Vashon Island news-record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1919-1954, 1923-11-23
INSTRUCTIONS FOR
RURAL PATRONS
Ira 0. Thompson Tells How
to Cooperate with
Rural Carriers.

Is SNul man HSl WY H"'i'h"N
tory2
With the coming of the holiday
mailing season much can be said
relative to the rural mail service,
In the beginning l will say that
many an annoying misunderstand-
ing could be avoided if patrons
of all rural routes better under
stood the proper use Of the mails.
Space win not permit going into
details on all subjects, but | shall
try to point out some of the items
most important.
First. Your box must be of an
approved type, having door with
small slot, coin cup and signal,
The letter slot is required for the
convenience of the carrier in de-
posting mail when the signal does
not indicate mail going out. The
regulations require that patron
must either wrap coins left for
stamps or money orders, or place
them in a cup.
If you wonder at this require
ment, Just imagine starting out
from the Office on cold, stormy
morning. stopping at from $50 to
500 boxes, each with an icecicle
hanging from it, then gaze upon
three or four letters waiting for
you with twice as many pennies
lying on them, or worse yet, scat
tered among them. Then just
wake up and listen to what you
are thinking about the person who
thoughtlessly left them there for
you. Then, to add to your unkind
thoughts, because you can not
grasp them with numb fingers, one
or more slips through your fingers
to the mud or grass, and you
must pile out and spend from
three to five minutes searching
for them. Then you see a patron
farther down the road waiting for
YOU while you are inaudibly ex-
pressing yourself. So for your
own protection, for the coin
lost in the mud or grass is your
loss' and for the convenience of
your carrier, always place the
coins in the cup. Just take the
top of a baking powder can and
leave it in the box for that pur-
pose.
Another unsafe thing to do is
70 leave a letter containing bills
in payment of a money order in
he mail box without leaving
note that may be easily seen, to in
dictate that the letter contains a
money order application and bill
have had experience. | did not
notice that the letter was unseal-
ed, supposing it to be an ordinary
letter, placed it in with the other
mail. 1t went out, but fortunately
enough the letter reached It's des-
tination. But yours may not and
You viii be the loser. Most car
2ierS are careful, so please help
hem to avoid mistakes. Play
safe Leave the money in a cup.
Your box must have SIGNAL.
Here is amended section 772 past
al laws and regulations: Rural
carriers shall open and examine
boxes of patrons only when sig
anls are displayed to indicate that
they contain mail for dispatch.
When mail is collected from box
the carrier shall lower the signal
whether he has deposited mail in
the box or not. The signal on a
box is not to be raised by carrier
when he deposits mail therein.
Do not forget to raise the signal
when You deposit mail for the car
rler to pick up, for your daily
paper may not come or the carrier
may not have mail for you.
he will pass your box unless
signal is up.
Anoti rl'a'ter of - mn rt-
ance is, keep a supply Of stamps
on hand and have your letters or
cards stamped ready for the car
lier
Remember you are only one of
many ! have on my route about
}57 boxes or 265 families making
over 1000 patrons over 10 years of
age. If ! had TO stay at each box
nd pick up pennies for one let
Ter at each box it would require
about a half minute additional
~ two hours time more than is
aow required. This would make
impossible for me to make the
phcdule thai tbe pnvnrunent b.,