farmers' institutes. '701 



but can be made of still greater service to the rural districts by can-ying 

 freight and express. They can do this quickly and cheaply. They can take 

 produce direct from the farms and deliver goods there too. The trolley 

 lines will be to the rural districts what the railroad is to the city and 

 even more. 



Reports of officials concerning the growth of rural free mail delivery, 

 are most encouraging to the farmer. This method of distributing mail 

 in the country started five or six years ago with an appropriation of 

 $10,000. The first route ran out of Charleston, W. Va. Rural delivery 

 at oiice became popular. On the first day of last November, 6,000 routes 

 were in operation, with one carrier to each. Since these routes were 

 established, the amount of matter collected and distributed has materially 

 iucreased. The carriers not only deliver the farmers' letters and papers 

 each morning, but are also provided with stamps, issue money orders, 

 and register letters. These routes are to be inspected every six months, 

 and close watch is kept on the service of the carriers. Delinquent carriers 

 are looked after and if a farmer has any complaint of his service, he has 

 only to report to headquarters at Indianapolis, and the matter will be 

 investigated. 



What more can the farmer ask? 



In making up their routes especial attention has been given to good 

 roads. If they are too bad the service may be discontinued temporarily, 

 at least, and this it is hoped will prove a sufficient incentive to the 

 farmers in seeing that the roads are kept in good repair at all seasons of 

 the year. 



The State Board of Commerce held its annual meeting at Indianapolis 

 in February, and among other topics discussed there was that of good 

 roads. Especial emphasis Avas laid upon their value to the farmer. 

 Good roads add much to the enjoyment of country life. One speaker 

 said the farmers have the situation in their own hands. They can 

 influence legislation that will give them ample road facilities for market- 

 ing their grain, and all the products of their farms at all seasons of the 

 year. 



At the meeting of the State Board of Commerce a committee was 

 appointed to take up the road laws of the various states to see if what 

 was good in them is applicable to Indiana, and put the matter in shape 

 for action by the legislature. Our rural public schools, although not 

 perfect in all respects, are capable of giving the children who attend them 

 regularly, an excellent education. Children have many advantages now 

 that have not always existed. The graded district school of today, with 

 its present course of study, together with the township high school, 

 offer advantages unknown to many older people. I regret to see compara- 

 rively so few of our country boys and girls going through these township 

 hiiili schools. 



