Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-05-11
BAD ROADS, NO DELIVERY
Eolcr WILL GO FORTH FROM
PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT.
To Retain Rural Free Delivery Roads
Must Be Made Passable and
Kept in Condition.
Special Correspondence.

Washington, ID I.1 May = n 9io9'N
has gone forth from the postoffice de
partment that is having a wonderful
effect throughout the country. It -
in concrete for:
Good roads or no rural free NAL
delivery"
The time has arrived VIXEN the gov
eminent practically can dictate It's
own terms concerning the rural de
livery of mail. When rural free ne
livery was established about decade
ago, there was a scramble among con
pressmen to induce the postoffice de
partment to give their districts the
benefit OF the service. The depart
ment officials knew yery little OF the
difficulities-and In some Instances
the actual dangers--to be encountered
by rural carriers. Many routes were
established through the influence OF
members of congress in various parts
of the country that eventually had to
be abandoned, because the roads dur
ing at least a part of the year. were
absolutely impossible.
Through experience. the department
officials learned a good deal about the
work of the rural carrier service. One
of the first requisites Of efficient rurai
mail service, it was found is good
roads. In fact, experience has dem.
onstrated conclusiyely that unless the
roads are in excellent condition it is
waste of time and money to try to
maintain a prompt mail service over
them.
Finally, the subject was taken up
by the postoffice department with the
officials of the agricultural depart.
ment, in which a good roads depart
ment is maintained The two depart.
ments, working in conjunction, have
accomplished wonders in the improve
ment of country highways. They have
been assisted materially, too, by
many automobile clubs in cities, par
ticularly cities of the East. 1t Is a
matter of concern, of course. to every
owner or driver of an autmobile that
the roads in the territory in which he
lives should be kept in fine condition.
The influence of both urban and rural
residents. therefore. has been cast in
favor of the maintenance of good
roads, because it Is to the interest of
both that the highways should be
kept in the best possible condition.
Now, the postoffice department has
indicated to county officials and road
supervisors throughout the country
that 1T is absolutely necessary for
them to keep their roads in good
condition. If they do not, the rural
mail service will be discontinued. The
department has done all it can to en-
courage the maintenance of good
roads, but if the people. themselves,
will not lend a hand they will have
to go without rural delivery of mail
The pressure on the department for
the establishment of new rural mail
routes is so great that the government
now is in position to dictate terms on
which they shall be established.
In every part of the country, more
particularly in the South and East
every effort is Being made by the
county and municipal officials to meet
the requirements of the postoffice de.
partment The local officials show a
disposition to improve their roads an
in some instances where the county
officials have been derelict of their
duty in this regard, the farmers in the
vicinity voluntarily have devoted time
and money to the Improvement of the
roads in order to insure the continu
ance of the delivery OF their mail.
The result of the good roads agita.
ton is manifest everywhere in the
country. BY officials who have in,
vestigated the subject it is asserted
that greater Improvement has been
wrought in country roads during the
past ten years than in the fifty years
Immediately preceding. 1t is the pur
pose of the postotfice department tc
keep a close supervision of the roads
on which mail routes are maintained
To this end a department inspector
will go over every route at stated
periods and it will be on his recon
mendation very largely that the routes
either will be continued or abandoned
en- nAtt ~ AN-ne