Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-12-09
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Report Of Fourth Assistant POST
master General.

Report Of Fourth Assistant POST
master General.
Touching the heart OF the agriculturs
communities in every state OF the Union,
the annual report Of Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General. p. v. De0raw an
nounces increased usefulness Of the rural
free delivery service and the unprece-
denied bringing Of the work OF the bureau
up to date, and recommends rural delivery
OF packages Of eleven pounds maximum at
special postal and the uniforming Of
rural carriers.
The package provision suggested re-
quires congressional legislation, and is
designed to be effective between the dis
tribution postoffice and the patrons OF any
rural route emansting from such post
office. Such q service, according to the
report, would benefit alike the rural de-
livery patrons and local merchants with
out injury or competition with any other
service.
ut can be given" adds Mr.. DeGraw,
"with the facilities now employed, and
would materially increase the revenues Of
the department. A special reduced rate OF
postage for merchandise carried only by
rural carriers would unquestionably b Of
material value to the retail merchants ON
rural routes and ct rural delivery distrib-
uting centers, % well a. enhance the in
duence Of the rural service In making life
in the country more attractive"
Rural carriers ct present are mot per-
mitted to carry for hire any matter or
package that il mailable, but Congress In
creased the salaries Of the carriers. The
demand for package service byl them,
fostered in the hrst years Of rural free de-
livery, still exists. It should be met, &C.
cording to Mr.. DeGraw, not in the old
way, which permitted the use Of the gov
ernmsnt's agency for private gain, but BY
the establishment of . system for the car
riage Of merchandise by rural carriers ct
such rates - viii be fair compensation
for the service performed, the revenues to
be credited to the postal receipts. Patrons
and merchants, he adds, desire to have
small packages delivered by rural carriers,
but will not pay the present fourth-class
rate, which is prohibitive q Supplied to this
class Of service.
It.. NJ n.n..- !. ~. h..s All. -.
. on ono ho,,e. ana \. -ecor,r,.rd. ~.
adoption OF uniform suitable to the con-
ditions under which they must work ~
undoubtedly adding to the dignity and
omo;.nor - 81. -n,s, s..u;o. Th.;. Nil,
.,.ra.,S ~ .eo;.nov !. .tt.s..d hv Az
-. ,h.. on,v 1eE :. rr;e,s an =, . tots, =,
40 40 ,v.-o d;.r,;..ed ,or o.r.e ar,;r. tho
49, 80.
R,r.l de,;verv i. now in onarat;on nm
oaa as7 r;,es ~ road over which CARRIERS
are raon;red to trave, daily ~ the.e
rood. * ooo mile. orc macoSam the 70.
nainaer beinp earth sand or gravel.
since the service was f,rst establisbed so.
es2 1872 has been exnended ON roads trav.
ersed nv rnral carriers. Road officials and
,atrons ore not;aed wbenever renaira are
neceasarv On rura, rontes More work ba,
haen done ON arch nnblic hiphwavs and
more expenditures made in their improve.
ment dnr;no the mast wear than in anv
nrevious wear in the history of rural de.
livery. and the official report clearly
indicates that interest is being eenerally
manifested throughout the country,
The estimate of appropriations neces-
sarv for this service for the next fiscal
wear. "A submitted by Assistant Post.
master General DeGraw, is $50, 246, 900, AZ
increase OF 1857 900 over the current appro.
priation, OF this estimate S34,O53,159 il
for continuing the service on 39,277 routes
in operation on June 20 last. s626.841 fol
continuing the service on 723 routes which
II is estimated will be established during
during the fiscal wear at an estimated
average salary for carriers OF 1867 Del
annum. SITS. 900 to inaugurate new service
during the fetal wear ending June 30 1910
81 .36O. 600 to nav substitutes for 3s.63s car
riers ON vacation. at an estimated ayerag,
80.