Daily Kennebec journal., 1924-03-24
METHOD OF HANDLING
RURAL DELIVERY
AT LOCAL P. 0.

very 1eW people VINO live In cOun-
try districts realize when they re-
ceive their daily mail, that they are
enjoying a privilege which is given
them only through the maintenance
OF the most expensive department of
the Civil Service System, Rural De-
livery. The average farmer receives
his mail before the person who lives
in the cities, as the rural carriers
leave the postoffice at or 7.30 A. NJ,
each week day and are generally
back to the Office between l and 2
o'clock in the afternoon.
In an interview with Postmaster
Edger ]. Brown of this city, to learn
something OF the rural carriers
routes in and about Waterville, the
Journal reporter asked Mr.. Brown
about the quantity of mail which
goes out in the country districts. Mr..
Brown replied that the bulk of let
ters coming into the Office every day,
was about evenly distributed between
the city and country districts. He
declared. however. that in the past
rev years, the farmer has been re-
ceiving much moro advertising mat
ter than the average city dweller,
Mailing houses today" declared
the postmaster. "are practically all
making a bid for the farmers
trade"
He went on to explain how often
the postoffice department receives
mailing lists Of farmers names from
mailing houses, to correct. Many out
OF state concerns have large lists of
names of people who live in country
districts and in order to advertise
directly with the people, they must
nave the correct addresses. For this,
they depend wholly on the postoffice
department. After they receive the
corrected lists,s they begin to cir
culate catalogues, circulars and
other mail, and in this way receive
a large amount of mail orders in
return.
There are five r. F. D. routes run
ming out Of Waterville. These routes
furnish mail to $40 boxes and 591
families, reaching over 5000 people
from the Waterville postoffice Four
or the five carriers, each cover rs
miles per day and the other carrier
has little over 81 miles to drive.
Ihe carriers arrive each morning
at the postoff1ce at 6 A. NJ, where
they sort their mail, and at Z A. M.
they leave the office and start on
their various routes.
Through the winter season this
schedule is changed to a half hour
later, in order to make train connec-
tons. In the summer, the carrier
used an automobile and can general
~ make his rounds and arrive back
tc the city postoffice before IL o'clock,
with the mail which he has collected.
In the winter however, it is necessary
TO use a team and the carrier some
times Is forced to spend the greater
part of his day in making the trip.
The possibility Of using snowmobiles
Tor rural delivery throughout the
state, In the winter, was mentioned
Dy the postmaster. In some Of the
Maine towns this was tied last win
Ter ana 1t proved to be very efficient.
AS the condition is now, q carrier
has to have considerable equipment
~, order to hold his position. The
car must be used in summer, and in
winter. two horses are needed, be-
sides the vehicles for snow and mud
time"
The Waterville routes spread out in
every direction from the city. Route
81 runs out Western avenue as far
as Rice's Rips. and then swings down
to North Sidney through several
cross roads to the Sidney Middle road
and back to Watervillc by Cool street.
Route 3S goes down Silver street
to the Sidney river road for about
nine miles and through q cross road
to what is called the Eight Rod road
and thence to Waterville by Oakland
street.
Route 80 runs down through the
town of Winslow on the river road as
far as Oak Grove Seminary. From
there the carrier goes 20 North Vas
salboro village, out to the Four Cor
ners, covering several cross roads and
back to Winslow by the shoddy mill.
and then Waterville.
Route 40 also goes through Wins
low. over Sand hill to Benton Falls,
East Benton. through a corner of the
town of Albion and back to the city
by the Harris road.
The last route, that of Al, runs up
College Avenue to Fatrf field, and out
to Benton station. The next town is
West Clinton and the carrier returns
by the way of the Neck road and
Gown the east side Of the Kennebec
river to Winslow and Waterville.
Postmaster Brown stated that the
department has been trying to improve
the rural system by getting people who
reside in the country districts to keep
their mail boxes in the best of condi-
tion. Through the efforts of Mr.. Brown
in one of his semi-annual inspection
trips Of the routes large number of
boxes. which were nothing less than
salt receptacles or other disreputable
have. with the exception Of
one, all been replaced by standard
boxes. It is the earnest desire of those
in charge to impress upon the minds
of people the Importance Of keeping
the boxes in good condition. A ruling
has been made that all boxes shall be
of the standard make and shall be set
on the right hand side Of the road as
driven by the carrier, on a suitable
pole. The boxes when kept well paint
ed are ornaments of service Of which
the owners may be proud.
The rural system has been in use
for over 20 years and many small