Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-03-10
SEVERE WINTER IS.
DISASTROUS TO
MAIL SERVICE
Rural Delivery Schedules Bad
" Out Of Gear as Result of
Impossible Roads Through
out the Country.
Morning Journal Bureau,
613 Munsey Building,
washington, D. G. March s. !

A number of complaints have
reached the %postoffice department
that rural delivery has recently beer
Irregular in some sections. Apropos
Of the condition Of the service Assist.
ant Postmaster General DeGraw ex-
plains that reports received by the de-
| pertinent Indicate hat throughout
the entire country the past winter has
been enc of the most severe, with a
greater amount of snowfall than has
occurred IN recent years, and there
mas consequently been greater inter-
ruption to and suspension of the rural
delivery of mail thar is usual dur1ng
the winter season.
In sonae sections roads have been
wholly obliterated by snow, with great
drifts in cuts, and in many m
stances with the SNOW on a level v'6h
the tops Of fences. These conditions
have made it impossible for carriers
to maintain schedules or to serve en-
tire routes 1T all times. The carriers,
as a body. however, under these Try
ing conditions have proven themselves
worthy servants of the public by tray
cling their routes wholly or partially
when 1t was at all possible. In many
Instances carriers IA served theif
routes afoot or on horseback or else
have used their vehicles n cut across
IItitS Ntltit liz HbiiD NN'
order TO serve as many of their patrons
as could be reached.
There has been considerable com-
plaint from postmastefs ana carriers
that road supervisors and overseers
either entirely neglect to open the
roads. as they are required to DO, or
delay the work until after the carriers
have started. Patrons OF rural dellN-
cry are expected to see TO II that
roads are kept reasonably clear at all
seasons of the year so as to enable
prompt dispatch of the mails.
The railway postal service between
certain points in the far wet has
been seriously tied up for two or three
days on account OF washouts. me
serious condition reported to the
~postoffice department is that of the
Southern Pacific between Ogden, Ctah
and California. Practically all the
mail for California points goes
his route and unless the conditions
are improved within the next twenty
four hours ii will be necessary to dis
patch all mail for that state by the ex-
southern route. Under ordinary
the Ogden route is by many
hours the shorter but during the pas
few days ii has zen very uncertain
the trains would get through
at all. Should it become necessary to
dispatch his mail by the southern
the clerks of the ogden line will
in all probability be temporarily trans
feired so as 70 make tho usual distri-
for California points and thus
the delay to a considerable
extent. However, these transfers VIII
only be made in case the conditions
fail to improve within the next twenty
four hours.
The report of the rural delivery SER
for February shows that there
are 1,570 petitions pending, North
Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas heading
the list with the greatest number.
60,970 petitions have been received,
which 1862 did not meet require
ments and were acted upon adversely. I
There are 41,094 daily routes in
operation. Under the general proceed
IRE of adjustments and establishment
Of completed or county service
throughout the states, 10i out have
been discontinued. and through the
procedure 542 routes have been
established on a tri-weekly basis.
There are 41.00S carriers at an av-
salary Of $S69.94 per mum
These carriers each average 2i.15
miles daily ana serve Approximately
$500, 600 persons. Tho cost Of the
service. including the payment OF the
'arriers n of their substitutes for
service during the fifteen days vaca-
ion allowed each carrier, also for tolls
to be paid on turnpikes.
ridges, etc, aggregate S 037.0dc,oee
)or mum.
During the month Of February 6,l74