Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-24
MAIL CARRYING
in NORTHSBECOMES
TREMENDOUS TASK
Rath camp, Currash.

: Duluth, Minn..>, Dec. A.-Winter
having set in, mail carrying on the
Star Route. served from Two Harbors,
Mimi, along the north shore of Lake
task. according to local postofice Of
.fcials.
r Motor trucks serve this route which
extends .149 miles north to Grand
Portage, through Grand Marais and
several other small towns and villages.
With the close Of lake navigation
the mail has become heavy. especial
~ during the present holiday season.
for no railroads operate in this terri
tory and many of the settlers. seven
storekeepers, obtain supplies by mail
from Two Harbors. To meet this
emergency extra large trucks have
been placed in service.
Formerly much Of this country was
served with mail and necessities of life
through the Duluth and northern Min
'nesota railroad. Since the abandon
mento Of this line. residents Of this fal'
north territory have been dependent
upon parcel post chiefly; During the
Lake Superior navigation season.
steamers stop at Grand Marais and
Grand Portage and distribute supplies.
Routes Discontinued.
Formerly this route consisted of a
network of small star routes. carried
by settlers with their one and two
horse rigs. But with the advent of
better roads and the motor truck. all
but two of these small routes have
been discontinued. These <xo routes
now extend in one instance from tho
main route eight miles to Little
Marais. and in the other eighteen
miles to Isabelle. Both Of these routes
are covered in an old -fash1oned horse
drawn rigs. the poorly developed
| woods trails making use of auto
mobiles impractical, postoface officials
said. 4a
The main route extends 14s miles
Portage. The distance from Two Har-
bors to Grand M4rais. is 1o1 miles. AT
the; latter place the carriers make
their headquarters. The" run from
. Two Harbors to Grand Marais is
made six days a week. while the
Grand PORTAGE territory carriers are
engaged permanently in caring fol
this longest Star Route. While ont
carrier is taking the mail north. the
other is returning for the next day.
load.
Travelling over rough roads thai
are often swept by severe SNOW
storms. these hardy modern-day Sta
route mailmen endure many hardship,
in the course of a winters work. OF
ten they are delayed by storms ant
are kept driving far into the night t.
complete their trips. During a recen
period of severe winter weather. whel
the temperature dipped below the zer'
mark. one Of the drivers was forcet
to walk SIX miles to the neares vii
lage to obtain repairs for his disable,
truck. He returned and repaired tn
machine in time to start on the las
lap of the trip by daybreak.
However. the h%ardships o%ccasione'
by the long working hours Of white
are followed by better days in tn
summer. the brighter side OF this lit
tie sought for occupation. During tn
summer season when roads are goo
and the weather favorable. lax
steamer service and other modes Q
communication are established an
the heavy parcel post shipments-th
burden of the carriers during a great
err part of the year-are l~iEhtened.
Carriers on this route contract fo
the work In four-year periods. TIL
present mailmen have two ear yet t
"Sorye."