The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-24
Is YEARS OF RURAL DELIVERY
Anniversary Of Institution May Be
Observed-Great Growth of
Service.

Washington, Aug. 23.-On OCTOBER
l. 1909, the thirteenth anniversary OF
the installation Of rural delivery IN
the United States will be reached. In
commemoration of the event some
suitable recognition is suggested, as
no branch Of the postal service has
had so recent a beginning with equally
remarkable results.
The honor Of the first attempt to
test the practicability of such a radl.
cal broadening Of the operations Oh
individual delivery rests with i've
routes from three postofices IN West
Virginia.
The innovation was so great that
it took some time for the people to
be benefited to realize the advantage
in store for them. BY the end OF the
third fiscal year after this service
began, but 391 routes were established
at an annual. expenditure Of SloO,ol2.
The convenience, as we'll as ethical,
economical. commercial and educa-
tional benefits incident to this par
ticular public utility were now 50
forcefully demonstrated that expan:
sion went on rapidly, the cost aggre-
eating up to the present time no less
Than Sl7O.OO0,OO0. The 40,6O4 car
riers in covering their 4O,9l9 routes
traverse more than one million miles
every secular day Of the year, except
ing New Years, Washington's Birth,
Memorial or Decoration. lndepend-
ence and Labor and Thanksgiving
Davs, or the Monday following,
should these days fall on the Sabbath.
In making their daily round, more
than 2O,OOO,oO0 rural residents are
served. .
In looking back over what has been
ACCOMPLISHED during the brief period
Of its existence, it is apparent that
the rural delivery service is great
nubIic convenience. Results are the
hest commendation and these are sus-
tanned by unanimous expressions OF
approval Of patrons.
From an ethical point OF view, the
utility of the service is evident IN
MANY ways. It brings the rural pop
ulation into neighborly relationship
and promotes intercourse with nearly
communities, and through them with
cities great and small, and with the
world at large.
As a commercial proposition faelll-
. ties are afforded to keep on tab on
the markets as to prices OF products
and commodities for sale or purchase.
In this respect farmers especially Ind
themselves greatly benefited by. con-
slant know1eG Of the conditions OF
trade
In a economical sense the public
has derived advantage from the I'M
provement and maintenance OF roads,
over which rural delivery routes are
laid, this being a condition precedent
to the establishment and mail facll-
ties. In addition, good roads insure
greater frequency and regularity OF
mail delivery. With respect to roads,
since the Inauguration Of this SER
vice, it is estimated that more than
S75,OOO,OoO has been expended in re-
building. repairs and maintenance.
As a means Of education, the wld-
ening Of the utilization Of the mails
Ehy rural free delivery has largely ex-
ended the circulation Of local and
etropolitan newspapers, magazines
nd general literature, besides hay
Eng proved a stimulus to more eS-
tended personal correspondence.
It is further mentioned as one OF
the incidents of the service that since
the introduction Of the rural mail car
rier, that humble representative OF
the administration has become popu-
lar among residents in the rural dis
triets, developing their appreciation
Of the benefcence Of the government
at Washington.
The popularity Of rural delivery
,ssaflamong farmers and others living away
hncmmunities having city mail
Is Il shown in summary OF
Twice that Postmaster General