The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-02-02
The Rural Free
Delivery System.


In connection with a letter and clip
ping relative 10 Postmaster General
Cortelyou's avowed intention of re-
ducing the number of rural delivery
routes in the country by cutting OF
those where investigation shows there
j. a lack of patronage, The Atlanta
Journal publishes the following arti-
Gle which expresses the sentiments of
most southern newspapers upon the
subject:
The Journal has always been a con-
sisJent and strong advocate of the ru-
RAJ free delivery of the mails and al
ways will be. This paper stands
ready at any and all times TO combat
TO the best of its ability any plan or
eDdeavOr 10 curtail this system i'm any
way whatsoever. There was never
more intelligent benefaction bestowed
on the farmer than this and never a
beneficiary who deserved il more.
For many years in all schemes for the
betterment Of the citizens the govern
ment overlooked the farmer the man
Oa whom all other successes depend.
He Is the first man to bear the bTUnt
of any calamity that comes to the land
and the one TO feel ID most. He is
entitled 10 everything that the nation
can possibly put Al his disposal and
the matter or expense should not in
Terferc with the bestOwal Of fayOrs or
rights that fit him better for his bust
ness
As all prosperity rests on the sue
cess OF The farming interests, or speak
Eng more broadly. the rural interests.
the person living in The rural districts
should he given every facility for the
development Of his work. There is no
facility that can do more for him than
that OF regular. compel ent. free deliv-
cry Of his mail This system OF rural
delivery puts him in contact with the
world II lets him know of weather
conditions SO chat ne can SOW or har-
vest with best results; IL tells him
" hat cnODS have failed In certain sec
tons and made good in others so
that he can govern his planning and
acreages: IL informs him quickly as
Ia latest methods in agriculture so
TIA; he can profit speedily by them;
81 keeps himself and his household in
formed as 10 what is going on i'm he
great world with which he formally
came i'm contact about once n week
II is in fact. his great means of educa-
ticn information and prot ectiOn. The
journal would never consent TO the
cutting of entirely or cUrtaiiing i'm any
wsy-of an institution that does so much
rdod for such large class Of people
Rhose occupations make their lives OF
necessity isolated.
The Journal stands for extension OF
the rural free delivery i'm every way.
The postal system of the country is
not a money making institution and
was never intended for such. Il was
formed purely and simply TO put the
people Of the country in touch with
each other SO that the nation could be
developed By intercourse and the eX-
change Of views-to unite the people
aEd educate them Ii ris a necessity
as much so as are the courts. the leg
isistures and other departments OF
the government IL a postOfice in a
great city does not pay its own eX-
penses there is never any talk of dis
continuing it and depriving the people
OF its benefits. and there are many de-
linQuent Offices in the cities Of the
land. Why then III a rural route is
not as well patrOnized as the postal
officials think IL should be are there
threats OF its discOntinuance? The
Journal believes in fair play and
thinks that the farmer is as much en-
titled TO the fsvOrs of the government
as any other class of citizens.
This newspaper will oppose with all
fts influence and force any attempt 10
curtsil the rural free delivery and
calls on all Georgia congressman and
senators TO stand by the rural pOpu-
latiOn in this most important matter
Let them fight to the last ditch the
slightest attempt 10 contract its sphere
o. operation in the smallest particular
on the other hand. let them strive
% extend and enlarge il.