Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-15
Over "a, 900 Rural Carriers.

On the SOth or June last there were 80 OK
rural carriers on the road Since then I'D
till the LIST Of January ZOOS have been ap-
pointed, making a total of $4,000 OF these
250 are women, some Of whom have been
employed for a number Of years. On ac-
count Of the rigorous nature of the duties
women are not appointed except in cases
where nc men applicants are found upon
the ensIble registers. AS a general propo-
sition, however, the supervisors testify
unanimously that women have shown them
selves to be just as capable and efficient
as men.
There are women carriers in thirty-six
states and one territory. Iowa has "a, the
largest number; Illinois, %; Michigan 10:
Indiana, IA; Kansas, 10; Missouri, IL, and
other states smaller numbers.
The morale OF the rural carriers is re-
markably good and always has been Out
Of 1890 employees only 214 were dis
charged for cause last year. of whom only
twenty-six were dishonest and thirty had
violated instructions or regulations of the
service 1t Is doubtful whether any other
organization. either public or private, can
show so good a record At the same time
there have been numerous instances where
the greatest heroism and nerve have been
exhibited, and an extraordinary devotion to
billiards, when the carriers continued their
service regardless of danger and suffering.
The rules Of the department do not make
any allow ance for the weather. The regu-
latiors require every carrier to start at a
certain hour anu maintain regular sched-
ule and arrive at given points at approx
:natcly tile same moment day after day:
and tnev are required to cover a prescribed
dist ance and make their circuit without
deviating therefrom under any circum-
stances, sick or well, storm or sunshine
and they do 1t. The number OF complaints
Is very small: the cases requiring discipline
very few.
From the beginning the department has
compelled the authorities or the people in
terested to keep their roads In order. The
purpose OF rural free delivery Is to carry
the mails regularly on a fixed line of travel
to people who would otherwise have to go a
mile or more to post office for mail sery-
Ice. 1t Is required that roads traversed
shall be kept In good condition, unobstruct-
ed by gates; that there shall be no un-
Dridged creeks or streams not fordabie at
all seasons: that each route of twenty-four
or more miles in length shall have 100 or
more families resident thereon; and routes
less than twenty-four miles long q proper
Tomato number OF families.
How Routes Are Established.
Since the beginning 1t has been the prac-
tice OF the department to establish the serv-
Ice upon the petition OF the people resident
in the locality to be served, such petition to
be Endorsed by the representative repre-
senting the district. or by one OF the sena-
tors from the state The total number OF
petitions filed since 1897 asking for the
resents requests from probably 10000 DIFF
ferent localities. The demand has been
and stiIl Is. inslstent, although the most
thickly populated sections are now COW
cred.
The following shows the number OF rural
delivery routes in each state and territory
and the total cost OF maintaining them:
For the year ended June 3d. 1905: