Bisbee daily review., 1905-09-07
FREE MAIL DELIVERY
THERE IS SOME POSITIVE o7Po- SETON TO THIS PROPOSED
 PUBLIC CONVENIENCE.
Several Prominent Douglas Business Men Go On Reeoro and Explain Why Free Delivery Would lnjure Many Small Dealers.

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 Douglas. Ariz., Sept. 6.-(Special)-
 The question of 1ree mail delivery is agitating the business, professional and home interests Of the city to con siderable extent just now, and there seems to be developing some opposi- tion to this addition to the comfort of living within the confines of a munich pality which tries to give it's inhab- itants every luxury of modern life.
 The opposition appears to be founded on the supposition that the necessity of going to the postofiice for one's mail is responsible for an appreciable increase in business done by small merchants, who, after all, are a very important part of city life.
 The opposition to the proposed ad- dition. to Douglas mail service seems to have its center with the merchants near the postoffice, and to have crys- talized about Joseph Calisher, who is referred to as the leader of the move ment
 MT. Calisher was seen today by an International-America representative, and unhesitatingly declared that he was opposed to the service.
 Conditions here are different from those existing in a large city. where tree delivery is imperative, he said. Here the small merchant, and great many of the larger ones, are almost dependent upon the necessity of the people to come to the office for their mail. With free delivery large per cent of the people would stay closer at home and consequently business will drop of in proportion.
 q don't know whether it can be pre- vented from being installed here. but if it is possible. you may be sure that Douglas will have no free delivery"
 E. A. Von Arnim, the real estate dealer. is also in the ranks of the op. position.
 There may be merchants in Doug las" he said, who are an integral and important part of the population, and yet whose business is of such na- ture that they are necessarily abso- lutely dependent upon the drop-in trade for a living. This class of trade is fosuered and kept alive by the ne cessity of having to go to the post office for one's mail. and when that necessity is taken away the business of those merchants is going to fall of to an alarming extent.
 Cashier Hanks of the First National Bank is also opposed to the installa- tion of free delivery.
 q do not care to go into the merits of the matter, nor discuss details" he said. ''I may say. however. that I be lieve that Douglas is not yet ready for free delivery. and that it will be better to allow postof1ce conditions to remain as they are for the present" "
 Postmaster Caldwell favors the ir- stallation of free delivery.
 There can be no doubt" he said. mat free delivery is a benefit to the people as a whole. and that is what the office is for. It was never meant to benefit a certain class or clique over others. and when the city is numbered and other preliminary work done | have no doubt that Douglas will be given free delivery. The business of the office warrants the service and Douglas is going to have it.
 It appears that when one gets away from the postofice district the feeling in favor of the delivery system is not hard to find.
 w. S Kenyon, manager of the Wamel store, was emphatic in declar- ing in favor of free delivery.
 Tt will benefit the town in general '' he said. Tt will add luxury to every home in Douglas; the people as a whole will be greatly benefited and I anr heartily in favor of it's institu- tion.
 E. R. Pirtle is another man who be- Heves that Douglas should have free mail delivery.
 Tt will be a good ad for the town, g he said. and in that way will help wonderfully in the construction of a big city Again it is a great conven- fence to the vast majority of the peo- pie already here, and I can see no valid argument to put up against it's install ation.'
 D. H. Johnston is an advocate of the new feature of improved postal service and did not hesitate to say so.
 That will be one of the best things that can happen to the city" he de clared. and they cannot go about it too quickly. It will result in greater convenience to the people generally, and it is the public which must be considered. in a case of this kind"
 O. s. Long added his testimony to the balance in favor of the delivery system.
 There is really nothing to be said against the proposition which will hold water" he said. Free delivery of mail is a modern institution. devised for the good of the public and if benefits the public. It should be secured in Douglas just as soon as possible"
 W. H. Cox is a guest in the city