The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-07-27
MADE
IN RURAL ROUTES
Postal Service Has Been Extended
to $4,000 Additional Families
PARCEL POST BIGGEST STEP TO-
WARDS UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
Petitions No Longer Necessary to
Secure Routes. Inspectors Report on
Feasibility of All Requests.

On the 18th of October, 1900, there
died in the city of Lexington, man
who made his mark in public life ana
left the impress of his personality up
on 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 had been a growing dis
content among farmers and the people
in the smaller towns at the postal adj
vantages afforded the cities and the
more populous communities. On June
8, 1896, the sum of $4,000 was made
available, and on October 1, 1896, the
first experimental rural delivery was
put into operation in Jefferson county,
West Virginia. Service was establish
ed on three routes simultaneously, one
from Charles Town, one from Uvilla,
and one from Halltown.
At the close of business June 80,
1915, there were in operation from 49,
S13 post offices throughout the coun-
try 43,877 rural routes. Up to and in
Guiding June 80, 1915 26,0S0 post Of
fices were discontinued on account of
the establishment of rural delivery
representing a saving to the postal
service of $1,613,000 per annum and
also a saving of S3,4S2,000 on account
of the discontinuance of star-rOute
service The period of greatest activ-
ity in the rural service was from 1900
to 1905, the appropriations running
from $45O,OO0 in 1900 to $21, 116,O00 in
1905
Steps Taken to Improve the Service.
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. 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,
1913, to April, 1916. The elimination
of useless and wasteful methods have
made it possible to do this and also
pay out S4,000,000 more to employees
at an actual increased cost of less
than $1,50O000 per annum.
In the nature of things, the great
desire of the people to obtain a bene-
fit which its government could pro-
vide and the willingness of the gov
eminent to give it and give it rapidly,
conditions would develop which de-
manded both attention and considera-
ton. If, therefore, it became evident
in operation that by careful inquiry
more could be accomplished than was
lafr oil ar II ln
duty of those in control to investigate
conditions with a view to possible bet
terment 1.-THE greatest good to the
greatest number" must ever be the
motto of wise and successful admins
tration, and officials can only hope to
win public approval when such motto
governs their administrative acts.
The Policy Of the Department.
It has been the policy and the pur-
pose of this administration to make
of the rural delivery and its partner
in public benefit, the parcel post all
that its most sanguine projectors hop
ed to accomplish.
The postmaster general wants the man
away from the greater advantages of
commercial opportunity to have an
equal chance with his more favored
brother in the cities, and gain for his
industry, whatever it may be, the full
est measure of benefit that govern
ment can bestow. To this end the en-
ergies of the department have been
directed, the wisest counsels sought
and the greatest personal attention
given.
The administration expects to great
! ly widen and still further improve this
public benefit and advantage until all
sections and all localities where rural