The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-01-28

=, ate. We reduce our eleven months
of service to the low efficiency of the
one bad month, instead Of taking the
greatest efficiency for the longer
period and taking such service as
can be supplied for the short period.
am told, too, that the roads are
not good enough to permit the use
of autos for covering the greater ex-
panse of country that have proposed
shall be served by rural carrier in
autos, on revised routes serving q
vastly greater number of people at
slightly increased expense for SER
vice. For several years have made
1t rule to visit about all the farms
in the county once year, and while
our roads are not at all perfect, I
can lay out rural routes to serve
practically all of the population on
the, level plains and make good speed
thru all the roads. The improved
auto and the improved roads have
gotten together so that the old ex-
cuse of impossible roads does not
hold true. We have great expanses
of country where people have no mail
service by rural delivery or star
routes and they are at great disad-
vantage due to their isolation when
it is in my judgement, practicable
to give them rural service including
parcels post that would be Of great
value to them in bringing supplies
to their homes and save long trips
to market for small, yet indispen-
sable articles.
There are hundreds of miles Of
road that are only moderately good,
are rocks and obstacles easily re-
moved and which can get settlers
to put in good repair for swift travel
by autos if can hold out to them
the hope of mail service. The con-
ditions obtaining in this county, are,
take it, common to all western
states.
1t seems to me that at this time
when there Is such great need of Sc
curing employment for the return
ing soldiers and for blocking the
agitations of the Bolsheviki, and for
enabling the rural population to pro-
duce the greatest possible amount Of
foodstuffs, it is timely to permit us
W Ady OuL pAu lOVAoO OuA AOutOo
and plan for the most complete SER
vice possible. with the understanding
that more flexible rule dictated by
the. weather, shall apply in times Of
winter storms and that service may
be suspended or modified as governed
by winter conditions.
So many people have autos nov, It
ought to be possible to obtain Auto
service for any and all routes. We
have been told that the reason we
could not buy autos for some time
was because the government was TAX
ing so many of them to Europe, or
taking over the plants for war work.
Perhaps the government will have
autos in France which It can ship
back to America for use on rural
routes rather than sell them there or
junk them, tho such shipments would
necessarily be much delayed while
troops fill the ships.
I have tried for some time to as
certain what II any changes Of rules
or policy are being made by the
postal department relative to rural
service, SO we might during these
winter days, confer together In our
own county for revision of routes
that would be in keeping with what
the department is willing to allow.
I shall feel 1t an honor II / may have
q reply bearing upon this subject,
and I believe voice the wishes Of
the people of my county in soliciting
at your hands of this
subject so vitality affecting their in
terests.
Very respectfully,
BYRD TREGO,