The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1916-09-08
Rural Free Delivery.

On the 18th of October. 1900, there
died in the city of Lexington a man
who had made his mark in public life
and left the impress of his personality
upon the records of his time.
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 has been growing dis
content among farmers and the people
at the smaller towns at the postal ad-
vantages 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 9. 1896, the
sum of $4,000 was made available, and
on October l, 1896, the first experiment
tai rural delivery was put into operation
in Jefferson County, West Virginia.
Service was established on three routes
simultaneously, one from Charles Town
one from Uvilla, and one from Hall
town.
This administration has recognized
the value of the postal service to the
people to a greater extent within the
past three years than for any similar
period during the last decade.
For twenty years there has been no
readjustment of vast amount of rural
service. 1t was allowed to remain ex
actly as experimentally established.
Consequently all sorts of special privi-
lege had crept in and was found ex-
listing, such as double daily service to
favored localities, unnecessary retraces
to one family and not to all, duplica-
ton of travel by two or more carriers
over single highway, only one of
whom performed service thereon, and
many other similar forms of waste and
extravaganza. There was also neglect
shown as to the value of the work per-
formed by the carriers. They were
paid solely upon the miles of road
covered, regardless of the character
thereof, the equipment necessary, the
amount of mail carried, or the hours
of service rendered. This was as un-
| just and discriminatory in the payments
| made as it was in the distribution of
mail facilities. Both needed remedy
and the remedy was applied, and who
shall say that injustice was done to
| anybody?
The administration expects to greatly
widen and still further improve this
public benefit and advantage until all
sections and all localities where rural
| service can be made operative shall
| have these conveniences afforded them
and have them generously maintained.
Petitions for service are no longer
necessary. The recommendations of
the postmaster brings an Inspector who
goes over the ground, and if service
can be made at all effective, it will at
once be given. No consideration of
administrative economy, no mere saw
ing of money by misery methods or
parsimonlous process, is to stand in
the way of any benefit which the rural
delivery can give or wise public policy
can sanction. The common people,
| upon whom the burdens rest and upon
whose toll the nations prosperity is
built, are to have their share of Gov
eminent favor in full measure returned
to them and every aid to the further
ance of legitimate enterprise and effort
secured to them by performance and
| by practice.