The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-04-13
The Rural Free Delivery Crisis.

A great deal of interest has bee
aroused in the rural districts Of til
southern states over the menace t
rural free delivery involved in tn
evident determination Of the pos
Office department to cut out th
weaker routes if they do not make
business showing that meets the ne7
requirements of the department
These new requirements seem to b
that the rural route must show
minimum number Of pieces Of mai
handled in quarter, failing in which
it will be discontinued entirely o,
consolidated with the nearest rura
route. During the past month twt
rural routes in Upson county, Georgia
which fell short Of the test, we're con.
solidated. Since the first Of the year
quite a number of mail routes in
southern states have been either dis
continued or consolidated with other
routes.
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 a 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 we'll 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-
sore we received attention, thus hav-
ng time to build up business and
show satisfactory results when atten-
ion began to be given to that subject.
But, strange to~say, when the de-
,artment began to act under the
spasm, it began by inspect
ng the routes last established in our
,art Of the country, putting the
;nife to what it called improbable
outes before they had time or oppor-
unity to demonstrate their utility,
strange inspectors 60 into country
4 which they know nothing and under
heir instructions to promote economy
nder their instructions cut and slash /.
mong weak routes without refer
nee to past opportunities or future ]
!
The fourth assistant postmaster
eneral has been very consderate
hen appealed to in such cases, but {
e has clearly indicated his views as t
} what routes should do, and the
eople should heed his views on the s
Inject, for whether right or wrong, r
ley will sooner or later be enforced. t
ow they have the remedy in their ]
WI hands, let them quit asking for n
ew routes and changes in routes e
It'll all those now in existence show S
lch satisfactory results as will in t.
re them against discontinuance. It a
easy for each family living nearer h
a route than to a postofice to put n
, an approved box on that route. No u
mily can do wiser or more prof S
,ble thing than to take one or two b
There are friends, rel b
ives and business concerns. with m
lom some members Of every family "
uld interchange letters. Al these n
ings would improve and elevate the u:
ople, while insuring satisfactory
siness for the routes.
There is much truth in this, and to Al
act too severe a test on the new -
d necessarily weak routes Of the Lv
lth before they are given time and Al Al
air chance to prove their capacity -
growth and eventual self-support Ar
acks of sectional discrimination -
! ,,, A. ,,,,- ,,a+o +l,o+ r =,