The Mail Starved North River
Citizens of the remote North River region are petitioning for a dedicated post office, citing their reliance on the charity of neighbors to ferry mail from distant towns.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Citizens of North River are petitioning for a post office, and we believe they deserve it. Over 175 people would be accommodated thereby, saving them long trips besides getting their mail more regularly. As matters stand now, these people are compelled to get their mail from South Bend or Montesano, remaining dependent upon whoever happens to visit any of these offices to bring the mail for his neighborhood. A petition has been circulated to establish a route from down North River to where the railroad of Pacific is expected to be built at the head of North River, and toward Arctic, Chehalis county, and thence to Montesano. This is a vital need and altogether will accommodate about 500 people. The citizens of this section should persistently urge the matter and the Western World will aid toward helping the matter along. When officials study the practical route we believe they will be glad to establish the new office and allow two, if not three, mails a week.
“As matters stand now, these people are compelled to get their mail from South Bend or Montesano, remaining dependent upon whoever happens to visit any of these offices to bring the mail for his neighborhood.”
This reflects the extreme isolation of rural Washington in 1891, where civic infrastructure lagged years behind settlement. Today's battle for broadband connectivity in these same remote timber valleys is a direct, modern iteration of this struggle for connection.
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