The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-11-02
GROWTH and COST
OF RURAL DELIVERY
Postmaster General Cortelyou
Gives Statistics on the
Subject.
HOSTS ARE BENEFITED
More Than 1s,ee7,soo Person. Receive
Rural Service at a Cost Of APP
proximately $2s,35o,ooo-Ex.
tensions Planned.

Postmaster General Cortelyou, in q
recent number Of Independent, took
the public into his confidence, and dis
cussed the free rural mail question in
IN interesting manner, and answering
some OF the criticisms that are directed
against 1t. AS in practically everything
else there are two classes Of critics. One
class would extend the free delivery OF
til every person in the country might
nave his mail delivered to his door,
and the probabilities are that the time
Will come when this will happen. There
IS another class OF critics, those who
tirely. Mr.. Cortelyou gives no heed to,
this latter class. but points out the i'm
possibility of meeting the demands OF
the first class. especially at the present
time.
In 1897 the rural free delivery serv-
ice was initiated without any fixed
rules or regulations. The first formu-
lated restrictions were approved in 1901,
requiring a patronage Of 100 families
on a full route, the maintenance Of
roads passable at all seasons of the
gear and the erection Of boxes approved
by the department for the reception OF
the mails.
Increase of Expenditures.
With the rapid increase Of the an
nual expenditures for rural free de-
livery from $4,000 in 1898 to $685.
Sf1 III 4SVO (llo appTOpTlhllOH lOE lL6
current fiscal year is $2S,350,000) the
adoption Of more precise methods OF
administration became obvious and i'm
perative.
The annual appropriation for rurak
service now exceeds that provided for
city free delivery the number OF car
riers employed is greater.
I'm many states where horses are
plentiful and forage abundant. $3.50 per
annum, the maximum pay for a rural.
= A. 80 a.
sation. and there are sometimes as,
many as twenty or thirty applications
for one route. Hence the desire for
Me establishment Of service sometimes
proceeds more from the prospective
carrier a from those who are pre-
namely, the farmers-and the outcry
against discontinuance or curtailments
of service emanates quite as often from
the one source as from the other.
High water mark in the demand
for rural delivery service appears to
save been passed, the number OF
cases covering applications for the
service being nearly so per cent. less
during the last fiscal year, and during.
The preceding fiscal year, and on
petitions for additional service await
ing action.
N operation on $3.50 routes, involv-
lIR inc GIuplOyllGlll OIL 90, 100 SdIlAClS.
Daily delivery and collection is given
On all of these routes, except on 253,
on which, because Of sparse popula-
ton, the service is given only every
other day.
Hosts Are Benefited.
ESTIMATING the actual average pat
yonage per route at ninety families. the
ara now enjoyed by 3,22S,660 families.
Or 1868 O4 persons.
The most important feature OF the
work of the last fiscal year has BEEN
The institution of an inspection OF the
rural delivery service particularly that
Upon routes where the amount OF matl'
handled has shown an apparent lack
Of patronage, with a view to ascer-,
tanning the cause for adverse condi-!
lions, and the possibility Of removing,
them, so as to bring the service up to-.
a reasonable standard of efficiency.
1.-THE approximate cost of the serv-f
fee during the last fiscal year was $24,-l
306, 200, and the appropriation for the
current fiscal year is $28,350.0O0.. :
The question as to whether the ruraE
delivery service pays is a subject for;
considerable discussion. In he light
Of actual revenue on mail matter dis
patched by patrons Of the service, the
revenue is about 18 per lei Of the
cred to rural districts in the aggregatel
which has undoubtedly been greatly;
Increased by the establishment Of rural
delivery, and a very large percentage
Of which yield the department revenue
though the total revenue from all main
handled by rural delivery carriers does
not equal their pay. In this connection,
however, the reduction of the drain
upon The yer by the discontinue
ance Of fourth class postof1ces, where
the cancellations, in whole or In a
large part, went to the postmasters.
and the disconttnuance of star routes.
superseded by the rural delivery. should
be considered" 4