The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-09
GREAT PROGRESS IF RURAL DELIVERY MCGraw Sends Statistics of the
 Rural Service HISTORY IS INTERESTING Slow Growth Was Made by Rural De- livery for the First Few Years
 But Recent Progress Has
 Been Wonderful.

Alabama rural mall carriers adjourned their meeting Tuesday after busy two days session.
 DeGraw's Letter.
 "The Rural Letter Carriers of Alabama:
 "Gentlemen-while I very much regret that circumstances and conditions have made it impossible for me to attend your convention, particularly so as was un- able to accept your invitation of last year, it gives me pleasure to address you through this medium and to express to you my appreciation of your invitation.
 The history of rural delivery, with which you are all more or less familiar, is replete with interest The first day o; versary of the institution of thct service in the United States. The first move ment was inaugurated on October 1, 1896, when five rural routes were established from three postoffices in the state of West Virginia. During that fiscal year SS routes were established in 29 states at an expenditure of $14,s4O
 During the first several years growth was slow. there being in operation on July 30, 1899, total of but 391 routes costing for that fiscal year $15OO12. Greater interest was soon manifested al the benefits became known, so that within five years after first instituted It's growth was phenomenal. Rural de- livery Is in operation today on 40,759 routes, covering about 1,000,0OC miles of roads and serving about 10000 ,00O rural residents. The amount of monyy appropriated by Congress for estab- lishment and maintenance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1910. Is $37. .36C. .00o, and the total cost up to the close of the last fiscal year about $170.000,0o0.
 Rural Routes Operated.
 On August 2, 1909, there were in op- eration in Alabama 980 rural routes, with 36 petitions pending unacted upon. These involve an annual rate of ex- penditure of $8S6,880, averaging 23.S9 miles in length, covering about 23,3S2 miles of public highways.
 Having thus briefly outlined the hs- tory of rural delivery in Alabama and the United States. I now desire to pre- sent to your attention several subjects or great importance. namely the per- formance of your duties, your relations to the postmasters under whose juris- diction you are employed and your re- lations with your patrons.
 rural carriers duties make it nec- a thorough knowledge of the instructions pertaining to the rural delivery ser vice. but broad understanding of the postal laws and regulations generally, In order that he might discharge his functions with satisfaction both to the department and to his patrons. You can, therefore very readily see how very necessary 1t is that you should perfect ly familiarize yourselves with the in q fnn fb1 tIa Nf masters and carriers in the conduct of the rural delivery service and with those portions of the postal laws snd regulations applicable to the proper treatment of mall matter and to those postal subjects with which you are daily confronted. The department will insist upon this being done so as to reduce to minimum complaints or errors and other official derelictions by carriers.
 Amicable Relations.
 It is essential that the relations be- tween yourselves and the postmasters under whose orders you shall act shall be amicable, and that each of you shall understand that you are under the i'm mediate supervision of your postmas- ter, who Is held responsible for the conduct of the service, and that you must obey implicitly his commands and instructions. The department will not excuse insubordination in a carrier in any form. Also, in your relations with your patrons, 1t should be your ob- ject to gain their confidence and re- spect. You should be courteous and polite in your dealings with them, and take care to avoid any show of of- f1ciousness in presenting any request of an official nature to them. Much fric- ton in the matters of resetting mail boxes and improving the roads could be avoided by pursuing this course.
 I regret to say that certain carriers have the idea that all that is required of them is to go over their routes and deliver and collect mail in merely per functory manner. This is not by any means what is expected of them. If they are to be time-servers and perform their duties in half-hearted manner. hav- ing no interest in the service beyond the emolument they receive, they should not be permitted to remain. Rural carriers should not lose sight of the fact that a public office, whether high of low, is a trust, for the proper discharge of which they are individually responsible. The dignity of the service which they repre- sent. and their prdes-in it, should in- spire them to give the best ability of which they are capable.
 Organizations of Employes.
 In conclusion I wish to refer to the attitude of the department toward or ganixations of postal employees. To re- ceive sanction of the department in any degree. they must have for their sole object the improvement of the service or be of a purely fraternal or beneficial character. With any other purpose in view they are detrimental to the service, to their members. and to the public in- terest. It Is the duty of the officers of the department to insist upon loyal and efficient service from every employe as an individual, and all questions as to its needs, the manner in which 1t Is to be conducted, or the compensation of its employees are matters for the considera- ton of the department, whose officials and not those of any organization are the proper persons to present the needs of the service to Congress. The depart ment would consider any action, by reso- lution or otherwise. condemning mem- bers of Congress for their attitudes or votes on any measure affecting the pay of a rural carrier, to be violation of the spirit of section l5. rural delivery in- structions Criticisms of departmental or congressional action by organizations of postal employees will not be countenanced and against those who arc responsible for 1t the most severe disciplinary ac- ton will be taken.
 Assuring you that the department ap- preciates your cooperation in the i'm provoment of the service and the incfeas- ing of its efficiency and thanking you for the courtesy of your invitation, am, respectfully yours.
 Fourth Assistant Postmaster General.