The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-11-15

How would you like TO be the mall !,
man?"
1t is just a pleasant drive, IL the /.
day is fine and the way is new to you
but after you have been over the
same ground every day for months !
and know each stone in the roadway /.
and the stumps on the side become old
acquaintance. you will decide that 1t
is indeed. wearisome task
If you want to see the other side"
of the rural carriers life, come along
some day when mud and water make
the roads almost impossible or face a
binding snow storm steadily for 25
miles and you'll thank yourself that
you're not the mail man.
But somebody has to be the mail
man and you can help to add cheer to
his daily journey and lessen his la
bors by observing the suggestions to
follow.
The Box-The postal laws require
that every family before receiving
mail by rural delivery, shall erect
suitable mail box. A list of makes of
mail boxes that have received the rec.
ommendation of the postmaster gen.
eral may be seen at your postoffice.
If more than one family is to receive
| mail in the same box, an agreement to
that effect must be given in writing to
| the postmaster.
! The Location-Place the box where
1 1t will be the most convenient for the
carrier. 1t must be So situated and OF
such height that mail can be deposit
ed or removed without leaving the
wagon. Attach the box firmly to a
good solid post. Avoid setting the
post on a hillside or in any position
that will make 1t difficult or danger
GUS for the carrier to drive up closely
to it in all kinds of weather. The
easier you make the carriers work,
the more prompt his deliveries will
be-.
The use Of the box.-See that the
door works easily at all times. Often
/ in cold weather the door freezes shut
and the carrier does not enjoy pound.
ing it open with his half frozen fin.
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and shovel it away from the post.
1t is much easier for the carrier to
remove letters deposited in the box
for mailing If you will set them on
end near the door instead of tossing
them loosely on the bottom Of the
box. The postal laws require that
money for stamps be placed in little
cup or box, instead of being thrown
carelessly in the mail box, causing the
carrier considerable loss of time ant
bother in pulling it out. Any such he'll
Inconvenience the patron but little
yet is of material assistance in i'm
proving the service.
The use of signals-Be sure tina
your mail box is equipped with goo
signal as this feature is of great i'm
portance to the carrier. Raise tn
signal when you place matter TO
mailing in the box in order that tn
. carrier will be sure to stop for it, ev
en- though he should have no mail fo
you 1t is the carriers duty to rails
" the signal, If it is not already III
when he leaves mail. You shout
then lower it so the carrier will nc
ID see it up and stop, needlessly, on hi
!? next trip.
The rate or postage on matter goin
o on rural routes is exactly the same a
II though it were going to the farthe
most point in the United States
there are no reduced rates of an
te kind. Letters require postage at til
~ rate of cents an ounce or fractio
thereof. A letter. properly stampe
may be picked up at any point on tt
IN route, to be delivered to part
ae further along on the route
Carriers are permitted to carry pa
cells for their patrons and