Source: The Andrews Express, July 8, 1882

A new mail route was started July 1st commencing at North Manchester via, New Madison and Pleasant View to LaGro, making a round trip in a day. C.D. Johnson has the contract for carrying the mail.

 

NMHS Newsletter, February 2000

Rural Mail Route Established

The Delivery of Mail Will Begin Next Saturday, March 15, Providence Permitting

The free rural mail delivery route to the south and east of this city, which was surveyed some time ago, as all the readers of the JOURNAL are aware, has been ordered by the postoffice department at Washington, and if there is no hitch in the proceedings from now on the first delivery of mail on the route will be made on March 15. This route covers a territory estimated at forty square miles in which something over 1,300 people reside. The number of families is probably 300. The distance to be traveled by the mail carrier is twenty-six miles and he will make the trip every day, except Sunday, leaving the postoffice here at 8 o'clock in the morning.

Each patron of the route is required to put up a substantial mail box on a post by the roadside in front of his residence or at whatever point he expects to get his mail. This the only expense the people along the route will be to. The mail boxes are to be put up in such a way that the carrier can drive alongside and put in or take out mail without getting out of his rig. All who expect to receive mail on the route should notify the postmaster of that fact. According to the rules of the department people living within a mile of the road traveled by the carrier can be served providing they put up boxes along the route. The carrier will both deliver and take up mail.

Charley Taylor has been appointed carrier and he will start out in grand style with his little red, white and blue wagon. His salary will be $400 annually. The first trip will be mainly devoted to delivering the boxes which are sold to the patrons who will put them up. It will take a trip or two to get the route in good working order. 

  • March 22, 1900
 
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Rural Mail Delivery Experience Where it Has Been Tried Shows it to Be of Wonderful Advantage

The rural Mail delivery route in charge of Charles Taylor is getting into shape as fast as possible. Not all the people along the route have their boxes up yet but he carries quite a large quantity of mail already. The people along the route are taking to the plan with pleasure. Some of the numerous advantages of the rural delivery are summed up as follows. The results of the introduction of the rural delivery of mail, as recorded by the postoffice department, show that it is a great promoter of educational influences. Not only does it increase the amount of mail received in country districts, but it greatly augments the number of letters written. The farmer finds his letters at his hand each day, and instead of waiting for the week to end, he replies at once. His correspondents increase in number, his interchange of letters become much more rapid and he finds himself in closer touch with the great world.

Newspapers reach him before the world has speed by the events they record, and he feels as if he were a part and parcel of the great whirling stream of life, and he awakens to a new consciousness of life.

The number of periodicals taken by farmers has vastly increased in all places where the new plan operates, and the education which comes from contact with the outer world is gladly absorbed. But there are other good results that come and will continue to expand. 

  • June 14 1900
It is reported that Charley Swank, mail carrier on rural route No 1 out of this city has had his salary increased to $500 a year. Heretofore carriers received $400 per annum for their work which is about $l.25 per day. They must furnish a horse and buggy and drive from twenty-five to thirty miles a day, and their compensation is very small for the services rendered. They are compelled to go over their routes in all kinds of weather.