The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-08-04
RURAL FREE DELIV-
cry IMPROVEMENTS
SERVICE GIVEN TO $4,000 ADD
TIoNAL FAMILIES.
Measures of Reform Introduced ana
Great Improvements and Exten-
sions Made, Rural Delivery
and Its Early History.

died in the city OF LSAAhe . =.
who had made his mark in public HE
and left the impression Of his person
ality upon the records OF his time
william L. Wilson was the idol oil ms
rsrtv in West Virginia and great
and commanding figure in the arena
of national life. The people OF MS
ditrict delighted to do him honor, as
successive elections to congress tes-
t;6ed and President Cleveland reward
ed the splendid fight he made for tar
if reform by seat in his caoine'' the
nosition of postmaster general.
When the body of this distinguished
man was laid to rest at his home IN
Charlestown, ex-President Cleveland
maid him the distinguished honor OF at
tending in person the funeral ceremo-
MES at his grave. At the close OF a
most touching and impressive address
by the pastor, who dwelt upon his
many engaging personal qualities, his
nublic 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 ne SO
greatly deplored.
William L. Wilson was the tather OF
rural delivery, whose benefits no one
can fully describe, for it is without
Question the most popular admins
+ratiye measure of the government
For years there had been a growing
discomfort among the farmers and the
reople in the smaller towns at the pos
+al ADVANTAGES afforded the cities and
the more prosperous communities
They felt themselves deprived OF the
6nnortunities and benefits which others
enioved and the desire for reeognl-
tjon was outspoken and msistent and
could no longer be denied. On June y
1896. the sum Of $4,000 was made
available. and on October /, 1886, the
drst experimental rural delivery was
nut in operation in Jefferson county
West Virginia. Service was estab-
lished on three routes simultaneously,
one from Charles Town, one from
Uvilla, and one from Halltown.
AT the close Of business, June 80,
1915, there we're in operation from 49,
S1S postoRices throughout the country
asst rural routes. Up to and includ-
ing June 80, 1915, 26,OS0 postothces
were discontinued on account of the
establishment of rural delivery, rep
resenting a saving to the postal serv-
ice of S1,613,000 per annum, and also
a saving Of $3,482,000 on account OF
the discontinuance of the star route
service. The period of greatest activ'
ity in the rural service was from 1900
to 1905, the appropriations running
from $45O,000 in 1900 to $2l,l16,ooI
in 1915.
This administration has recognized
the value of the postal service to thu
people to greater extent within thu
past three years than for any simlla
period during the last decade. Mai
facilities have been established AM
extended on mail routes in more thai
ten thousand localities, giving servic
to approximately 100000 patron
heretofore denied this benefit. 81
hundred and fifty-eight thousand fam
lies were added to the list from Apri
1918. to April, 1916 The elminatio
of useless and wasteful methods hay
made it possible to do this, and ais
pay out $4,000,000 more to employee
at an actual increased cost Of less tina
Sl,5000J0 per annum.
For twenty years there had been =
readiustment Of the vast amount
rura, service. 1t was allowed to r
main exactly rs experimen-alIy esta
Hshed. Consequently all sorts Of sp
cial privileges had crept IN and W
found existing, such as double dai
service to favored localities, unEecC
stry retraces to one family and not
all, duplication Of travel by two
more carriers over single highws
only one Of whom performed serv
thereon, and many other SINH
forms Of waste and extravagan
There was also neglect shown as to t
value Of the work performed by
carriers. They were paid solely up
miles Of road covered, regardless
the character thereof, the equipmt
necessary, the amount of mail CARR
or the hours of service rendered. T
was as unjust and discriminatory
the payments made as it was in
distribution of mail facilities. B.
needed remedy and the remedy '
applied, and who shall say that injr
ice was done anybody?
The introduction of any measure
nearly allied to the people and VIII
growth has been so surprisingly "a
must naturally be attended with N
or less imperfection, which only pl
teal inquiry into operation could
close. If this practical inquiry, Ct
fully made, developed Irregular
which needed correction and the az
cation OF the just and equitable r
Of proper administration, Temporal
Inconvenience some and perhaps
rise to criticism in others, it was
an incident to all reformatory pro
ses and could be expected to di
pear when the wider benefits sol
and the greater advantages to be
tanned made the object and the
pose clear and justified the wisdor
the action taken. For instance, if
the change Of conveyance and the
arrangement Of routes, more and