The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-12-01
TELLS OF
RURAL.
postal.
SERVICE:
{ BY Associated Press. }

~ Ab8OCidleu EI6b~.J
WASH Igton, Dec. Touching the
heart OF the agricultural communities
in every state of the Union, the an
nLal report OF Fourth Assistant Post
uaster General P. W. De Graw an
llources ircreased usefulness of the
rural free delivery service and the
unprecedented bringing OF the work
CT the bureau up to date and recon-
mends rural delivery of packages OF
eleven pounds maximum at a special
postage and uniforming of rural car
riers. The package provision suggest
ed requires congressional legislation
end is designed to be effective be-
tween the distributing post Office and
the patrons of any rural route eman-
citing from such post Office.
Such n service according to the re.
port would benefit alike the rural de-
livery patrons and local merchants
without iniuring or competing with
| any other service. 1t can be given.
adds Mr.. De Graw. with the faclli-
ties nov employed and would materi-
| ally incrC ase the revenues of the de-
rartment special reduced rate of
Hostage Tor merchandise carried only
ty rural carriers would unquestionab-
/ ly be n material value to the retail
merchants on rural routes and at
rural delivery distributing centers as
we'll as enhance the influence OF thu
iual service in making life In the
| country more attractive"
Rural carriers at present are not
Permitted TO carry for hire any matter
or package that is mailable, but Con
grcss increased the salaries of the
carriers. lhe demand for q package
service by them, fostered Ia the first
| years of rural free delivery, still ox-
lists. Il should be met. according 20
Mr.. De Graw. not in the old way,
hich permitted the use OF the gov.
ernments agency for private gain,
but by the establishment of system
for the carriage OF merchandise py
rural carriers at such rates as will be
a fair compensation for The service
/ performed, the revenues to be credit
ed to tho postal receipts Patrons
and merchants, he adds, desire to have
small PACKAGES delivered by rural car
rers. Du, will not pay the present
/ fourth class rate which Is prohibitivo
90 applied TO their class of service
The rural carriers IN the service. OF
which MI De Graw is the mead. daily
pass 3.9G0GJ0 homes. and he recon
Iaends once more the adoption OF a
lunifOrm suitable 10 the conditions un
der which they must work. as un
doubtedly adding to the dignity and
efficiency of the rural service. Their
h!Rh standard OF efficiency Is attested
by the flcr that 1876 carriers out of O
total number of 39l43 were dismissed
for cause during the past year.
Rural leliyery is now In operation IN
945,0S7 miles Of road o3er which car
iiers are required TO travel daily. Oh
these road $4,000 miles ARE macaGam
the remainder being eartn, SAND o;
gravel Since the service was first es
tabliehed 7O632, ,162. has been ex
pendel on roads traversed by rur6l
carriers. Road officials and patrons
are notified whenever repairs are ne
cessary on rural routes More work
has been done on such pubic hlgn
ways and more expenditures made In
their improvement during che pasi
year than in any previous year In the
history OF rural delivery and the on
cial reports received clearly indicate
that interest in road Improvement Il