The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-02-02
RURAL ROUTES IN DANGEER.
Congressman Wyatt Aiken Makes
Strong Appeal to the Public to
Support the Service.
Washington. y. G.

w S~SAAAAA0S S~A~t A~'
Editor Of Herald and News.
You have doubtless noticed IN the
papers a statement from the Post
Office Department, indicating its pur-
pose to discontinue large number of
the rural routes throughout the coun-
try, on the grounds that |'they are
not appreciated.''
Knowing your deep interest III the
welfare of our country, and in the
general upholding Of the rural Sec
tions, that make for material pros
pecity, 1 desire through your paper,
to direct public attention to the neces-
sity for building up the bushes of
the rural service.
Cities and towns only reflect pros
perity, the country is its real birth
place. Anything that detracts from
or retards the advancement Of the
producer robs the nation in dollars
and cents.
There is natural tendency IL all
men to gravitate to populous eenters;
it is the social and inquistive side OF
man s nature that asserts itself. Tele-
phones and trolley lines have done
much toward 5lotting out time and
space, toward making neighbors OF
those geographically far apart, but
greater than either Of these is the free
rural delivery system. Not every COM
munity can have trolley line, not
every man can have a telephone, but
the humblest citizen may have his
mail delivered daily at his door. BY
these modern agencies, the most re-
mote rural resident is In essentials,
made a suburban resident OF the
towns and cities, and long step to-
ward desirable life in the country IS
attained. Is it not passing strange
then, that the Government, which
must realize the Importance OF main. D
tanning the highest and most intel
licent citizenship in the rural sections,
would snatch from these good people
the only little mite Of gratulty they
have ever received, Of the millions
thew have contributed to the Nation
al Treasury. And yet, this order OF
the Post Office Department $50 dis
continue rural routes which do not
handle 1000 pieces of mail monthly,
will do this very thing.
&saments as to the unwisdom OF
the Government s course are futile,
when confronted with its declared
policy. \Qne cannot help noting
however, the inconsistency in appro-
priating annually, to the Philippines,
an alien people, millions in excess OF
their revenue, with the single pur-
pose Of educating them to the stand
ard of good citizenship while with
holding from its best citizens at nome
the little Smount necessary to supple
ment 1ura. routes not entirly self sus-
tanning
The Government discla;ms any IN
teatioi of discriminating against the
sonts in this order, and we do not
ch@ge it with discrimination OF Sec
tio,alism, but the effect will be none
tn: less disastrous to Southern rural
,o,tes because of the disclaimer.
here is scarcely carrier IN 1he
,Dpulous North that does not handle
four or five thousand pieces OF mall
monthly while many Of our own ear
r;ers seldom reach 5000 pieces ano
some under 1000 pieces. Truly the
Government should take the larger
view, and extend its bountry to those
thinly y settled sections which need
building up. hut we need not expect
it.
So great have the Government ex-
nenditures grown, that the present
excessive tariff rates are inadequate
for the appropriations, and for once'
the Republicans partly is forced to
call a. halt to it's policy of extrava-
sauce. Many appropriations hereto
fore made, will be either left Oft en-
tirely or very much reduced; and
H., . 1o,,h - the South S