The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1925-08-12
Inspector Drake
lnStruCtS The
Rural Carriers
DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE
MAKES OFFICIAL TALK ON
WORK AND RULES OF RURAL
CARRIERS.

The chief talk of instruction given
at the State Rural Carriers, conven-
tion held here last week was that
given by Inspector George D'Aake.
His entire talk, which is of interest
to patrons of the rural routes as we'll
as to the carriers, is printed here
with.
While you are engaged of the SER
vice of your routes you are the re-
presentatives of the postal service and
the postmaster under whose immedi-
ate jurisdiction you are employed.
You should constantly bear in mind
that rural delivery routes are main
tanned for the benefit of the patrons;
that their rights and interests are
paramount; that your best efforts
should be exerted to the end that the
highest possible efficiency may be at
tanned; that the cooperation of your
patrons is essential to success on your
part, and that to secure and retain
the confidence and goodwill of your
patrons will greatly aid in the salts
factory operation of the service and
the performance of your duties. The
cultivation Of a spirit of cheerfulness
and good humor will be found to be
of help in this direction.
In view of your being the repre-
sentatives of the service with whom
residents of rural communities come
into the most usual contact, and in
order that you may satisfactorily full
fill your functions in this respect,
you should endeavor to attain rea-
sonably intimate knowledge of the
postal laws and regulations general
-ly, and a full knowledge of those
particular sections which relate spec
ifically to rural delivery in order that
questions asked by patrons may be
intelligently and accurately answer
ed.
Schedules and Vehicles
The schedules prescribed by the
Department must be observed as
nearly as possibly in the time of
leaving and arriving at the post of
flee and effort should be made to
maintain about the same rate of ira
vel each day so that the patrons may
be able to estimate quite closely the
time when you will reach their res
pective boxes. In erder that this
requirement may be met, it is essen
tial that your conveyances be MAIN
tanned in good condition. Incidentally
the vehicles operated or owned by you
should be given such attention that
they will present neat and we'll
cared for appearance, thus reflecting
credit upon yourselves and the SER
vice as well.
Roads.
The Department has no jurisdiction
over public roads but requires that
those travelled by rural carriers shall
be maintained in such condition as
to be easily and safely travelled at
all times. If the local authorities fail
to keep the roads in suitable condition
the Department has no alternative
but to withdraw the, service.
DeviatiOns.
You are required to serve your
routes along the lines laid down in
the official descriptions, as ordered
by the Department, except that in
cases of emergency it is expected
and required of you that you make
such deviations and use such roads
as may be- available and will enable
you to serve the greatest possible
number of patrons. When the devia-
tions involve only slight additional
travel and are likely to be of short du-
ration, it is not necessary that any
report be made to the Department:
but on the other hand, if the change
from the established route is of con-
siderable extent, or likely to be neces-
sary for a considerable period, i'm
mediate report should be made to
your postmaster with a statement as
to the portion of the route involved;
the additional travel required the
latter to be accurately stated, the
time the change became effective and
the probable date on which travel of
the official route may be resumed,
and the postmaster should then place
all the facts before the Department.
Whenever it is essential that you
make detours and are thereby requir-
ed to travel materially greater dis
tances than usual, for any consid-
erable period of time, temporary ad-
justment of salary may be made by
the Department, but not from date
earlier than the first of the month in
which accurate information concern
ing the matter is received.
Postmasters are expected and re-
quired to take up with road officials
and patrons interested, all cases
brought to their attention by the
carriers where repairs or more ex-
tended improvement of roads includ-
ed in rural delivery routes are neces-
sary; and in the event Of failure to
secure cooperation, and when roads
become practically impossible, the
facts should be made the subject of
report to the Department with suit
able recommendation for re-adjust-
ment of routes with view to with
drawing service from the neglected
roads. You should bring to the at
tention of your postmaster all instan-
ces where work on the roads is need
ed in the interests of regular and ef-
ficient service.
Boxes
Boxes provided by rural patrons
Continued on last page1