We can hardly estimate its value in business and home life, in the city or on the farm.  There are about 8000 rural telephone systems in the United States serving the homes of two million farmers.  In 1912, out of seven hundred and eighteen telephone systems in North Carolina, about six hundred and fifty were country telephone systems owned and operated privately by groups of farmers.  These included about 20,000 telephones and used approximately 35,000 miles of wire.

Service of the rural telephone To call a neighbor and ask for the exchange of labor on certain work, as threshing, haying, etc., is only the work of a moment.  To have a definite answer immediately is often worth much.  To be able to ’phone the village storekeeper, who runs a country delivery, and ask that supplies be sent out is a great convenience to the housewife.  To ’phone the implement dealer and learn whether he has needed repairs in stock and, if so, to have them sent out on the next trolley car, if not to ask him to telegraph the factory to forward them immediately by express, is a saving of time that often amounts to a large saving when the planting or harvesting of crops is delayed because of needed repairs.

... farm homes have been saved from destruction by fire because of prompt help secured by word over the telephone; ... valuable animals have been saved through the early arrival of the veterinarian who was summoned by ’phone. ...  Many an itinerant sharper’s plans have been frustrated. ...  The sharper in disgust turns to other fields where there are no telephones over which to notify his prospective victims of his game.

Business appointments, social appointments, discussions of social and church plans, to say nothing of the mere friendly exchange of greeting over the telephone have probably compensated every owner of a rural telephone many times over for the expense of it, if all business advantages were ignored.

...  At some seasons of the year the general summons to the ’phone gives notice that central is ready to report the weather bureau’s prognostication for the following day. ...

[Footnote:  “Rural Conveniences,” by H. E. Van Norman, in the annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, March, 1912]

The cost of this important aid to community life has been reduced to a small amount in many rural districts by the organization of local cooperative telephone companies.

Ask at home, or have committee interview postmaster: 

How is the postmaster in your post-office chosen?  Are all postmasters chosen in the same way?

What are first-class, second-class, third-class, and fourth-class post-offices?

How are rural mail-carriers chosen?

What is a “star mail route,” and how does it differ from an ordinary rural route?  Are there any “star routes” in your county?

What constitute first-class, second-class, third-class, and fourth-class mail?  What is the rate of postage on each?