Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-01-29
Kanawha Has More Rural
Routes Than Any Town of
Its Size in Iowa
FIVE ROUTES; POPULATION $50
An Interesting Story Concerning How
They Were Established and How
They Were Retained-Farmer Boys
and Girls Show Adaptability to
Chanees-Wilson's Rural Letter.
to Times-Kepubliean.

Special to Times Republican.
Kanawha, Jan. $50 far as rura
mail delivery is concerned, this town
is without question one of the most
remarkable in the state. When rural
service was yet in its infancy in Iowa
business men, especially in the smaller
towns, believing that the establishment
of mail routes would affect them un
favorably, often discouraged the idea
with the consequence that some neigh
boring town containing men who look
ed at the question in a different way
sometimes secured routes running
within mile or two of the other, the
residents of which awoke too late to
the fact that they had made serious
mistake. In the case of this place
when the time arrived to decide the
question of establishing routes, Mr.. B.
C. Ellsworth, editor of the local paper,
| foreseeing that whatever the effect
would be on the town, rural mail SER
vice was inevitable, decided to use his
influence in securing as many routes
as possible from the home town and
| after vigorous campaign he got five
routes from the little village of not
more than $50 population, the first es-
tablished in Hancock county. With
not another town large or small in the
county having more than four routes
and some with only half that number,
it may easily be imagined what kind
Of job Editor, now also Postmaster
Ellsworth has had to maintain his or
iginal number of routes.
Two or three years ago movement
was started for complete county ser
vice. The new order of things con-
templated the elimination of one of the
local routes, also two from Forest City,
the frightening of several others in
crease of pay for the affected carriers
and other changes unsatisfactory to-
many of those concerned. Five differ
ent dates We're set for the new SER
vice to go into operation and as many
times the energetic postmaster's re-
sourcefulness secured a postponement
of the order until finally it was decided
to make the original plan permanent.
As a result of his exertions train
service has been secured which enables
his carriers to deliver a daily paper be-
fore the noon hour to every farmer on
the routes who will subscribe for one
and greater part of them have avail
ed themselves of the privilege.
IN one occasion route inspector ap-
pointed day for the farmers of a GER
tain community traversed by one of the
routes, to appear before him and state
their preferences as to the town from
which they desired to receive their
mail. Not many answered the call
and one of the few in attendance, Rob-
ert Stevenson, an elderly Scotchman.
decided to do little missionary work
on his own account. He started out
that same evening with a petition ask
ing that the route be not changed. He
travelled on foot from house to house
until after midnight, calling people out
of bed to sign his paper. BY o'clock
the next morning he was at 1t again
and when all was completed it was
delivered to Ellsworth, who hurried
to a livery barn and in a short time
placed the petition into the hands of
the astonished inspector, who was in
the next town, and who was convinced
that no change of routes was desired
by that neighborhood, regardless of
reports to the contrary.
That the average young iowa farmer
can continue at his occupation fndefin-
itely or forsake it FOR another entirely
different and readily adapt himself to
the new order of things is we'll illus
trated in the case of a young Danish
farmer patron of a rural route from
this town. His schooling was all OBJ
tanned in the home country school and
to see him a year ago at work making
a success of raising grain and stock,
apparently perfectly content with his
lot, and with no thought of any change
Of vocation one would have unhesitat-
ingly said: Here is man who will
cultivate the soil until he has accum-
ulated a competence" But this year
a visit to the farm he occupied last
season disclosed a rather desolate view.
Boards nailed over the house windows,
driveway fastened up-not q living
thing about the place. Inquiry at the
next farm home ELECTED the information
that young Peck Hansen some
months ago suddenly decided to enter
politics, sought and secured the NOM
ination for county recorder, was elect
ed without any opposition whatever,
and is now in his office in Garner court
house.
Another rather remarkable change of
vocation took place not long ago on
route contiguous to that mentioned
above. Mr.. Ed Williams, farmer and
fine stock raiser, the father of two
daughters, aged respectively, II and
10 years, was unable last year to find
a man to aid him in his farm work and
the girls volunteered their assistance.
The older one helped in the field from
spring till fall and so efficient was she
that father and daughter were able,
~ AIC on ~