Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1911 — RURAL ROUTES MUST BE SERVED [ARTICLE]

RURAL ROUTES MUST BE SERVED

Postoflicr De|mrtiucnt Becomes More Exacting With Carriers. The postoffice department is becoming more stringent in requiring that all rural routes be served entirely. Heretofore; during winter storms and the rainy season the carriers would not always make the entire route each day and were allowed full pay, if they covered most of the routes after all reasonable attempts.^ But now the department will make a reduction in the carrier’s pay upon a partial failure. When the partial failure is due to the carrier’s equipment or due to his failure, in stormy weather or in high water or bad roads% to use every endeavor to serve his route by traveling every possible road; whenever the failure is due to lack of interest in the service or misconduct on part of the carrier, sickness or any reason of a personal nature in the carrier. Upon reaching an obstructed point he should make such deviation from the official line of travel as to avoid it. If this is impossible he must return immediately to the postofficp and start out in the opposite direction. When after leaving the postoffice he finds he cannot reach his route he must take some other road though covered by another carrier, and endeavor to serve the patrons. The excuse that the roads are slippery or too hard to travel will not be considered, as each carrier must be prepared to serve his route under all condition, of weather and the roads.—Ex.