The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-05
OLD-TIME RULES FOR MAIL CARRIERS FERRIS OF CONTRACTS MADE BY GIDEON GRANGER 100
 FEARS
 AGO
A Mail Once a Week Was
 Considered Reasonable Then in This State
SUNDAY TRAVEL BARRED IN ALL
 CONTRACTS

It is a far cry from the mail driver and mail coach of 1909 to the fast mail train and automobile of today, says the Hartford Courant, and the lightning aeroplane express of the fu- ture. This is evident from a study of some old post office department rec ords which recently were brought to light from the musty files of the past century. Where there is now a daily mail delivery to practically every city, town and village in Connecticut, not to mention a house-to-h house delivery in cities and rural districts, hundred years ago the people counted them selves lucky if the mail was delivered to their particular community once or twice week, or even less frequently.
 A century ago, when Gideon Gran ger was postmaster general, he used to make contracts for carrying the mail between various points in Con- necticut and other States, which pro- vided that. none other than a free white person. should be employed in conveying the mail Fines of S1 to s5 were assessed for delays or failure to deliver. in accordance with the con- tracts and fifteen minutes was allowed fer opening and closing the mail at most post offices
 There were weekly mails from Hart I being required to make the trip. For ty-eight hours were necessary to com plete the mail trip from New London to Hartford, no travelling being done on Sunday. Following are some of the principal mail routes and schedules in Connecticut 100 years ago: From Hartford, by Simsbury, Gran by, Granville, Branford, Sandisfield and New Marlboro. to Stockbridge, once a week. Leave Hartford every Et,1I d .af sa O ov1rf Stockbridge on Friday by 3 D. m. Leave Stockbridge. every Tuesday noon, and arrive at Hartford on Wednesday by 6 D. m.
 From Hartford, by Wintonbury (now BloomfieId), Canton, New Hartford. Winchester, Norfolk, Canaan, Sheffield. Hillsdale and Claverack, to Hudson, once g. week. M. Leave Hartford every Thursday at a. m. and arrive at Hudson on Saturday by 10 a. m and arrive at Hartford tine next Mon day by 7 p. m.
 From Hartford, by Pennington, liar wfnton, LitchfieId, Washington, NeY Milford, Danbury. Ridgefield,i Salem and Bedford, to New York. once week. Leave Hartford every Tuesday at D. m., arrive at Litchfield on Wednesday by a. m., at Danbury by 8 D. m., and at New York on Friday by Il a. m. Returning leave New | Danbury on Saturday at p. m.. at New Milford on Monday by a. m., at Litchfield by 6 D. rn., and at Hartford by 10 a. m. on Tuesday.
 From Litchfield by Cornwall and Sharon, to Poughkeepsie, once a week. Leave Ltchfield every Wednesday at 2 D. m., arrive at Sharon by 7 p. n., and at Poughkeepsie on Thursday by 2 p. m. Leave Poughkeepsie on Thurs day at 5 D. m. and arrive at@Litchfield on Saturday by noon.
 From Hartford, by Glastonbury, Col chester and Montville, to New London. once a week. Leave Hartford every Thursday at 1 p. m.1 and arrive at New London on Friday by 2 p. m. Leave New London every Saturday at g a. m. and arrive at Hartford on Mon- day by a. m. fs
 From Hartford, by East Hartford, Hebron, Lebanon and Norwich, to Chelsea, twice a week. Leave Hart a. m. and arrive at Saybrook by p. Leave Chelsea every Tuesday and Thursday at a. m. and arrive at Hartford by 5 p. m.
 From Hartford. by Coventry, Wind ham and Canterbury, to P1afnfield, once week. Leave Hartford every Thursday at ? p. m. and arrive at Plainfield on Friday by 6 p. m- Leave Plainfield every Wednesday at a. m. and arrive at Hartford on Thursday by 10 a. m.
 From Norwich, by Canterbury and Brooklyn, to Pomfret, once a week. Leace Pomfret every Friday at a. m. and arrive at Norwich by 10 ia. m. Leave Norwich every Friday at 2 p. m. and arrive at Pomfret by 8 p. m.
 From Niddletown, by Middle Had dam East Had1am, Haddam and Pet ty Paug, to Saybrook. once a week. Leave Mfddletown every Friday at a. m. and arrive at Chelsea by D. m. T oryhr nxy0 Q afJIr IVY 4 a. m. and arrive at Middletown by 6 D. m.
 From New Haven, by, Cheshire and Southington, to Pennington, once a week. Leave New Haven every Thursday at 10 a. m. and arrive at Pennington by p. m. Leave Farm ington every Wednesday at 1 p. m. and arrive at New Haven on Thursday by 8 a. m.
 From New Haven, by Woodbridge, field, once a week. Leave LitGhfield every Friday at 6 a. III. and arrive at New Haven by D. m: Leave New Haven every Friday at p. m. and arrive at Ldtchfield- on Saturday by 3 D. m.
 From New Haven. by Derby, South bury, WQodbury, Bethlehem, Lttch- field, Goshen and Canaan, to Sheffield, once week. Leave New Haven every Tuesday at D. m. arrive at Litchfield
  field on Thursday by g a. m. Leave Sheffield every Monday at a. n1 and arrive at New Haven on Tuesday by 10 a.. m.
 From Bridgeport, by Newfield, Trumbull, Huntington, Newtown and Brookfield, to New Milford, once a week. Leave Bridgeport every Thurs day at D. m. and arrive at New Mil ford every Wednesday at a. m. and arrive at Bridgeport on Thursday by 10 a. m.
 From Danbury, by South East, Franklin, Pawling, Dover, Kent, Shar- on, Salisbury, Sheffield, Great Bar rington, Stockbridge, Lenox, Pittsfield, Lanesboro, Williamston and Pownal, to Pennington, once a week. Leave Danbury every Saturday at D. m. and arrive at Pittsfield on Monday at D. m and arrive at Bennington the next Tuesday by : D. m. Leave Ben nington on Monday at a. m. and arrive at Pittsfield by 8 D. m. Leave Pittsfield on Tuesday at 5 a. m. and arrive at Danbury the next Wednes- day by D. m. s
 In advertising for proposals for con ,veying the mails in 1899 and 1910 Post master General Granger made the fol- lowing stipulations:-