The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1919-10-28
SAYS CH|CKASHA
MAY LOSE RURAL
ROUTES ON ROAD
Postmaster Barefoot In Letter to Al.
ger Melton, President Chamber
Of Commerce Fears Road in
speetion Be Fatal.
DECLARES ROUTES ARE
PRACTICALLY IMPASsABLE
Says He Has Sought Relief of coun-
ty Commissioners But No Re-
sponse; Asks That c. Of C.
Take Steps to Fix Roads.

Take Steps to Fix Roads.
That Chickasha may lose one or
more of the five rural routes operat-
ed out of the local postoffice owing
to the condition OF the roads in case
an inspectin is made at this time by
postal department officials, Is the
fear expressed by Col. c. w. Bare
foot, postmaster, in letter addressed
to Alger Melton as president of the
Chamber of Commerce and in which
the postmaster asks that if possible
the chamber take some action to re-
pair these roads.
Col Barefoot in his letter points
ouf that he has applied to the coun-
ty commissioners for improvement Of
the roads over which the rural car
riers are forced TO travel, but states
that he has received no encourage
ment. He states that before making
report OF the condition to the de-
partment he thinks it advisable to
sake the matter up with the cham
ber Of commerce.
In reply Mr.. Melton assured the
postmaster that everything possible
would be done by We Chamber of
Commerce to relieve the condition
before the roads are Inspected. Fol
lowing is the letter addressed to Col
Barefoot by Mr.. Melton
Il am in receipt of your letter of
October 9th, addressed to me as
president of the Chamber Of Com
merce and which reads as follows:
"'There are five rural delivery
routes out OF this office and the
roads are almost impossible on all
of them. | have taken the matter
ND with the county commissioners
but have had no relief have asked
the patrons of these different routes
to repair the roads, but they have
not done it. The rule in regard to
this is, when have failed to get the
roads fixed to report to the depart
ment. They then send an inspector
to go over the routes and make a
report. believe that if these roads
are inspected now, that 1t viii be
that they be discontin-
ued. | thought that the Chamber
of Commerce might help to get the
roads fixed.
''In behalf of the Chamber of Com
merce, | trust that you will delay
making your report, If in line with
your duties, until an effort can be
made to get the roads in shape that
they will stand inspection.
"Chickasha cannot afford to lose
these five rural routes or any OF
them, and feel sure that the Cham
ber of Commerce will find some way
in which to getsthe roads in reason
ably fair condition.
81 realize your position, and the re-
sponsibiity placed upon you in the
regulations Of the postal authorities
in connection with these rural routes.
OF course you understand that the
responsibility of keeping the roads
in condition is with the county COM
misssoners. who control the funds
for ahe repair and maintenance of
roads and whose duty 1T IS to see
that the roads are kept in reasonably
faIr condition. yet the question of the
loss cf these rural routes to the city
ot Chickasha is a question of public
,,mnortance. and one which in my
mdemert the ChambeT of Commerce
would become interested. II
"Your Letter has been referred to
the roads committee of the Chamber
Of Commerce, L. c. Hutson, chair
man with the request that that COM
mtasee take immediate steps to i'm
prove conditions if possible to do so.
Il thank you for calling our atten-
tion TO this matter before making
YOUR report, thereby making one
mere opportunity in getting the
roads in condition for the inspection
| trust that you will give to the roads
committee full and complete infor-
nation regarding conditions"