Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1906-04-19
THE RURAL FREE
DELIVERY CRISIS.
Unfortunate Attitude of Federal Gov
ernment Toward Southern Routes.

ton of the postoffice depastment
to cut out the weaker routes if
they do not make a business
showing that meets the new re-
quirements of the department,
says the Herald and News.
These new requirements seem
to be that the rural route must
show minimum number of piec-
es of mail handled in a quarter.
failing in which, it will be discon-
tinued entirely or consolidated
with the nearest route. During
the past month two rural routes
IN Upson county, Georgia, which
fell short of the test, were con-
solidated. Since the first of the
year quite number of mail
routes in Southern States have
been either discontinued or con-
solldated with other routes.
The Constitution has for some
time been giving editorial atten-
ton to this unfortunate turn of
affairs in the attitude of the Fed
eral postoffice department toward
the non-self-supporting routes of
the South, and our efforts to call
public attention, and the atten-
ton of the peoples representa-
tlves IN congress, 10 condition
which actually threatens South
ern progress and development,
have met with most gratifying
response. The rural routes of
the South are bestirring them
selves to improve the showing
they must make to the depart
ment, and our representatives in
congress are doing everything
possible for them at that end of
the line. We have received many
letters from senators and repre-
sentatives in congress, testifying
to their vigilant interests in the
subject.
Congressman Adarnson, of Ga.
gives the benefit Of some sugges-
tions that are well worth publica-
tion in this connection. Among
other things he says:
The older and more populous
parts Of the country were first
supplied, and had been running
for years, before we received
attention, thus having time to
build up business and show salts
factory results when attention
began to be given to that subject.
But, strange to say, when the
department began to act under
the economy spasm, it began by
Inspecting the routes last es-
tabllshed in our part of the
country, putting the knife to
what it called Improbable routes
before they had time or oppor-
tunity to demonstrate their
utility. Strange inspectors go
into a country in which they
know nothing and under their
instructions to promote economy
cut and slarh among weak routes
without reference to past oppor-
tunlties or future prospects.
The fourth assistant postmaster
general has been very considerate
when appealed to in such cases,
but he has clearly indicated his
views as to what routes should
do, and the people should heed
his views on the subject, for
whether right or wrong, they
will sooner or later be enforced.
Now they have the remedy in
their own hands, let them quit
asking for new routes and
changes in routes until all those
now in existence show such
satisfactory results as will in
sure them against discontin-
uance. 1t is easy for each family
living nearer to a route than to
a postotfice to put up an approved
box on that route. No family
can do a wiser or more profitable
thing than to take one or two
newspapers. There are friends.
relatives and business concerns
with whom some members of
every family could interchange
letters. All these things would
improve and elevate the people.
while insuring satisfactory busi-
ness for the routes.
There is much truth in this,
and to exact too severe a test on
the new and necessarily weak
routes of the south before they
are given time and fair chance
to prove their capacity for
growth and eventual self-support,
smacks of sectional discrimina-
ton and unfairness. At any
rate, that view of it is taken by
many of the patrons cf these
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