The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-11-12
THE RURAL ROUTE OUTRAGE.

THE RURAL ROUTE OUTRAGE.
Congressman Ramseyer of the Sixth
Iowa district who is recognized as
one OF the coming men of the state
is after the postofice department be-
cause of the changes it has made in
the rural routes in his district. A
storm OF protest has gone up all over
the state and all over the country
where the postofffce department, in
the alleged interest of economy. has
crippled the service to farmers. 1t is
the general belief not only OF the
farmers themselves but of those who
are not personally affected by the
changes in the rural routes, that the
rural free delivery service is the last
thing that should be curtailed, that
SOME OF the numerous deliveries in
the cities might better be dispensed
with If expenses must be cut. More
over, it Is the general belief that good
management would obviate the neces-
sity of curtailing the service in any
way In his protest to the postofice
department Congressman Ramseyer
presents the following observations,
which are applicable not only to the
changes in his own district. but to
those which have been made else
where:
"Ffrst-In many instances the new
routes go over poorer roads and
serve less number of patrons.
"Second-These changes were made
without investigation and report Of
an inspector as to the feasibility or
the praeticahility of such changes,
without comforting with any residents
of the locality where the changes
were made and without consulting
the wishes of the patrons.
'Third-The only apparent reason
OF the department for these changes
is to cut down the expenses OF the
department. and it has been deter
mined to make the farmers suffer first
and most and TO deprive them OF a
much needed and popular service.
"Fourth-The farmer in the middle
west Is a business man and Is as
much in need of and entitled to his
daily mail as IS the merchant or man
ufacturer in the city The daily mar
ket reports are a greater necessity to
the average farmer than is any class
OF mail daily delivered TO the retail
merchants OF our cities and towns.
"Fifth-Iowa stands lowest in the
percentage VI dEs III any StdlC
In the union There is no illiteracy
among Iowa farmers, and they devote
more time each day to reading daily
papers and magazines and take a
keenef interest in what they read
than does the urban population.
"Sixth-To curtail the rural mail
service on the plea that it does not
pay for itself is as unfair as it would
be to deprive the residents Of the
outskirts of city of the free delivery
service because the postal receipts of
that portion OF the city are not as
great as from the business center of
the city.
.Seyenth-About the only lesisla-
ton ever passed by the general gov
eminent directly for the benefit OF
the farmers was the establishment of
the free rural delivery Of mail. Now
YOUR DEPARTMENT, instead of extend
ing this popular service is taking 1t
away from a large number Of farm
ers who heretofore have enjoyed its
privileges and advantages Instead OF
curtailing this service, it should be
extended until every farmer has that
daily service the same as the city
dvelIer. II not, why not? Why
should a resident within the corpor-
ate limits of city be any more en-
titled to consideration and service
from the general government than
farmer who resides outside such cor
norate limits? IL the service Is to be
curtafled. why commence in the
country frst7 Why not in the city
where every resident is within easy
Walking distance OF the postoffice?
.sEishth-In regard to the auto
nohila service and doubling the mile
aga Of carriers contemplated by your
Recruitment I beg TO advise You that
ne 40 not have the gravel and sand
roads ike they do have in some OF
the states. In Iowa We nave art
rosas which get muddy when 1t
,afns and that automobiles cannot
nm in Iowa mud II Is the expert
anca a. rural carriers in Iowa, VINO
hsve owned automobiles a number
AZ years that they can use them ohis
about one hundred days In the year.
By your contemplated automooiie
service over half OF the time ths
farmers will either be deprived OF
their daily mail or receive poorer
service than they have heretofore re-
ceived.
ueut is running behind ana 10
reed OF funds and ia deriving the
ssrraeTs of their mai service In order
To avoid a deficit IN your departm ent'
: riab 10 inform you that better
more fust and popular alternative
,..o,,Is he to increase the rates and
the farmers will gladly help pay me
;nc-eaaes postage rates. togetner
WITH the rest OF the population me
se-vice shouId not be decreased much
rather increase the rates.
.s,Tenth-The farmers stronsW re-