Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1908-03-04
Another Phase of the Question
of Free Delivery
LEXINGTON, FEBRUARY &c

LEXINGTON, FEBRUARY ~
Editor of The GAZETTE
Permit me to add a word to the
discussion Of free mail delivery
which has been elready 30 we'll
herdled by DR.. Manly, Colonel
Patton and yourself. Colonel Pat
ton thinks the reasons of Council
man" for want of action "rest up
on very frail foundation" | wish
to expose this frailty little more
fully.
"Councilm2n" denies that the
Council in neglecting this matter
has been influenced by the increas.
ed cost of mailing bills Without d.
rect knowledge on such matter
no affirmation can justly be made.
But the impression has been re-
peatedly expressed to. NE that the
Council is sacrificing The interests
of the community in order to fur
ther in small way the interests of
u few of the merchants whose pla-
ces of business are within block
of the pOst-olllce. Specific ACCUSE
ton of individuals is NOT generally
made though names have been Civ
en-, but the circumstance rather
tend to excite dissatisfaction. So
strong and so general seems to be
this Impression that an anonymous
denial can not avail TO reverse it.
"Councilman's" objectloB thai
"no assurance could be obtained
from the postal autht rites ii at cur
evening mails would he delivered
on the day of arrival lie no answer
to the considerations advanced
by DR.. Mani Y Nobody las ever ask
ed such guarantee. Ire MALE
would be delivered here, as in every
other town enjoying the benefits Of
free delivery, within an hour or
two after arrival during the usual
working hours Every merchant
who prefers greater promptness 10
free to retain his box and to con
tinue the plan now found satisfac-
tory to him. To deny the benefit Of
the system to those vino dwell
greater defiance from the post-of-
flee is an injustice.
"CerEcilman" objects that "cer.
lain outlying districts CT the town,
those most remote FROM the post
Office, would not be included in the
territory covered by the carriers"
Let this be Granted. 1t has no
weight whatever. The carrier sys.
tenn is limited to the corporate
boundaries of the town. A house
holder living just beyond these
boundaries can either retain his
box, ii the merchant close TO the
p3st-olfice, or he can get his neigh.
bOrs to ur lite with him in petit
ton to extend the present cOrpo
rate limits go as to include his
property. To shut out free delivery
from the great majority living
within the limits because small
minority living beyond the limits
are not previously taken in is go
plainly illogical that Council
mans" plea can hardly be taken
seriously.
"Councilman" says with these
objections before us Council
thought best to welt and hear what
the people of the town desired. I'm
wfat way does he expect them to
express themselvesP How long does
he expect to wait? If ran falls
helm to $4,000 is it necessary to
withhold it until he formally de-
ciares his Willingness to accept it?
Othe: towns have eagerly sought
the privilege of free delivery. Why
should Lexington be so delicate
about acceptins2 Tie delicacy
seems to be limited to very small
number OF persons who wish to
avoid paying two cents for local
postage. The Council is an
organized body while the popula.
ton of TIE town is unOrgarized.
The inhabitants have no way of
expressing themselves except indi-
vidually; and a large proportion of
the men, white as well as colored,
besides the women and children,
may be expected to keep quiet be-
cause they lack tie opportunity to
button-hole cOuncllmen. ( he most
natural mode of procedure would
be for Council to bring up the mat
ter for consideration and ad"ertise
the fact that free delivery will be
adopted within "A given date IN
LESS AN OVERWHELMING PUBLIC SEN
TIMENT AGAINST 1T is EXPRESSED IN
THE MEANWHILE. Thanks 10 Er.
Manly, the matter is now before
rs. Let directors express them
selves over their OWE signatures in
the local newspapers. If there are
any real objections, more weighty
than those recently urged by
"Councilman," let US have them.
There are some advocates of free
delivery who have not yet said all
that they have to say.
W. LECoNTE STEVENS.
Murdered Girl Brought Home