The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1906-02-28
RURAL SERVICE IN GREAT DAN GER.
Congressman Aiken Makes Strong Ap.
geaI to the People to Support
the Service-POints out
Danger and Suggests
the Remedy

office Department, indicating it's
purpose to discontinue a large
number Of the rural routes
throughout the country, on the
ground that "they are not appre-
ciated."
Knowing your deep interest in
the welfare of our country, and in
the general upbuilding of the ru.
raj sections, that make for materi.
al prosperity, [ desire through
your paper, to direct public atten.
tion to the necessity for building
up the BUSINESS of the rural
service.
Cities and towns only reflect
prosperity, the country is its real
birthplace. Anything that de.
tracts from or retards the advance
ment Of the producer robs the ia.
ton of dollars and cents.
There is natural tendency in
all men to gravitate to populous
centres; it is the social or inquisi.
tive side of mans nature that as.
s, rls itself. Telephones and troll
ley lines have done much toward
blottong out time and space, to-
ward making neighbors Of those
geographically far apart, but
greater than either of these is the
rural free delivery system. Not
every community can have troll
ley line, not.every one can have a
telephone, but the humblest citizen
may have his mail delivered daily
at his door. BY these modern
agencies, the most remote rural
resident is, in essentials made a
suburban resident of the towns
and cities, and d long step toward
desirable life in the country is at.
tanned. Ia it not passing strange
then, that the government, which
must realize the Importance of at
tanning the highest and most intel.
ligent citizenship in the rural Sec
tons, would snatch from these
good people the only little mite of
gratulty they have ever received, of
the millions they have contributed
to the National Treasury. And
yet this order of the Postollice De-
partmont "to discontinue rural
routes that do not handle 1000
pieces Of mail monty" will do
this very thing.
Arguments as to the unwlsdom
Of the governm" course are fu-
tile, when confronted with its de-
clared policy. One cannot holp
noting, however, the inconsistency
in spproprlating annually, to the
Philippines, an alien people, mil
lions in excess Of their revenue, with
the single purpose Of educating
them to standard Of good citi.
zenship, while withholding from
tho best cilizens at home the little
amount necessary to supplement
the rural routes not entirely SELF
sustaining.
The government disclaims any
intention of discriminating against
tho South In this order, and we do
not charge it with discrimination,
or scctionalism, but the effect will
be none the less disastrous to
southern rural routes because of
the disclaimer. There is scarcely
carrier in the populous North
that does not handle from four tc
five thousand pieces of mai
monthly while many of our OWL
carriers seldom reach 5000 ant
some under{ 1000 pieces. Trul,
the government should take tn
larger view, and extend its boun
ty> to those thinly settled section
which need building up, but W
need not expect it.
80 great have the government OF
pondituros grown, that the presen
excessive tariff rates are inadequat
Tor the appropriation, and for ono,
the Republication party is fore,
to call n halt, to its policy of extra,
agance. Mapy appropriations her
tofore made, will be either left O
entirely or very much reduced
and "the poor mans lamb" Il
South's little mite will be taken
It is only too true that this ord,