merchandise will become OPP
erative.
With the reorganization of the di-
vision quarters will come a reassign-
ment of men who have heretofore been
known as special agents and route in
spectors These employees have been
performing practically the same kind
of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES routes petit
toned for-and SO congress at the re-
cent session directed that they shall
be known as rural agents. After the
first Of July 1853 of these rural agents
will work under the direction of six di-
vision inspectors, investigating pro-
posed routes, or twenty -four more men
than the department has ever before
had engaged in this class of work.
Every carrier in the country who
covers what is known as a full route
will receive $50 a month of 720 year,
beginning with July. Carriers who
cover shorter routes will not get the
maximum salary. The schedule. which
may be varied when the circumstances
warrant will be as follows:
The Schedule.
Routes Of not less than twenty miles,
s72O: routes of less than twenty miles
and not less than sixteen. $500; less
than sixteen and not less than twelve
miles, $500; less than twelve and not
less than eight miles, $420: less than
eight and not less than four miles,
$500.
The official instruction to carriers,
in reference to the new prohibition
against carrying merchandise for hire,
and against acting as agents for any
body, will probably be sent out early
in June, so that carriers may become
familiar with them before the law goes
into effect. 1t is announced at the de-
partment that it is proposed to en-
force the law rigidly. Carriers will be
permitted to do small favors for pa
irons along their routes when the pa
irons request it, but that is all.
While appropriation for the rural
free delivery service for the coming
fiscal year is s2O,773,7OO, or 64.6 per
cent greater than for the current year,
it will not enable the department. to
establish as>many new routes as it has
put in this year. Ninety-seven per
cent of the total amount appropriated
for the fiscal year will be utilized in
paying salaries to carriers.
1t is announced at the department
that the amount available for the ex-
tension of the service will be used as
far as it will go, promptly after the
beginning Of the fiscal year. With the
assistance of additional rural agents
it is anticipated that new routes will
be established at the rate of 500 per
| month.