Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-09-11
Rural Mail Carriers Convention.

The annual meeting of the rural
mail carriers of the state was held in
Canton this week, beginning Monday
forenoon and closing Tuesday after
noon with an attendance of about one
hundred.
President E. B. Swarthout of Sioux
Falls called the convention to order
and addressed the delegates briefly,
after which he called upon Rev. G. S.
Evans to invoke a blessing upon their
deliberations.
Mr.. @. o. Knudson favored the con
vention with a solo and received an
Moore and the thanks Of all for his
interest in their success. Mrs. knud-
son presided at the organ.
City Attorney A. r. Jameson de-
livered an address of welcome and it
was a genuine welcome in words full
of brotherly love conveying Canton's
hospitality to the strangers who were
presented with the golden key of the
city. Attorney Jameson is always
eloquent but was never more so than
when bidding welcome to the rural
mail carriers of the state, a loyal, de-
voted band of men and women who
never tlinck from duty in storm or
sunshine, but will register a vigorous
kick promptly when the roads are
neglected and unfit for rapid travel.
Postmaster Smith was on the pro-
gram for a response but was obliged
by pressing business in the office to
present a substitute in the person Of
States Attorney Carlson who respond
ed eloquently in behalf of Uncle
Sans faithful servants who are doing
such noble work in the state. After
expressing appreciation for the cor
dial reception extended he branched
out on good roads and gave the aud
fence a comprehensive review of this
important matter. He proved that
he was something OF a good roads en-
thusiast himself and stood ready to
demonstrate what a be done by a
King road drag. At the conclusion of
Mr.. Carlson's address, an adjourn
ment for dinner followed and the r.
f. d. champions sought refreshments.
After dinner Postmaster Smith and
Ex- Postmaster Lewis were presented
to the convention and in turn ad-
dressed that body. They were we'll
received and a%pplauded, for there is a
close bond of friendship between the
postmasters and carriers.
United States Senator Gamble had
been invited to address the conven-
tion and he was present. He began
with the marvellous and wonderful
development of our country and said
that the estimated wealth produc-
tion of the nation for 1908 would
reach the enormous sum of So, 900, 600
OOO. He referred to the Presidents
desire that farm life should be at
tractive and inviting. He spoke of
good roads and that rural free deliv-
cry was doing much to help along the
work in connection with the tele-
phone which was doing so much to
unite rural interests and promote
better social conditions.
He said that France began a sys-
tenn of rural delivery in 1880, Great
Britain in lS43, and it is in operation
in Germany, Hungary, Belgium,
Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Den
mark and Holland, but the service
is mostly on foot.
In 1898 congress appropriated &c.
600 for experimental work for rural
mail service, and a like amount was
appropriated in '94, '95, '96, and on
October l, 1896, the. first expert
mental route vas established, and on
June 80, 1897, there we're s3 routes
established from A post offices in 20
states; and on July lst, 1908 there
we're 1919 carriers with an appropri-
alton of s $50, 1864. On July l, 1908,
there were 80, 1929 carriers with, an ap-
preparation of 1874, 900, 600.
The rural delivery was not made a
permanent part of the postal service
until 1902, and prior thereto all was
on an experimental basis.
In 1896 the rural carriers got $3.50. a
year; in 1897 it was raised to $500. In
1898 to $4OO; in 1900 it was made $500;
1902 to 5000; In 1904 it was raised to
1920, and in 1907 it reached 5000.
Nearly all the available territory is
now covered by rural service and out
Of 1852 counties in the United States
there is complete county service in
800.
From 1896 to 1907, there we're 49,, ISL
post offices discontinued with annual
average salary of $54. SO, making a saw
ing to the government of 81, O76, 299.
The discontinuance of Star Route
Service since beginning of rural SER
vice has saved to the government &c.
500, 900.
The 39,329 rural carriers in the en-
tire county travel daily 959,627 miles
and serve 16, 800, 900 patrons.
On August 1st, 1908, there were in
South Dakota 453 routes in operation
served by 442 carriers. Estimated
number of people served 1854.
There are As petitions for service now
pending.
Number of counties in South Dako-
ia having complete county service is