The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-10-15
Rural, Mail Service Imnaired

80
Complaints continually coming to
washington tell Of impairment Of the
rural mail service because Of changes
made In recent months by an admits
itration whose head and chief subordi-
nate officers had impractical knowl-
edge OF the service prior to their APP
pcintment to their present positions.
FAILURE to understand rural condi-
tons and the news Of the farmers.
IS the only explanation that can be
made. for 1t is incomprehensible that
the department would intentionally
cripple the rural mail service.
few days ago the master Of the
state grange in Pennsylvania told Of
the manner in which the rural deliy-
cry service had been deteriorated in
that state. Now comes congress-
man from Minnesota with a plain de-
Iclaration OF facts showing that the de-
partment has made changes Of. the
most Incredible kind, even including
the establishment Of route on road
which have been abandoned fifteen or
twenty years and which are utterly
limpassible in any kind OF. weather.
The only plausible explanation Of this
latter action is that in changing the
route from one road to another the
department merely consulted map
and did not have the proposed change
inspected by some one familiar with
the nighborhood,
Congressman Sidney Anderson, Of
the First congressional district Of
Minnesota. says that in most Of the
counties Of his district there has been
an elimination Of one or two routes.
parts of the routes eliminated being
attached to others. This policy has
added additional miles to practically
all the routes in the counties affected.
some Of them now being as much as
thtrty-two miles long.
Farmers in all these counties saw
It will be- practically impossible for
the carriers to cover their routes dur
Ing the winter months, especially II
We have heavy snow" says Mr.. An
derson who has been in close touch
with the farming communities.
There has been considerable curtail-
ment OF service, great deal Of add.
ed inconvenience, and in many in
stances it will be impossible to serve
u, 1|f r.
Mr.. Anderson points out one injur-
1ous effect Of these clfSnges which was
also mentioned by John A. Mcspar-
ran, master Of the Pennsylvania state
grange. He says: These wholesale
changes result in changing the ad-
dresses Of thousands, of farmers. and
practically nullify the use Of the par
Gel post in local way, as only a COM
paratively small proportion OF the far
mers are now served from their ira d
ling town" nm
theoretically, the only person in
1ured by these changes are the farm
ers, but in practice the local mer-
chants and all other persons having
dealings with the farmers are iniur.
ed In no less degree. Says Mr.. An
derson: 1.-THE changes practically rem
der valueless the maiEng lists Of ev-
lery merchant, and will result in very
great confusion in the handling Of the
local mails for some time to come. .
The endless confusion resulting
from a change which compels far
mer to get and send mail from one
town. while he transacts his local
business in another, will be readily
apparent. II he has produce to send
to market by parcel post, he certain
~ wants it to go to the town where
he does his local trading. A change
In routes which makes him a patron
OF some other postofice. as stated By
Mr.. Anderson, renders the service SC
valueless that he might as well go at:
ter his mail as have 1t delivered b,
rural route. q