Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-08-02
RURAL FREE DELIVERY.
Measures of Reform Introduced and
Great Improvements and
Extensions Made.
SERVICE GIVEN TO 65S,OOO ADD
TIONAL FAMILIES.

! On the 11th or OCTOBER, 1900, their
died in the city of Lexington a maj
who had made his mark in public lift
and left the impress Of his personality
upon the records of his time. William
l.. Wilson was the idol of his party ir
West Virginia and great and com
handing figure in the arena Of nation
al life. The people of his district de-
lighted to do him honor, as successive
elections to Congress justified, and
President Cleveland rewarded the
splendid fight he made for tariff re-
form by seat in his cabinet, the po-
sition Of Postmaster General.
When the body of this distinguish
ed man was laid to rest at his home
in Charles Town, ex-President Cleve-
land paid him the distinguished honor
of attending In person the funeral
ceremonies at his grave. At the close
o. a most touching and impressive ad.
druss ny the pastor, wnu dweIt upon
his many engaging personal qualities,
his publics and private virtue, the
tears coursed down thes cheeks OF Mr..
Cleveland, a. deep and silent tribute to
the man he loved and whose loss he
SO greatly deplored.
The Beginning of Rural Delivery and
Its Progress.
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 people
in the smaller towns THE postal ad-
vantages afforded the cities and the
more populous communities. They felt
themselves deprived of the opportuni-
ties and benefits which others enjoy
ed, and the desire for recognition was
and insistent and could no
longer be denied. On June 9, 1896, the
sum Of $4,000 was made available,
and on October 1, 1896, the first ex-
detrimental rural delivery was put in
to operation in Jefferson County, West
Virginia. Service was established on
.hree routes simultaneously, one from
Charles Town, one from Uvilla, and
,ne from Halltown.
At the close of business June 30,
.915, there were in operation from 49,
'13 postoffices throughout the country
1877 rural routes. Up to and in
'luding June 80, 1915, 26,OSO postof-
ices were discontinued on account Of
he establishment of rural delivery.
epresenting saving to the postal
ervice CT $1,613,000 per annum and al
o saving Of $3,4S2 900 on account of
he discontinuance of star-route SER
ice. The period Of greatest activity
q the rural service was from 1900 to
9O5, the appropriations running from
100000 in 1900 to $21,116,OOO in 1905.
teps Taken to Extend and Improve
the Service.
This administration has recognized
he value Of the postal service to the
eople to a greater extent within the
asst three years than for any similar
eriod during the last decade. Mail
ABILITIES have been established and
xtended on mail routes in more than ,
IN thousand localities, giving service {
, approximately 100000 patrons {
eretofore denied this benefit. Six /
undred and fifty-eight thousand fam {
les were added to the list from April, {
913, to April, 1916. The elimination ,
I useless and wasteful methods have ,
lade it possible to do this and also I
ay out 100000 more to employees s
t an actual increased cost Of less than !
!, 100000 per annum. I
For twenty years there had been no 1
adjustment Of vast amount Of rural ,
srvice. It was allowed to remain ex- {
city as experimentally established. !
all sorts of special privi- I
'ge had crept in and was found ex- {
ting, such as double daily service to
.vored localities, unnecessary re- {
aces to one family and no to all. Q
lplication OF travel by two or more t
Lrriers over single highway, only {
q OF whom performed service there q
:, and many other similar forms of c
1ete and extravaganza There was n
lMoCRAT STR p