The Colfax Gazette

A Notable Anniversary.
On October 1 will be celebrated the 13th anniversary of rural free delivery in the United States, and the postoffice department has issued a summarized report giving the marvelous progress that has been made during this time. At the start the rural route proposition was begun as an experiment in Virginia, but little by little the routes have been added until today it covers an area of over 8 million miles and with over 40,000 routes. The total cost of the service up to the present time will reach $170,000,000.
Rural free delivery has proven to be something more than a mere convenience for people living in rural communities. It has materially increased the value of farm lands and has been a powerful influence for the building and maintaining of good roads. The postoffice department estimates that it has been responsible for the expenditure of no less than $75,000,000 for the betterment of highways. The department's conclusions as to the benefits of the service may be epitomized as follows:
From an ethical point of view it promotes neighborly relationship and intercourse with other communities.
From a commercial standpoint it benefits the farmer by enabling him to keep posted on the markets.
In an economical sense the public derives the advantages of good roads.
Educationally speaking, it has largely extended the circulation of local and metropolitan papers, magazines and general literature and has proved a stimulus to personal correspondence.
In speaking of deficiencies Fourth Assistant Postmaster General De Graw, at the recent convention of postmasters at Toledo, Ohio, said:
"It has often been stated that the expense incident to rural delivery has been the cause of deficiencies from time to time in the postal revenues. The records of the department, however, do not confirm these conclusions.
"In 1897, when the expenditure on account of rural delivery was only $14,840, the postal deficit was $11,411,179, while 10 years later, in 1907, when the expenditure for rural delivery had increased to approximately $26,755,524, the postal deficit was but $6,653,282."