Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-06-08
ENfoRMAIlON AS TO RURAL DELIVERY.
How to ob;s,n Rural DELIVERY Ct Man.

How to Obtain Rural Delivery Of NAL
petition for such service must be made on
the forms furnished by the Department. which
are supplied application to the Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General
Requests for two more routes should not
be included in one petition separate petit
ton for each route desired being required
Each petition for 4 route of "a miles in
length should be signed by at least one hun
dred persons who are heads of families and
for routes less than "a miles proportionate
number of such persons should sign
Petitions for rural mail service. when prop
erly signed and prepared. and indorsed by the
Representative in Congress or the United
States Senator. should be forwarded to the
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General. Wash
ington. d. c.
Conditions Necessary to Establishment
The purpose of rural delivery service is to
carry the mails daily-on fixed line of travel
to people who would otherwise have to go
mile to postofice to receive their
mail 1t Is required that the roads traversed
by a rural route shall be in good condition I'M
Distracted by gates that there must be no
unbridged creeks or streams not fordable at
all ordinary seasons of the year; and that each
route being "a or more miles in length. as a
rule, shall serve not less than one hundred
families. Routes less than "a miles long are
established where they not be made the
standard length. and proportionate number
of families is required such routes A route
should be so arranged that the carrier will not
be required to retrace or travel over the same
road twice the same day.
1t is the policy of the Department not to es-
tablish rural delivery roads already
traversed by a star route on which box de-
livery and collection service is given. unless
it is feasible to supersede The service given by
the star route by the rural delivery service
Distributing Post Office
Wherever practicable it is desirable to es-
tablish the service from post officeS located on
or near a railroad and having good railway
mail service: and the service is established
from post ofhces having star route service
only when it is possible to reach the terri
tory intended to be served well from an
ONCE on a railroad
How the Service Is Established.
When petition for rural mail service is filed
and accepted it is referred to rural agent
| for investigation. Petitions investigated
as far as practicable in their order of filing.
The agent visits the locality indicated for the
purpose of knowing just what the conditions
are and whether they are such as required by
the Department. 1t is his duty to report the
| facts as he finds them. and if such report is
favorable to the establishment of the route is
| taken within reasonable time.
In laying out a route the agent is expected
| to carefully plan the same with a view to as
/ little change in the future possible. taking
| into account the routes already established.
or which will need eventually to be establish
| ed in order that all the available territory in
that particular locality may be served to the
best advantage. For this reason it is not
| always practicable to lay out a route exactly
as petitioned for. 1t may also be necessary to
deviate from the roads referred to in the pc
| tition for other reasons such as unfit and
| private roads. gates maintained public
| roads.
What the Patrons Must Do.
Persons desiring the benefits of service on a
rural delivery route are required to furnish at
| their own cost boxes for the reception of
mail to be delivered or collected by the
| carrier.
! provided written notice of such agreement is
| filed with the postmaster at the initial post
| once.
| Each box must be erected by the roadside so
| that the carrier can easily have access to it
| without dismounting from his vehicle.
4 All boxes must comply with certain specih-
| cations fixed by the Postmaster General as to
| size. shape. and workmanship. and be made of
| galvanized sheet iron or sheet steel and be ap-
| proved by the Department.
II Each box must be equipped with some kind
of signal by which the carrier may know there
is mail in the box for collection and the pat
ron may know that mail has been delivered by
the carrier. A list of approved boxes. with
Information as to where they may be obtain
| ed. will be furnished on application to the
| Fourth Assistant Postmaster General.
| Postmasters and carriers prohibited
| from assisting in the sale of any particular
| box. acting directly indirectly agents
| for any box manufacturer or agent; but post
| masters are permitted to order for present or
| prospective patrons any approved box select
| ed by the patron upon the patrons request.
| but must not receive any compensation or
profit for such accommodation.
| Such boxes are by law afforded the same
protection from injury and depreciation any
other regulation mail box. and regarded as
| for no other purpose.
| with these conditions will be regarded not
/ desiring rural delivery. and the carrier will be
| directed not to serve them
| Patrons are expected to afford the carriers
every facility in the performance of their
| duties. by keeping the roads open after heavy
sno W falls and by using their influence with the
proper authorities to maintain them in good
| repair
| What the Carrier Does
| Rural carriers are required to deliver to the
i box of a patron all mail deposited in the box
/ for dispatch Registered matter and pension
| letters. which must be delivered in person to
| the addressee. and special delivery letters.
/ the carrier is required to deliver in person at
/ the patrons door. if within one mile of the
route
ply of stamps. stamped envelopes. postal
empowered to receive matter for registra-
L.