This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Small town residents NOT included!? Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/ok.2ADE/1660.1 Message Board Post: THE FREMONT COUNTY SUN. April 25, 1901. "Rural Mail Delivery".--As an evidence of the increasing popularity of the rural mail delivery it may be stated that there are nearly 500 rural mail route cases pending in Iowa alone, and it is stated upon the very best authority that it will not be many years before every farmer residing upon a main country road will have his mail delivered at his door at least once a day and have his outgoing mail picked up without the trouble of driving to his nearest town to post his letters. As a further evidence of the growing popularity of this system, in many instances farmers have considered it worth their while to offer the government bonuses for the establishment of the routes. The government, however, is not asking for outside aid in the shape of subsidies from anyone. Its only demand is that a sufficient number of patrons shall be found along any proposed route to justify the undertaking in the matter of expense. The expense is small, being, as it is confined to the salary of the carrier, which is only about $30 a month, and out of this he must pay for the maintenance of his horse or team and conveyance of what ever description. Ther are no restrictions by the government as to the kind of conveyance to be used. The carrier may suit himself as to design, cost or other circumstances. It is he that has to pay and it is likely that he will for the present at least try and get along with the cheapest and at the same time, the most convenient vehicle possible. Elaborate affairs for the purpose have been gotten up but in most cases they are altogether too expensive for the remuneration received by the carrier. By and by when the pay of the latter shall be increased he may indulge in what ever luxuries in that respect to which he may feel inclined. Were this new idea in postal matters not meeting with the most gratifying success there would not be so many mail routes under consideration as there are at present in one state alone. Similar good reports came from Kansas, and other sections are also awakened to the new order of things.