Rural Delivery

Washington, Nov. 17. - On Monday next the postoffice department will begin the experiment of rural free delivery in an Illinois town. Auburn, in Sangamon county, has been selected as the place to make the experiment. Three carriers will take up all the mail for farm houses and other residences in a circle oí about four miles outside of Auburn. The details of the delivery will be left to the local authorities, but the carriers will probably be mounted or use a wagon, as in other cases where the same experiment has been tried. About a month ago the department began experimental stations' to test the feasibility of rural free delivery as now in use in England. Towrïs were selected in West Virginia, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Ohio. The work has not yet gone beyond the experimental stage in any of these places, but from preliminary reports received it is believed the service can be gradually extended with profit to the department. Letters were sent out Monday to postoffice inspectors and postmasters in the sections where the experiments are, being tried asking them to give a detailed report as to the benefit of the service and the possibility of its general adoption. These reports will be collated by the postmaster general and submitted to congress In time to be considered in connection with the postal appropriation bill. The officials of the department are not satisfiéd that mail can be delivered from house to house profitably except in sections which are comparatively thickly settled.