Rural Mail Delivery - an ingenious idea - 1904

PENNY

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/1/2011 at 11:55:44

"The Fairfield Daily Journal"
Thursday, September 22, 1904
Page 1, Column 2

THE MULE JUST HAS TO GO.

Eldora, Sept. 20. -- In his desire to furnish quick rural mail delivery to his farmer patrons along his route, Newton PENNY, a carrier who runs out of Ackley, has improvised a scheme which is novel and interesting. He drives a mule to his delivery wagon and the animal now makes the trip quicker than any of the others, all on account of a clever electrical contrivance which Mr. PENNY has perfected and arranged. A box full of batteries is placed near the driver's seat. Wires run from the batteries down by the tugs and are attacked (sic - attached) to pads on the mule's harness. PENNY has placed a button on the seat and by a simple press of the button the mule does the rest, and driver, mail wagon and mule can get a fast mail move on themselves which brings Uncle Sam's mail quickly to the patrons and pleases all of the parties who receive their daily papers through Mr. PENNY. The driver never has occasion to use a whip.

The scheme is bound to be a success for physicians state that electricity is good for the mule and the United States postoffice department state that quick delivery is what they want with their mail.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.