Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-08

mating on the route, were based on the
tn cory that it would interfere with the
business of carrying letter and paper
mail. If the service is placed on the
contract basis, say the carriers, the par
cells business will be the chief care of
the carrier, while the service would not
be available to everybody, nor would
the government derive any revnue from
IL at all.
The National Association of Rural
Letter Carriers, at it's forthcoming meet
ing in Little Rock, undoubtedly will
protest against the proposed change.
The law strictly prohibits the carriers,
who are under the civil service regula-
tions, from taking active part in poll
tics. but nevertheless there are many
politicians who realize the force and
power of these carriers, who go about
through the country every day and come
] in direct contact with the farmers. 1t
J is more than probable that the rural
carriers will find ways and means to
| extract pledges from congressional can
didates, binding them to vote against
the contract system. At any rate, lead
ers among the carriers believe that such
fight is necessary to save the servic
The rural free delivery mail service
is perhaps the most popular department
OF the government. 1t was established
in 1896, by an appropriation of only
$4,000 for experimental purposes. IL
grew rapidly from that time until o.
tober, 1909. when the present postoffics
administration, in the interest of econ
omy, adopted a policy of restraint.
Since that time no new routes have been
established, and the only extensions
made have been additions to routes al
ready in existence. or by combining star
route and delivery service when practi-
cabl.
The postmaster general in his report
urging economics in the postal service
declared that the rural service showed
net loss of $2S,OOO,000 for the last fis-
cal year. Friends of the service de-
clared tSat this was unjust, in that the
rural service was not credited with saw
ing the expenditure of about $4,000, %
on star routes discontinued, or of more
than $1.O00.00O for fourth-class postor-
fices discontinued. Furthermore, Il
was urged that the rural routes ought
to be credited with large part of the
mail originating elsewhere but destined
for rural delivery, because of the fact
that the rural delivery has so greatly
stimulated the amount of mail matter
going into rural districts.
In monthly report OF the IOuTLn as
sistant postmaster general. made soon
after congress had received the report
showing the alleged s2SOOO.0O0 loss, this
language was used: Through facilities
extended by rural delivery, reports re-
ceived at the department show that
farmers save more than 100000 annual
ly by being relieved of the loss Of time
required of men and teams which was
necessary prior to the installation of
the service in making frequent trips to
town or village postoffices in their vi
cinity. The service has helped to ad-
vance farm prices at least 600 or
from Is to 40 per cent. More than 80 per
cent Of the inhabitants of continental
United States dwell in the rural dis
tricts."
Even accepting the statement that the
rural service costs $2s.00O00O more each
year than 1t produces in direct revenue,
1t appears on the authority OF the posi-
ONCE department that the service saves
for more than half of the people of the
country more than $400, 900 a year in
expenses. and that it has added three
fourths OF a billion dollars to the wealth
OF this same 81 per cent of the people.
On this showing the rural mail serv-
ice is entitled to some consideration.
No other one agency has done so much
for the cause Of good roads as has the
rural free delivery mail service. The
people wanted the service, they were
compelled TO make their roads passable
to get IT, and they must further i'm
prove their roads TO keep ii. Then, too,
the carrier. who must furnish horses and
vehicle at his own expense, has pow
erful incentive TO preach the doctrine OF
good roads. He does 1t. The National As
ISOLATION OF Rural Carriers is now en-
gagged in an effort TO organize good
roads society in every township and |
county in the country.
The R. F. D. News is the official or
gan OF the letter carriers, and through
it's columns the carriers and their pa
irons along the routes are kept in touch
with the progress Of events in postal
affairs. congressional and departmental.
This paper gives much space TO the good
roads propaganda and serves also as Il
means of INSTRUMENTATION among the
carriers and as a vehicle of class adver-
Using.
1t is impossible to reckon the true
worth of the rural mail service by bal
ancing receipts against disbursements.
It's indirect worth TO the country, ma
terial and moral. is incalculable. The
people of the rural districts are hoping
for the time when the service may be
still further extended. In the meantime,
the carriers are preparing to fight to the
end against the proposed abandonment
OF direct service by the government in J
favor OF the contract system