Cañon City record., 1909-12-30
CANON RURAL Rn!n,1:GG HU. i
SaE OF THE HEAVIEST

During the inclement wea -ner and
consequent bad roads ~ the past
month, there have bee some slight in
terruptions in t. service along the
rural mail rolle which winds its way
through re thickly settled fruitgrow-
ing ergirons of the city. Some of the
- irons have not received their mail
with the accustomed daily and hourly
regularity of previous months, and we
are told that complaints have been
registered with the postmaster on this
account.
In this connection we wonder If the
patrons of this service fully appre-
ciate the efforts made by the carrier
to serve their routes under these cir
cumstances. In the United States to-
day there are practically 10000 rural
mail routes, averaging. perhaps, fewer
than 100 families each. Amon0 --ese
40 900 routes. Caro- ~ Route No. l.
stood fifth in the amount of mail
handled when the last count was made
by order of the fourth assistant post
master general, and as the volume OF
mail handled by the carrier at Canon
City has materially increased since
then. II is now doubtful II another ru-
raj carrier in the United States de-
livers more mail than Mr.. John T.
Lawrence, of this city.
Instead OF serving 100 families or
fewer, like most of his colleagues in
other states, Mr.. Lawrence serves
nearly 400 and travels rs miles daily
TO do It. For instance. on Christmas
Day when most OF the readers OF the
Daily Record we're enjoying their
Christmas dinner. the rural carrier
was picking his way along the Icy
roads delivering holiday letters and
packages. because the postofhce de-
partment has decreed that there shall
he no rest for the rural carriers on
this holiday.
On Christmas Day the rural carriers
were required 10 make an accurate
count of all mail handled by them. and
Il may be OF interest to know the fg-
ures in this case Mr.. lawrence de-
livered and took receipts for IS reg
istered packages. delivered 227 ordi-
nary letters. ATT post cards. 44s news
papers, SIS circulars, and 135 packages.
making a total OF 1890 pieces deliv-
cred. In addition TO this he collected
letters sold stamps. registered let
ters and packages. and took applica-
tions for money orders.
Nor ia the salary of the rural man
princely. by any means. He must
keep at least two good horses for his
work as well as strong wagon. and
at the present price OF feed and re-
pairs. this is no small item. He must
do all this besides working long hours.
on a maximum salary OF s75 per
month. The mounted city carriers re-
ceive an allowance in addition to their
regular salary. OF perhaps s275 per
year for horse hire. but not so with
the rural carriers. His regular sal
airy must cover all expenses.
so do not be too hasty in finding
fault with the rural letter carrier. Ex-
ercise patience and some charity. for
remember that he has some troubles
OF his own and withal Is one OF your
best friends. Don't leave loose
change scattered in the mail box for
the purchase Of stamps. and II you can
fix your box in more convenient po-
sitlon. do so. for remember that de-
lay of even one minute at each box
means an aggregate delay of nearly
FIVE hours before he gets around.
Don't swear at the carrier II your
mail does not come Just to suit you.
but If you must hand him anything.
let IT be n pleasant word. a nice sack
of apples or something that won't hurt
his feelings.