Rural mail boxes on right-hand sideThe following article appeared in the Rock County Herald on Oct. 21, 1921: All must be changed by Nov. 1st, according to new order of post office departmentRuling applies to all sections of countryNew ruling governing hours offices shall remain open have also been receivedUnder a new ruling issued by the post office department at Washington, all patrons of rural mail delivery routes must, on or before Nov. 1st, have their mail boxes erected on the right side of the road, according to the direction from which the mail carrier arrives. For instance, if the carrier travels north, the mail boxes must be on the east side of the road, regardless of whether the patron resides on that or the west side of the highway. If the carrier travels east, the boxes must be on the south side of the road; if he travels south the mail receptacles must be on the west side, and if he travels west the boxes must be on the north side. The order further specifies that patrons must place the boxes so that the carriers can reach them without driving over ditches, or through places where there is danger of their vehicles becoming mired or lodged in wet weather. The mail boxes should be placed close to the edge of the road, and not near the patron’s fence, and the approach to the box should be flat and not slanting, so as to eliminate the danger of skidding into the mail box with automobiles in muddy weather. All mail boxes must have lids on them so they can be closed easily in order to protect the mail matter against inclement weather, the order provides. Failure to comply with these requirements lays the patron liable to discontinuance of mail delivery service. The rule requiring that all mail boxes be placed on the right side of the road from the direction in which the carrier travels in reaching a patron, is in keeping with the state laws that specify that all travelers must keep to the right side of the road on public highways. In connection with the new rules, the post office department calls the attention of patrons to the fact that the winter mail service can be greatly improved if patrons will see that weeds and other rank growths along the roadways are cut now, so that snow will not have a tendency to lodge on the highways. When it is considered that 75 percent of the rural mail routes lead over roads that are subject to very little travel at any time of the year, it will readily be appreciated that a little assistance in the respect on the part of the patrons will make possible much better service from the carrier. Patrons residing within Luverne are urged to have all mail addressed to street and house numbers. Even though a patron does not take advantage of city delivery he should have his mail addressed to street and house numbers, it is contended, as this is often a means of identifying the addressee. This is especially true in cases of similarity of names. Adding the street and house numbers of post office box numbers insures more efficient service on the part of the post office. There is an average of 150 pieces of misdirected mail received at the post office daily, which require directory service. Besides this, there are about the same number of pieces received daily which are undeliverable and must be returned to the sender. Local firms are urged to present their mailing lists at the post office for correction. This service can be charged for according to the postal regulations, but will be done free of charge during this month. By correcting the lists it will be a mutual service to both the patron and the post office. It will eliminate delay for the patron and unnecessary handling of misdirected mail by the post office force. Under a ruling of the post office department the office hours at the post office are from about 8:15 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 6:30 to 7 p.m. The lobby door must be closed promptly at 8 p.m., unless there is someone still on duty in the office proper. Complaints of any character concerning service received by patrons of the office, should be made to the postmaster, and prompt attention will be given to rectifying them. Donations to the Rock County Historical Endowment Fund can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.
