Gainesville Daily Sun

MAIL ROUTES FOR ALACHUA CO.

Congressman-Elect Clark Wants to Help People of His District.

GIVE THEM FREE MAIL DELIVERY

The People of the County Will be Greatly Benefited by This Convenience, and Colonel Clark Has Begun Already His Work.

Hon. Frank Clark of Lake City, Congressman-elect from the Second Congressional District of Florida, is beginning work early, which his constituents will duly appreciate. Ever since his election in November of the past year he has been studying the needs of the people of his district, with the result that his calendar is well filled for a beginning.

Jesse E. Burtz, representing Alachua county as a member of the Democratic Executive Committee of the Second Congressional District, has received a letter from Col. Clark in which he states that he desires to give the people of Alachua county the benefit of a system of free rural mail delivery, reaching from Gainesville to all points where a round trip can be made within one day, and where the minimum of one hundred families may be served.

In his letter Col. Clark says:

"I desire to begin work immediately for the establishment of free rural mail routes throughout Alachua county. I have this day written the department at Washington asking them to supply me with blank forms to petition, and hope to have them in a short time.

"The establishment of these routes over your county will be of vast benefit in various ways. It will not only be a convenience to your citizens but will give employment to a number of our people.

"In order that you may understand the manner of securing these routes, I will briefly state the main requirements:

"1st—The route must be through the rural district, away from the railroad, and of such length that the round trip can be made in a day from the starting point.

"2nd—There must be along the line of route, and within one mile on either side, one hundred heads of families to be served.

"These are the main points to be considered, and it seems to me there might be several routes leading from Gainesville and reaching out into the different parts of Alachua county. If you will investigate this matter and report to me as early as you can, I think I can have them established."

Mr. Burtz conferred with Postmaster Arnow in the matter, and ascertained that there is now in contemplation a rural route from Gainesville through North Gainesville, Paradise and intermediate points to Rutledge, returning via Bennington on an intermediate line to the south, and including all stations and families in this route about one hundred and twenty-five families, and covering a round-trip distance of about twenty-three miles.

This application was filed with the proper authorities several months ago, and will be established at the proper time. The application is now on file at the postoffice department in Washington, and it is expected that it will be reached and acted upon at any time.

Another route is suggested from Gainesville to points south of the Seaboard Air Line, returning via Rocky Point, which will supply a hundred or more families within a radius ten miles.

While Postmaster Arnow has worked faithfully for the establishment of rural routes, Col. Clark is to be congratulated for his energy, which is the best evidence that he is faithful to his trust, and in advance has begun to study the needs of his constituents.

There is no doubt but that the routes will be secured, through these recommendations and the efforts of Congressman Clark, at the proper time.