Nc. ti. 1JJ-:PAK'I MION r Ol' AUitlClil/IUKHJ 5a3 



FREE} RURAL MAIL DELIVERY. 



AN ADDKESS TKEPAKEl) FOR THE INTERNATIONAL GOOD 

 ROADS CONGRESS, HELD AT RUFFALO, N. Y., SEPTEMliElJ 

 16-21, 1901. 



15Y LION. A. W. MACHKN, General Superintendent Free-Delivery System, Post-office Dej>artmcnt. 



"No other biancli of our great postal system is as far-reaching in 

 its effects as the rural free-delivery service. It means tlie exten- 

 sion of the post-office to the doors of the people. The rural letter 

 carrier is in fact a traveliiig post-office, performing practieally all the 

 functions of a postmaster. Besides delivering and collecting ordi- 

 nary mail, he ,delivers registered letters, registers letters, sells 

 stamps and stamped envelopes, cancels the stamps on the letters he 

 collects, and receives money en route for (he purchase of money 

 orders. He is au awticipated and welcomed visitor to the country 

 home and becomes a fixture in farm life. 



It is no wonder, then, that (he people want a service of this kind, 

 and that the demand for it has gradually' become more and more 

 urgent, until to-day it is practically universal and not to be resisted. 

 The people are determined to have it, and after receiving it are bound 

 that is shall be efficient and satisfactory. This it can not be unless 

 the roads over which it is operated are iu good condition. Good 

 roads are indispensable to a ically efficient rural service. It is es- 

 sential that the service be performed with regularity and i)unctuality. 

 It must be a daily service, and the patron must be reasonably sure 

 that the carrier will pass the gate at about the same time every 

 day. A well-built and well-kept road will permit of such a service; 

 over bad roads it can not be maintained. Even though a carrier is 

 able to cover his route over bad roads, the time consumed is often 

 from ooe to three hours in excess of what it should be were the high- 

 ways in proper condition. A good rural service, then, means good 

 roads, and, as the people insist upon the former, they must eventually 

 obtain the latter. 



It should, therefore, be ajiparent to anyone who gives the subject 

 careful consideration that the good roads propaganda, which started 

 some years ago with the progressive business people of our cotintry, 

 must re(eive a powerful im|»('tus from the establishment of this ninv 

 and popular service. 



