The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-13
The Rural d Free d pelivery crts.s.

ffF AuV ASWA ~ x A90a 0aO0AAS0HS tOSA1tns 81 Si
5iA great deal s;of interest has been
aroused in the rural districts Of the
southern states over the menace \ to-
rural free delivery involved in the.
evident determination Of the post
Office department to cut out the
weaker routes if they do not make a
business showing that meets the new
requirements Of the department.,
These new requirements seem ito be
that the rural route must show a
minimum number Of pieces of mail
handled in a quarter, failing in which,
it will be discontinued entirely or
consolidated with the nearest rural
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 dis
continued or consolidated with other
routes. g." a.. %,'.
The Constitution has for some time
been giving editorial attention to this
unfortunate turn of affairs in the at
titude Of the federal postoffice depart
ment toward the non-self-supporting
rural routes of the south, and our ef-
forts to call public attention, and the
attention Of the peoples represen-
tatives in congress, to condition
that actually threatens southern pro-
gress and development, have met with
most gratifying response. The rural
routes of the south are bestirring
themselves to improve the showing
they must make to the department,
and our representatives in congress
are doing everything possible for
them at that end of the line. We
have received many letters from sena-
tors and representatives in congress,
testifying to their vigilant interest in
the subject.
Congressman Adamson, Of Georgia,
gives the benefit of some suggestions
that are well worth publication 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, be-
fore we received attention, thus hav-
ing time to build up business and
show satisfactory results when atten-
tion began to be given to that subject.
But, strange to~say, when the de-
partment began to act under the
economy spasm, it began by inspect
ing the routes last established 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 country
in which they know nothing and under
their instructions to promote economy
under their instructions cut and slash
among weak routes without refer
ence to past opportunities 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 discontinuance. 1t
is easy for each family living nearer
to route than to a postoffice to put
up an approved box on that route. No
family can do wiser or more prof
liable thing than to take one. or two
newspapers. There are friends, rel
atives 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
business for the routes.
There is much truth in this, and to
exact too severe test on the new
and necessarily weak routes of the
south before they are given time and
a fair chance to prove their capacity
for growth and eventual sclf-support
smacks of sectional discrimination