Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-18
MORE THAN HALF THIS NUMBER
ALREADY IN OPERATION AND
PROVING SUCCESSFUL.
RURAL MAIL AND EXPRESS
FACILITIES IMPROVED
Higher Salary to Fully Meet Additional
Expense, While Doubling Of Terri
tory Covered Will Make Saving TO
Government-Net Income For Auto
Routes Expected to Exceed Revenue.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, Sept. 1S.-,More than
500 automobile r-,rel routes have now
been authorized by Postmaster General
Burleson. OF these 2Ss are in opera
ton.
Their preliminary experience has
new service will greatly improve the
farmers mail and express facilities.
Time schedules are better maintained
and routes more regularly served In all
weather conditions by automobile than
by horse drawn vehicle. Forecasts that
the automobiles could not do fifty to
sixty miles day upon regular sched-
ule are not borne out.
Temporary carriers. appointed by the
postmasters of the communities
whence the new auto routes emanate.
are providing the present service. The
first permanent carriers, chosen by civil
service examination. have now been
named They are Fred w. Zuch and
Edward X. Terry and they will serve
the two pioneer routes. established
July /. at Quarryville. Pa. Appoint
ments of other permanent carriers will
now follow rapidly.
At salaries of 1880 year Zuch and
Terry will be required to furnish their
own machines and wear uniforms cor
responding to those worn by the City
letter carriers Letters of instruction
are being sent to them Enclosing blue
print showing the type of automobile
body which the department deems most
suitable. 1t is the desire of the depart
ment to standardize the rural automo-
biles as far as possible. Similar let
tiers will be sent to other permanent
carriers when appointed.
Some Use Own Autos.
Under the existing maximum salary
of $1,000. many rural carriers are pro-
viding and using automobiles on routes
varying from twenty -four to thirty
miles in length. They do 50 because
they believe the auto more econom-
ical and reliable. Interesting reports
from carriers now using automobiles
are being received by the department.
A Kansas carrier. now using a light
machine over twenty-nine and one
half mile route, declares the higher sal
airy will fully meet the additional cost
TO the carrier OF serving the larger
routes and leave him a larger net in
come than rural carriers have ever re-
ceived First speaking of his present
situation. this carrier says that "altho
we have had very wet year. and all
my roads are dirt roads. my expense
has not been any greater than these
who carry with horses and rigs. have
been out In some very heavy rains, and
have all kinds of roads and have never
been pulled in"
The cost Of operation per mile comes
to s0.034s6. Applying this figure to a
twenty nine and one-half mile route
one carrier found this to be his outgo
for running expenses:
To serve route $50 days by auto
at $1.02 per day ........... 1926. 90
To hire horse and conveyance at
$3.50 a day for fifty seven days,
or during the period in which
he could not use the machine $3.50
Cost 10 serve route .......... $340.50
Deducting s340.5O from his $1,000
salary. the carriers net income now is
sS59.50 Applied to a fifty-fve mile
route. ii works out thus:
To serve route $50 days. ...... .Si77.50
To hire substitute at $3.50 day
10 cover that part Of route
which the regular carrier could
not do by horse drawn convey
ance during the period in
which he could not use his ma
chine, and to hire horse and
conveyance at $50 day to
do the remaining half of the
route for fifty seven days.. 270.5O
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