Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-09-06
Ouer Half Million Families
Addedto The List Receiuing
For RmdlFree Delioery Now

On the 18th of October, 1900, there
died in the city of Lexington, man
who had made his mark in public life
and left the impress of his personality
upon the records of his time. William.
I, Wilson was the idol of his party in
" est Virginia and a great and COM
handing figure in the arena of national
life. The people of his district de-
lighted to do him honor, as successive
elections to congress testified, and
President Cleveland rewarded the
splendid fight he made for tariff re-
form by seat in his cabinet, the posi-
ton of postmaster general.
When the body of this distinguished
man was laid to rest at his home in
Charles Town, ex-President Cleveland
paid him the distinguished honor of at
tending in person the funeral cere-
monies at his grave. At the close Of
a most touching and impressive adj
dress by the pastor, who dwelt upon
his many engaging personal qualities.
his public and private virtue, the tears
coursed down the cheeks of Mr. Cleve-
land, a deep and silent tribute to the
man he loved and whose loss he so
greatly deplored.
Beginning of Rural Delivery.
William L. Wilson was the father OF
rural delivery, whose benefits no one
can fully describe, for it is without
question the most popular administra-
tive measure of the government. For
years there had been a growing dis
content among farmers and the pec-
Ele in the smaller towns at the postal
advantages afforded the cities and the
more populous communities. They felt
themselves deprived of the opportuni-
ties and benefits which others enjoyed
and the desire for recognition was out
spoken and insistent, and could no
longer be denied On June 8, 1896, the
sum of $4,000 was made available,
and on October 1, 1896, the first expert.
mental rural delivery was put into op-
Grafton in Jefferson county, West Vir-
ginia. Service was established on
three routes simultaneously, one from
Charles Town, one from Uvilla, and
one from Halltown.
AT the close of business June 80,
1915, there operate from 1888
postoffices throughout the country
1887 rural routes. Up to and includ-
ing June 80, 1915, 26,OSO postofices
were discontinued on account of the
establishment of rural delivery, repre-
senting a saving to the postal service
of $1,613,000 per annum and also Il
saving of $3,4S2,O00 on account of the
discontinuance of star-route service.
The period of greatest activity in the
rural service was from 1900 to 1905,
tie appropriations running from $780,
600 in 1900 to S21, 10000 in 1905.
Steps to Extend Service.
This administration has recognized
the value of the postal service to the
people to greater extent within the
past three years than for any similar
period during the last decade. Mail
facilities have been established and
extended on mail routes in more than
ten thousand localities, giving service
to approximately 100000 patrons
heretofore denied this benefit. Six
hundred and fifty-eight thousand fam
lilies were added to the list from April.
1918, to April, 1916. The elimination
OF useless and wasteful methods have
made it possible to do this and also
pay out $4,0OO,0O0 more to employees
q. an actual increased cost of less thar
Sl,50O,000 per annum.
For twenty years there had been no
readjustment of a vast amount of ru-