Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-06-14
GOOD ROADS OR NO MAIL ROUTES.

GOOD ROADS OR NO MAIL ROUTES.
Assistant Postmaster General De-
Graw in ar address % the assembled
posrrlasters a. Waterloo laid down the
policy Of the department as - good
roads. He Ist. LITTLE doubt /. th@ minds
of those who heard him that rh= Tine
is close whec roads fairly passab,e a.
an times os the year viii De required
# the mail route Is to be maintained
"Rural carriers" he said can TT a@
and are not expected TO travel roads
hub deep in mud Or II such condition
as 70 cause great hardship 70 me car
-iers' animals and loss os ti-ne . the
carrier. The postofice deparrren r
expects rs oenefc:a-!es 70 see that the
highways are maintained II proper
proper condition"
In discussing the .elatto. ot good
roads to the rural delivery service and
the influence which -ha extension ot
rural delivery has had n the good
roads movement, Assistant Postmaster
General DeGraw said:
While Il IS perhaps generally under
stood that the depa-t-! euc requires tina:
all roads on which rural delivery is
established shall BE- maintained in con-
ditior TO De travelled with facility and
safety at al seasons u the year, very
much fear that the reasons for his re
nuirenent are no: well understood o.
appreciated. Than again. people -
various communities have different
standards and What would oe constd-
cred a good o. fair road in one section
OF the country would be considered z
very poor or bad he II another.
When service Is suspended ~ 9 rural
route complaint IS sometimes made -
those who are thus deprived Of ne &C.
livery Of mail by rural carrier that the
road Is being travelled and Il others
can get over II why not the rural car
rier. But such complaints lose sight q
the fact that g rural carrier IS re-
ouired dairy II length. without regard
from fifteen 70 thirty mics il lecg-h.
without regard 20 climatic conditions,
while some ot the people nay. by 6!nt
OF foundering and p.odding, get thru
what would pc -eas orablv c,assed "a
an irnpa ssab,e road. or might gec over
a stretch Of road four or five miles il
length. Rural carriers can no- Re and
are not expected 20 ITave! roads hub
deep ii mud OF II such condition as 70
cause great hardship to the carriers
animals and loss turnout the union are
financially able 70 undertake the build
ing OF the highest class of racadan
roads IS appreciated, bur mis- should
neither discourage or deter them in
their efforts TO procure good roads. It
has been fully demonstrated thar the
best Of earth and clay roads may be
had thru the use Of the split-log- drag
and other implements for grading and
ditching roads. Instructions and advice
on road building or materials ara 20 be
had upon appIica ton 10 the department
OF agriculture, bureau Of public roads.
.washin gton, D c. and skilled highway
-euFineers are detailed BY the depart
ment of agriculture under certain con-
ditions to furnish practical deronstra-
lions in roadbuildiag. Besides. the
various state highway commissions and
boards are ali ready and willing 70 lend
their aid. To my mind there IS little
IL any excuse in the majority Of cases
for the existence OF bad roads"
The fact Is the department is getting
ready to bring the matter 10 a show
down. It will not be long unit! the
choice is given between decent roads
decently maintained or loss Of postal
privilege II Is the road or the mail
ro,,te Take your choice