The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-08-04
RURAL FREE DELW-s
cry IMPROVEMENTS
SERVICE GIVEN TO SOS. 900 ADDI-
TIONAL FAMILIES.
Measures of Reform introduced and
Great improvements and Exten-
sions Made, Rural Delivery
and Its Early History.

who had made his mark in public life
and left the impression of his person
ality upon the records of his time.
William L. Wilson was the idol of his
party in West Virginia and great
and commanding figure in the arena
of national life. The people of his
ditrict delighted to do him honor, as
successive elections to congress tes-
titled, and President Cleveland reward
ed the splendid fight he made for tar
if reform by seat in his cabinet, the
position of postmaster general
When the body of this distinguished
man was laid to rest at his home in
Charlestown, ex-President Cleveland
paid 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
public and private virtue, the tears
coursed down the cheeks of Mr.. Cleve-
land, deep and silent tribute to the
man he loved and whose loss he so
greatly deplored. at
William L. Wilson was the father of
rural delivery, whose benefits no one
can fully describe, for it is without
question the most popular admins
trative measure of the government.
For years there had been growing
discomfort among the farmers and the
people in the smaller towns at the pos
tai advantages afforded the cities and
the more prosperous communities.
They felt themselves deprived of the
opportunities and benefits which others
enjoyed, and the desire for recoSni-
ton was outspoken and insistent and
could no longer be denied. On June 8,
1896, the sum of $4,000 was made
available, and on October l, 1896, the
first experimental rural delivery was
put 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 30,
1915, there were in operation from 49,
813 postoffices throughout the country
1897 rural routes. Up to and includ-
ing June 30, 1915, 26,080 postoffices
we're discontinued on account of the
of rural delivery, rep
a saving to the postal serv-
zee of $1,613,000 per annum, and also
a saving of $3,4S2, 900 on aceo-zs o. X
he discontinuance of the star route
service. The period Of greatest activ-
ty in the rural service was from 1900
o 1905, the appropriations running
rom $450,000 in 1900 to 21,116,000
n 1915.
This administration has recognized !
he value of the postal service to the
people to a greater extent within the
,ast three years than for any similar
period during the last decade, Mail
ABILITIES have been established and
extended on mail routes in more than
en- thousand localities, giving service
o approximately 100000 patrons
denied tbs benefit. Six
hundred and fifty-eight thousand fans,
lies were added to the list from AprilsE
1913, to April, 1916. The eliminationl
If useless and wasteful methods have
made it possible to do this, and also
Jay out $4,O00,000 more to employees
1t an actual increased cost of less than
Il 100000 per annum.
For twenty years there had been no
-eadjustment of the vast amount of
rural service. 1t was allowed to re-
main exactly as experimentally estab-
ished. Consequently all sorts of spe-
,ial privileges had crept in and was
found existing, such as double daily
service to favored localities, unneces-
stry retraces to one family and not to
all, duplication 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 performed by the
carriers. They were paid solely upon
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 unjust and discriminatory in
the payments made as it was in the
of mail facilities. Both
needed remedy and the remedy was
applied, and who shall say that Unjust |
ice was done anybody?
The introduction of any measure so
nearly allied to the people and whose
growth has been so surprisingly rapid
must naturally be attended with more
or less imperfection, which only prac-
teal inquiry into operation could dis
close. If this practical inquiry care
fully made, developed irregularities
which needed correction and the appli-
cation of the just and equitable rules
of proper administration, temporarily
Inconvenience some and perhaps gave
rise to criticism in others, it was but
an incident to all reformatory process
SEES and could be expected to disap-
pear when the wider benefits sought
and the greater advantages to be OBJ
tanned made the object and the pur-
pose clear and justified the wisdom of
the action taken. For instance, if, by
the change of conveyance and the re-
of routes, more and bet
ter service could be given, should it not
be done? Whenever and wherever