Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-01-05
MUST OPEN ROADS
PATRONS OF RURAL ROUTES
MUST AID CARRIERS IN MAX
ING DELIVERIES.
UNLESS ROADS ARE PAssARLE
SERVICE MAY BE CUT OUT
Carriers Not Compelled to Make De.
'iveries Along Roads Which Are in
Bad Condition - Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Issues WARMING
to Iowa Ruralites.
Special to Times-Republican.

Abel, Jan. 5.-Roads bad, no mail is
the warming issued by the postoffice
department. A letter from P. v. De-
GraW, fourth assistant postmaster gem
eral, ito the postmaster at Abel, refer
ring to service on rural free delivery
routes where roads are not kept in pas
sable condition, applies with equal
force to the conditions on rural routes
out of every town in Iowa.
1t has been the custom, under i'm
structions from the department. to di-
rect carriers on rural routes that when
roads become so nearly impossible that
they can not travel them and cover
their routes, they Should cut out de-
llverles along such roads until the
roads become passable. These condi-
ions may be due to neglect of the
roads or to floods or snow, but it is
important that people on rural routes
should know that the department does
not expect carriers to do the impossible.
They are required to cover a certain
distance on practically schedule time,
and 1t is obvious that they can not do
this if they are obliged to travel such
ROADS as we sometimes encounter.
Letter From DeGraw.
The letter from Mr. DeGraw to the
Abel postmaster follows:
THE department agrees with you
thoroughly in your statement that the
road problem is a difficult one to solve.
The idea that rural carriers are paid
for their services and should cover
their routes, regardless of the condi-
ton of the roads," is one that appears
to be held in many localities by pat
rons of the service.
The rural delivery service is MAIN
tanned at great expense to the govern
ment and it is believed that those di-
rectly benefited thereby should interest
themselves to the extent of keeping the
roads over which the routes are laid
in reasonably good condition for
travel.
The maintenance of good roads in
connection with the rural delivery serv-
ice is insisted upon for the benefit and
convenience Of the carrier as a second
airy consequences only; the prime reason
for this policy being that good roads
admit Of more expeditions delivery
and dispatch of the mail. 1t is often
claimed that road is not impossible
as long as a team can get thru, and
that if the roads can be driven by the
residents of the vicinity there can be
no excuse for complaint from the car
rfer This point of view does not cover
the question properly, as it does not
take into consideration the fact that the
,;n,, %,.ox II:
CARELESS of the condition of the wealth
err; must travel the roads laid down for
him and cover the distance if posi-
BILE, within the official schedule and
must see that the mail in his charge
lis fully protected and delivery effected
in good condition. 1t therefore follows
that the roads must be in condition
somewhat better than merely passable
if efficient service is to be rendered,
and the department feels that it's re-
quirement in this respect is entirely
reasonable.
May Change Routes.
cit is therefore desired that you
again bring the roads covered by rural
routes emanating from Abel to the at
tention of the local authorities, and you
may say to them that you are acting
under instruction from the department
and that unless the roads are placed in
a reasonably good condition for travel
at the first opportunity the routes will
be rearranged in such a way as to
eliminate the neglected places, or, If
this can not be accomplished, service
will be suspended altogether.
You will report results to this Of
flee. In the meantime you may permit
the carriers to deviate from the route
as officially established, under specific
instructions from you, in pursuance OF
section 80, rural delivery regulations
requiring them to perform the best
service each day under the prevailing
circumstances. 1t is hoped that the law
which was passed some time ago, re-
quiring the systematic dragging OF
roads, will result in the substantial i'm
provement of these highways the COM
| ing season.
VERY respectfully,
P. v. DeGRAw.
.