The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-12
RURAL DELIVERY
 AIDS THE FARMER Institution Grows Rapidly In
 Thirteen Years ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 1 Five Routes From Three Postoffices Were First Put in Operation In
 West Virginla-Now There
 Are Nearly 50,o0o.
ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 1
From the Washington Herald.

From the Washington Herald.
 On October 1, 1909, the 18th anniversary Of the installation of rural delivery in the United States will be reached In com memoration of the event some suitable recognition is suggested, as no branch of the postal service has had so recent be- ginning with equally remarkable results.
 The honor of the first attempt to test the practicability of such a radical broad ening of the operations of individual de- livery rests with five routes from three postoffices in West Virginia.
 The innovation was so great that it took some time for the people to be ben efited to realize the advantage in store Tor them. By the end of the third fiscal year after this service began but 391 routes were established at an annual ex- penditure of s150,012. The convenience, as well as ethical economical, commercial, and educational benefits incident to this public utility were now so forcefullv demonstrated that expansion went on rap idly, the cost aggresating up to the pres ent time no less than S170, ,OOO The 40- BOA carriers in covering their 4O,919 routes traverse more than 1,000,0 miles every secular day of the year, excepting New Year, Washingtons birthday, Memorial
 
 thanksgiving days, or the Monday fol- lowing should those days fall on the Sab bath. In making their daily round more than 2O0O0,000 rural residents are served. | Great Public Convenience.
 In looking back over what has been ac- complished during the brief period of it's existence 1t is apparent that the rural delivery service is a great public conven- fence. Results the best qommenda- ftOn. ar afxo 1.xr nous expressions of approval of patrons
 From an ethical point of view the util- fty of the service is evident in, many ways It brings the rural population into neighborly relationship and promotes in- tercourse with nearby communities and through them with cities great and small, and with the world at large.
 As a commercial proposition facilities are afforded to keep tab on the markets as to prices of products and commodi- ties for sale or purchase. Tn this respect farmers especially find themselves great ly benefited by constant knowledge of the conditions of trade.
 In economical sense the public has de- rived advantage from the improvement and maintenance of roads over which rural delivery routes are laid. this being condition precedent to the establish ment of mail facilities. Tn addition good roads insure greater frequency and regu~ iar1ty Of mail delivery. With respect to roads. since the Inauguration of this service, it is estimated that more than 900 has been expended in rebuilding,
 repairs and maintenance.
 Serves Educational. Ends. | As means of education. the widening of | utilization of the mails by rural free de- 1 livery has largely extended the circula- l ton of local and metropolitan newspapers, | magazines and general literature, besides | having proved stimulus to more ex- | tended personal correspondence
 | It is further mentioned as one of the in- | cidents of the service that since the in 1 troduction of the rural mail carrier. that | humble representative Of the admnistra- I tion has become popular among resi-
 dents in the rural districts, developing
 their appreciation of the beneficence of l the government at Washington.
 The popularity of rural delivery among {, farmers and others living away from
 communities having city mail facilities 1 Is shown in summary of this service | that Postmaster General Hitchcock or
 dered prepared in the office of the Fourth
 Assistant Postmaster General, up to Au- | gust, 1909.
 This exhibit gives 40.s1s routes in opera tion, served by 4O,S04 carriers. Of the
 total number of routes 62 are tri-weekly.
 In bringing the service up to its present ] high stste prganization and efficiency n1aa pstitid eAFeceived and insesti-