The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1908-12-01

s Recomrl en- ed by Til
Fourth AssIst aIlt PostInas
ter General n Report

/
Pg.ASET1SGT0S. ID. G., Dec IL
TonchinR the heart Of the agricIl1tu
communfties IN ever state IN the uni-
ION. the annual report Of Fourth Az
sIsteilt Restraaster General, p y. De
esFsNg made public today. an
n0unees Increased iisefulness OF the
rural free delivery service ana the
unprecedented bfin ing D ftlIe work Of
the i9lireau up-to-dafe ana recon-
raends rnral delivery OF 5paeltages Of
81 eleven pounds maximum at special
postage and the, yunIforming OF rural
Gested requires congeressloftai legis-
I lafion and II Is designed to be emect-
i've between the distributing postodice
land the patrpns of any rural route
terminating from any such postofHce.
Such a service according to the re-
iport would beneat alike the rural de-
livery patrons and local merchants
without injuring or competing with
4 any other service. It can be given -
3adds AR. De GRAVY. with the facilities
now employed and would natefiaI1y
1 increase the revenues of the depart
nnent a. special reduced rate of
4 postage for merchandise carried only
I by rural carriers would unquestiona-
I bly, be of materIal value to the retail
i merchants on rural routes and at riI-
raj delivery distributing eenters as
lwelI as enhance the influence OF the
i =
country more attractive.
4 Rural Carriers at present are not
permitted to carry for hire any mat
ter or package that IS mailable. but
congress Increased the salaries of the
carriers. The demand for a package
service by them. fostered in the first
years of rural free delivery. still ex-
lists. It should be met according to Mr..
De Graw not in the old way.
which permitted the use Of the Sov-
lernment;s agency for private gain.
but by the esta blfshment OF a sys-.
tenn for the carriage of merchandise
by rural carriers at such rates as will
be or fair compensation for the SER
wee performed. Patrons and merch-
ants ,he adds, desire to have small
packages delivered by rural carriers,
/ but will not pas, the present fourth
class rate which is prohibitive as APP
piled to tbs class OF service.
The rural carriers in the service OF
which Mr.. De Graw IS the head. daily
pass 100000 homes. and he recon-.
mends once more the adoption OF a.
uniform suitable to the conditions un-
der which they must work as un-.
doubtedly adding to the dignity and
efficiency of the rural service Their
high STANDARD of efficiency Is attest
ed by the fact that only 1875 carriers
out OF Il total number of 39,143 were
dismissed for cause during the last
year,
Rural delivery IS now In operation
in s45,0S7 miles of road over which
carriers are required to travel daily
OF these roads SIS. 600 miles are mac
adam, the remainder. being earth.
sand or gravel. Since the service was
first established STO,.632,162 has been
expended on roads Travelled by rural
carriers. Road officials and patrons
are notified whenever repairs are nee
essary on rural routes More work
has been done on such public high
ways and more expenditures made IN
year than in any previous year in
the history or rural delivery and the
official reports received clearly indi-
cate that interest in road Improve
ment Is being generally manifested
throughopt the country.
The estimate OF appropriations nee
essary for this service for the next
fiscal year, ns submitted by Assistant
Postmaster General De Graw 1885,
900 an Increase of $4,000 over
the current appropriation. OF this es-
timate $84,053.15 So Is Tor continuing
ton on June 80 last. $626,S41 for con-
tinuing the, service on 1928 routes
which It Is estimated will be estab-
Hshed during the current fiscal year
at an ESTIMATED average salary Ho:'
carriers of 1857 per annum, $179.- !
wv 10 luduBuTaGGa new. service QuFlnS |
the fiscal year ending June 90. 1910. |
$1,3Go.000 to pay substitutes for 3d. I
63S carriers on vacation. ut an esti- |
MAZE average rate of $S67 per an
nam less 6 per cent deducted on ac-
count of carriers not in service
twesve rnpnths, $12. 900 to pay clerks
in charge of stations OF rural delivery
service. sand SIS. 900 to pay tolls and
ferryage- charged for carriers who ira
verse toll roads or turnpikes or cross
streunls over ton bridges or ferry.
During the past year there were 1,6I2t
new routes established. II routes dis
prior thereto were re-estab-
Ished and 14O routes discontinued.
leaving net Increase In number 1919.
During the year 1853 postoffices werel
ana the patrons render L
eel service by rural carriers. On only
a little more than % per cent of the
rural routes the quantity OF mail
handled was less 5000 pieces per
quarter which heretofore has beeni
III fair average for a stand
ard route. Included in this numberi
are $50 tri weekly routes and a num-
Der OF short length routes serving re-
stricted territories
The report recommends legislation
by congress which VIII permit the
adoption of an improved method ori
1isposInE OF unbelievable articles OF
man by salei so to eliminate as farl
as practicable the Objectionable lot :
-ery features involved In carry out the
existing law on the subject. In the
Head Iaffpr office during the Yea r i