The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-09-30
THE GREAT RECORD
OF HECK MARTIN
One of the Rural Route Car
riers Out of Richmond
Makes EnviabIe Record.
HE DRIVES $4,000 MILES
NEVER OFF DUTY AND HIS SER
VICE is so GOOD THAT CON-
PLANTS ARE NEVER REGIS
TERED AGAINST HIM.

Driving $4,000 miles. or a distance
equal to almost three times around
the earth, and delivering in the neigh
borhood of 1,050.o00 pieces of mail.
all on Wayne County turnpikes, is the
record of Alexander w Martin, the
oldest in point of service and one of
the most faithful rural route carriers
connected with the Richmond post
office.
Heck" as he is known by his as
sociates and friends, has been in the
service almost nine years and in all
that time he has taken but very little
time OFF One of these times was
just after his horse ran away with
him and he was crippled up for a pc
riod of thirty days. As surely as
the sun rises and sets, Heck" is on
hand every morning to get his mail
and start out on his daily drive. Al
though it is a trip that covers the
same old road the year round, and
the same people are met each day,
the work never grows monotonus to
Heck His disposition is worth
much to him and he sees the bright
side of life and enjoys the little
things and difficulties that confront
him while delivering the mail.
Has Kept a Record.
During the time which he has serv-
ed the postoffice in the capacity of
rural carrier, Mr.. Martin has kept a
record of all the pieces of mail deliv-
| - \, tic
irons the very best service that lays
in his power to give, and the many
kindnesses which he meets each day
from the hands of his patrons on Ru-
raj Route No. 4, are proof that his
services are appreciated.
In discussing the subject of his SER
vice in the mail department Heck
said Il first went to work on Rural
Route No. 1, the first day of February
1898. as a substitute for my father,
Nathan W. Martin, who at that time
was appointed regular carrier by the
postoffice department | worked as
substitute until October 1899 and
then l was appointed regular car
rier In the eight years and nine
months that / have served as carrier
have been off duty only about sixty
five days, the majority of this time be-
ing when my horse ran away from me
and so bruised me up that | was not
able to go to work again for nearly
thirty days. The first two years
served as carrier 1 travelled in the
neighborhood of 24,960 miles, the
next four years / travelled near 36,192
miles. while in the remainder of the
time in srvice l have covered the
roads to the tune of 1850 miles, max
ing a total of 1902 miles in the time
l have served"
Hard on Vehicles.
81 have used two buggies and two
mail wagons | used four of my own
horses, but lately l have been hiring
horses of the livery barns at the rate
of $22 month"
| Mr.. Martin has served under three
different postmasters, Perry j. Free
man, Daniel Surface and the present
incumbent, j. A. Spekenheier.
When Heck first went to work as
rural carrier, the salary was only
$500 per year, but as Uncle Sam
grew to realize the importance of
this branch of his postoffice the sala
ries have increased at different pc
RODS since that department of the
postoffice was established. The first
raise was to $500 and in 1899 the sal
airy was again raised to $500 and in
1902 to $500 and at the present time
the carriers are drawing $720 pei
year.
| Heck has had all kinds of weather
to contend with and still more, al
kinds of roads, but the has stuck with
his job and set worthy example fol-
his brother rural route carriers, BY
his faithful service, and no matter
what the difficulty that may confront
him he always retains a smiling face
and cheerful disposition, traits that
have made him a universal favorite
on his route.