The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-05-03
EnGcrcd al the PostOtce at RendcrsOnva.s
NC. as mail matter OF the second class.
RURAL FREE DELIVERY SERVICE

effect that Fourth Assistant Post
master General Degraw has issued
a statement as to changes that are
likely to occur in the rural deliv-
cry of mail that will interest peo-
pie living on the routes where
daily mail is delivered. The num-
Der of families on the route who
are availing themselves of the SER
vice and the number of boxes
erected will also be considered.
The small number of pieces of mail
handled Cd any route may be due
to lack of appreciation on the part
of the people actually on the route,
as well as to the small number of
people having boxes up. Where
these things combine to make the
mail matter handled of very small
amount the service may be cur
tailed to three times a week, or
even abolished altogether. It
would seem strange that any fam
lily living in reach of a daily mail
route, over which their mail can
be delivered to their very doors,
would fail to avail themselves of
SO great q blessing; yet there are
numbers of people living on the
line of the service who do not seem
to care anything about it. Those
who do care should take every
step to swell the amount of mail
handled, and those who have not
put up boxes ought to do so at
once. For unless something is
done in many cases the service will
be lost. The departmeEt says that
where the trouble is due merely to
insufficient population to make the
mail matter come mp to the re-
CURED amount, steps will be taken
to extend the route over q larger
territory.
Inview of the position taken by
Mr.. Degraw with reference to put
ting upboxes a movement has been
inaugurated in the House looking
to a reduction in the price of them
SO that the people may be enabled
to carry out the suggestion of the
department in this regard. Re-
ferring to this matter the WASH
ington correspondent of the News
q Observer sends that paper the
following interesting item:
Representative Pou. has intro
duced q bill, requiring the Post
office Department to purchase ru-
raj free delivery boxes after COM
petive bids, and to dispose of them
to patrons of the rural routes at
actual cost. Mr.. Pou believes that
exorbitant prices are being charg-
cd for boxes, the sale of which is
monopolizedfby three manufacture
ing firms and his plan is to give i:
these boxes to patrons of the SER !;
at cost, meets with the ap- :;
proval of Representative Moon, /.
the ranking member of the Post ;
office committee, as we'll as MI. !
Small and other members who
have promised that he shall be ;
given an early hearing. "A hard- :
merchant here informed Mr.. ]
Pou today that in his opinion the ]
p1.25 boxes required for the rural :
do not cost over TWENTY .
i've cents. MI. Pou will urge his !
amendment on his return and he !:
to secure favorable action by 6
he house committee.
MI. Pou's bill makes it the dutv e
+ the Postmaster General to pur- :
base for account of the govern :
nent all mail boxes as may be :
ecessary in the operation and ex- :,
snsion of the Rural Free Deliv. y
~ Service. He shall at such times :,
, he may deem proper ask pub ~
ely for sealed proposals for the +
and delivery at such places =
nd In such quantities as he NAV ~
Gem expedient of such mail boxes r
J may be necessary for the oper- -,
lion and extension of the service q
I'D he shall award the contract ~
n the sale and delivery of these
oxes to the person, firm or cor
oration making the lowest bid for
le sale and delivery of the same, re
1T the Postmaster General is ed
'reby authorized and empowered gr
make such requirements respect 10
the bids or proposals for the =
lie and delivery of said boxes as ns
J may deem necessary for the pro- slt