Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-20
WANT STAR
ROUTE MAILS
Patrons Of Small Vermont Post.
offices Protest against Rural
Free Delivery.
DEATH KNELL TO STAGES
Smaller Communities VIII lie More
isolated Than Evcr-Much Interest
Taken IN the Parcels Post Bill
vermont Alumni to Meet
an Washington.

and rcmonstranccs are being received
from the patrons of many of the smaller
postofficcs OF Vermont, regarding the
proposed change from star route mail
service to rural free delivery service.
This affects especially the towns of
Washington and Orange counties. At the
present time the mail is carried direct to
these small towns by stage lines. These
stage lines are really a very apprcciable
connecting link for the small towns with
the outside world. 1nasmuch these lines
really rely for their maintenance upon
the revenue derived from the carrying of
the mails. the change to rural free de-
livery service would mean the death
kncll of the stage lines. without the
stage lines these beautiful little valley
towns of Vermont would be isolated from
the outside world. The proposed rural
free delivery service would have for it's
centers the larger railroad towns OF the
county. So far no dcfinit proposition
has been aid before the posto1ice de-
partment in regard to the change. The
whole matter was stirred UP by the fact
that special examiners have been sent
to these localities to investigate condi-
tions there, and to report upon the add
visibility of a change.
Inasrnuch as the parcels post bill is
now before Congress, much interest is
being shown in it by the people of Nor-
mont. The question is whether the far
mers of the state would be sufficiently
benefited by a parcels post to warrant
the injury which would Inevitably result
to the trade Of the country merchants.
1t is argued that the change would work
both ways for the farmers. 1t would
benefit them in some respects while de-
priving them Of man Of the trade aC-
commodations which they now enjoy.
From the government point of view, the
question is also one of expense. 1t should
be realized that the countries in which
the parcels post is a success are of small
area, densely populated, md are the own
ers OF the railroads. 1t will readily be
seen that a parcels post in America
would exist under very different condi-
tons, and that only a careful study could
assure anyone of the certain success of
such a plan. 1t is evident that the pro-
posed bill will be the subject for pro-
tracted debate.
on February Is Senator Proctor present
ed a petition of local union No. 2G1,
Musicians Protective association, of Rut-
land, Vt, praying for the enactment Of
legislation to prohibit army and navy
musicians from entering into competition
with civilian musicians. 1t was referred
to the committee on military affairs.
ALUMNI MEETING = b. %.
The University of Vermont Alumni as
soclat.on of Washington hel1 a meeting
at the Office of its president, Mr.. JEFF
fords, on February 4. a committee con-
sisting of DR.. A. f. A. King, Leonard
Doten, James Morrill, and Mr.. Orion was
appointed to arrange for the annual
banquet of the association to be held at
the Dewey on February 20. 1t is expect
ed that President Buckham Will attend
inasmuch as he will he in attendance
upon the meeting OF the Alumni associa-
ton of New York city on the preceding
| night. The Alumni association of Phha-
delphia met for their second annua meet
ing and banquet on February IS at De-
IDanccy building, 1920 Pine street Phila-
delphia, Mt seven O'Clock.
VERMONT SOCIETY COMMITTEE.
Notice comes from the Offices of the
president Of the Nerrnont State associa-
ton Of the District of Columbia that the
next monthly meeting will be held on
February IS, at eight o'clock at 17l0 l St,
n. W. The newly elected president.
Major L. r. Campbell, has announced the
following committee appointments:
Press committee, Il. l.. Temple of Rut-
land, Fred A. Emery of Tunbridge, Fred
C.. O'Connell Of Alburgh; reception COM
mittee, Col. George II. Bond of Brattle-
boro. Chairman, Mrs. Mary L. Barnum
Of Rutland, Addie s.. Clark Of Glover,
Mrs. Della A. C. Goodrich Of Brandon;
entertainment committee, Joseph NJ.
| Stoddard Of Rutland, chairman, Fred c,
O'Connell OF Alburgh, Grace Ross of
Rutland, Mrs. M.da c. Peabody of Rut-
land. Mrs. Harriet A. Bryan Of Orwell;
refrcshment committee. George T.,
Graves. chairman, of Rutland, Mellen C.
Hooker Of St, Johnsbury, Orville Drown
of Barton, Maude H.. Bundy Of Brattle-
boro, Mrs. Grace LaF. Iowes of Wood
stock; auditing committee, Ernest f.
Holbrook OF Proctor, chairman. Walter
l.. Barnum of Rutland, Ernest I" Gran
aall of Rutland; resident Ncrmontors
committee, Henry VI. Taylor, chairman,
of Proctor. Cornelius G.. Billings Of
Brattleboro, the Rev. j. II. Bradford OF
Grafton; maple sugar party committee
Hosea b.. Moulton of Concord, chairman
Fred 9. knight of Ludlow, Henry A
Farnham of Peru, NJ. c. Hooker, Erncs'
l.. Crandall, Orville Drown of Barton
Fred G. O'Connell, Dolphin s.. FI"tche'
Of Middlcbury, Abbott b, Goodrich o
Brandon, Mabel r. Pierce Of st. Johns
bury, Mrs. Martha A. Miles Of St. Johns
bury, Grace Ross, Emma A. Woodbur!
or Springfield, Mrs. Mary Il. 5. Grave
of Mlddlcbury, Mrs. Aurilla S. Caywoo'
of Londonderry. Mrs. Henry r.. OHter
dingcr of Montpelier, Mrs, Elizabeth !
Muller of st. Johnsbury, Mrs. Mary :
Patrick of Shoreham and Mrs. Lucy r