Smyrna times., 1916-07-26
BURIAL FREE DELIVERY
Measures OF Reform introduced Until
Now Service is Given to $4,000
Additional Families

no" service IS Given 10 65S, 600
Additional Families
On the 18th of October. 1900. |
there eied in the city Of Lexington a
man who had made his mark in public |
life ano left the impress of his per
sonalty upon the records Of his time.
William L. Wilson was the idol Of his
party in West Virginia and a great
and commanding figure in the arena
of national life The people of his
district delighted 10 co him honor. as
successive elections 10 Congress testi-
fed. and President Cleveland rewarded
the splendid fight he made for tariff
reform by seat in his cabinet. the
position Of Postmaster General.
When the body Of this distinguished
man was laid to rest at his home in
Charles Togn, ex-President Cleveland
paid him the distinguished honor of
attending in person the funeral csre-
monies al his grave. At the close Of
a most touching and impressive ad-
dress by the pastor. who dweit upon
his many engaging personal qualities.
his public and private virtue the tears
coUrsed down the cheeks Of Mr.. Cleve-
land, d, deep and silent tribute TO the
man h. loved and whose loss he so
greatly deplored.
The Beginning of Rural Delivery
William L. Wilson was the father
Of rural delivery. whose benefits no
one can fully describe. for it is with
out question the most popular admins
trative measure Of the Government.
For years there had been growing
discomfort among farmers and the
people in the smaller towns at the
postal advantages afforded the cities
and the more populous communities.
They felt themselves deprived of the
opportunities and benefits which others
enjoyed. and the desire for recognition
was outspoken and insistent and could
no longer be denied. On June 9.
1896. the sum of $40. 600 was made
available. and on October l, 1896.
the first experimental rural delivery
was put into operation in Jefferson
County. West Virginia. Service was
established on three routes simultsne-
ously, one from Charles Town. one
from Urvilla. and one from Halltown.
At the close of business June 80.
1915. there were in operation from
Is. Sl3 post offices throughout the
country. 43, S77 rural routes. Up tC
and including June 80. 1915. 26. 0SC
post offices were discontinued on &C
count Of the establishment of rura
delivery. representing saving to the
postal service of S1.613. 600 pei
annum and also a saving of So. 4S2, OOI
on account of the discontinuance o
star-route service.
Steps Taken to Improve the Service
This administration has recognize
the value of the postal service TO tn
people 10 a greater extent within IN
past three years than for any simils
ueriod during the last decade Ma
facilities have been established ar
extended on mail routes in more tbs
ten thousand localities, giving servi'
TO approximately $500. 600 patrol
heretofore denied this benefit. s.
hundred and fifty-eight thousand fan
lilies were added 20 the list fro
April. 1918. to April. 1916. II
elimination of useless and wastef
methods have made it possible to
this and also pay out 81. 600, OF
more TO employees at an actual i
creased cost of less than 81. 500. OF
per annum.
Measures Of Reform introduced
If, by the change of conveyance a
the rearrangement of routes, mo
and better service could be give
should it not be done? Whenev
and wherever such changes have be
made il has been found possible TO e
tend service to additional patro
heretofore denied this accommodate
from 500 to 1000 in numb'
Surely the slight delay IL might oe'
sion to one or several patrons shot
meet with Little or no objection VII
il was shown that this had been
means of obl,ging many others VI