The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-24
GREAT IS RURAL
 FREE DELIVERY Plan Is Growing in Popularity
 Every Day IS A BIG HELP TO FARMERS Brings Them in Touch With World and Facilitates Their Business ansactions-Works Like
 a Charm in Georgia.
BY wATrERsoN sTEALEY.

BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY.
 Washington, July 28.-(speciaL)-An in- ttresting result of the installation of coun- try rural free delivery service is on ex- hibition in the office of the Fourth As- sistant Postmaster General in the form of completed service as shown by the departmental map for the county of Lam caster, Pennsylvania. In this particular county the conditions were particularly favorable to the operation of rural free delivery service by reason of it's being densely populated and we'll equipepd with good roads, enabling an unusually large proportion of the patrons to receive their mail directly in front of their homes.
 The routes as re-arranged and estab- entity serve 11,S13 families, at an annual cost of $67,014
 While this county in exceptional, at this writing work Is under way in many oth- CT sections of the country which will give equivalent service at cost not in excess of that quoted
 The department finds it difficult to convince ruralites of the justness of the policy which it endeavors to follow requiring one hundred families on each route established.
 Petitions are received daily for the es- tablishment of service on routes, which, atfer inspection, prove to have less than fifty families or would-be patrons in case of establishment.
 In these circumstances the work of the rural agents becomes essential before ac- ton can be taken on petitions for routes In different sections of the country.
 Popularity Unabated.
 The popularity of the rural service con- tinues unabated. Hardly a day passes that the mails do not bring letters of high commendation of the effects of the establishment of this or that route. Some of these comment in the line of fast com versions of the rural towns into cities; others dwell upon the enhancement of values because of the increased conveni- ence while still others lay great stress upon the educational advantages which are being derived from the rural service.
 In a communication today from Macon, Ga., a patron of a rural route emanating from that city, proudly announces that he was largely instrumental in it's estab- Iishment, and in that view desires to in- press upon the department the importance to which the route has grown, generally speaking, and especiR llxt to emphasize that view by insta1DA sse fact s that property values along the lines of the route have. in the short time the service has been renered, greatly increased. The writer submits as proof of his assertion the fact that the route passes cattle and fruit farm of his own. and says "lt has really increased the accessibility and con- venience of the place so much that the property is now considered decidedly more valuable"
 In another communication from sou thern city, the suggestion is made that no higher compliment can be paid the rural service than that which 1t Is re- ceving as a factor of education through out the land. This communication sus- gests that whoever may take the trouble to spend a few moments in the county where 1t was written, with a man who owns land In that section, and who in- Variably spend his time on the farm will find him highly praising the rural service as a means of keeping the ruralite abreast of the times however distant he may be from the people with whom he is trans acting business
 Liked in Georgia.
 quotation from prominent Southern publication reached the department today through an enthusiast correspondent, who enjoys the benefits of rural service in Blob county. Ga. which stated: Much can be said of the Improvements that have come to the farms of this and other counties in Georgia through the rural mall service alone. There are few far mers who cannot get out early and see through the morning papers before the hour for duty, what has happend throughout the world during the past twenty-four hours. The thrifty farmer has learned that the burden of his bus mess can be transacted within his home without the needless expenditure of time iourneving to and from town There arc few farmers of Bibb who have not the opportunity to communicate with the business people of towns fifty to one hum dred miles away by letter and have an answer In a single day Perhaps that which causes the broadest smile on the face of the farmer and that which makes him more independent than anything else. Is the fact that the telephone and rural mail service have increased the values of the land from ten to one hundred dol lars per acre"
 A correspondent from the middle west, on the subject of rural towns fast be- coming cities, in their general appoint- ments. accommodations. etc. suggests tbat through investments and improve ments the country Is getting nearer to the city, nearer to the myriad advantages of comfort which human ingenuity Is diyining all of which is attributed to the modern conveniences which are being constantly installed including as great factor in the case. that of rural free delivery
 To facilitate more accurate handling of the mail by rural free delivery car riers. the postoffice department Is ar ranging for the numbering of all rural letter boxes, which. under the regulations of the department. are entitled to service, and authorizing the delivery by rural let ter-earriers of ordinary mail matter of all classes addressed to boxes by number alone. so long as improper and unlawful business Is not conducted thereby, the same as is now permitted In the case of postoffice boxes.
 Instructions will be issued to postmas- ters within short time to assign to boxes entitled to service consecutive num- bers beginning with the first box reached by the carrier after leaving the post office, and new box erected subsequent to the original numbering will be as- signed the next consecutive number in use on the particular route Boxes on newly established routes will not be num- bered until sixty days after the com mencement of the service. In order that