The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-12-23
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Important Changes And Rulings OF The
POstOff1ce Department.

In September last The ADVOCATE reported
the presence in Carroll of two posoffice in
spectors, come to rearrange the rural free de-
livery routes. They have nearly finished their
work and feel confident that their recommen-
dations will be adopted by the Postoffice De-
paFtment at Washington and that the changes
viii go into effect about the first of February
next.
Under the present arrangement of routes,
it is claimed that they range from IA to q
miles.
The law, it is alleged, requires the routes to
be "a miles to receive the maximum compen-
sation, so in the Encouragement some five or
six routes will be abolished and the mileage
divided out among other carriers. This means,
of course. the dropping of five or six carriers.
Some private roads, having gates and bars,
will be abandoned unless the same are kept
open. Some patrons, it is said, have al
ready refused to keep their private roads open,
and they will have to get their mail at the
nearest postoffice.
The mail route to Littlestown, Pa, will be
continued as at present.
All collection boxes will be removed from
the county, except those really necessary, such
as i'll Westminster and in the several towns.
Patrons, on strictly rural routes, will have TO
use their own boxes.
There are reported to be 1000 persons in
the county who have not complied with the
order to get one of several mail boxes having
the approval of the Postoffice Department.
Those who do not comply by the time the new
regulations go into effect will have their mail
left at the nearest postofhce.
One route each will be dropped at Union
Mills, Uniontown, York Road and Mt Airy,
and one on the line of the Baltimore u Ohio
railroad.
Suppose the 1000 families spoken of above
decline to comply with the Postotfice Depart
ment's requirement as to getting new boxes,
what becomes of rural free delivery? Are
carriers to be sent over their routes and carry
no. malt matter for an average of more than
twenty five per cent. of the people along the
roads they travel?
If the Postoffice Department should adopt
such recommendation toward the people
who have boxes satisfactory to themselves, it
would be an outrage. We have some knowl-
edge Of the mail boxes in Carroll, and we
know that some persons have much better
boxes than the fimsy zinc affairs approved OF
by the Postofice Department. Besides, why
should the Postotfice Department be concern
ed about mail boxes if the people who put
them up are satisfied? The Department could
decline to be responsible for loss Of mall
which would relieve it OF all responsibility.
Every family knows the hour for the carrier to
arrive and some one watches whether or not
he stops. The opportunity to rob mail box
is nil. Several carriers were under suspicion
for lost letters with money in them but the
gully party in each case was clerk in the
Westminster postoffice. who is now in the
penieniiary.
The free rural delivery routes OF Carroll
have been changed and altered several times,
and it is possible there may be too many post
Office inspectors. If the force is too large.
reduce it, then there will be none to be sent
to Carroll to make alterations TO annoy the
DaOplp