The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-01
PARCELS POST PLANS.
scheme generally Favored. But 0r-
posed by Express Companies.

The extension OF rural free delivery
viii be followed by an effort TO get the
Government 10 carry through the
mail parcels larger than the four
pounds now allowed. and at a moderate
cost The negotiation OF postal treaties
by which we carry N the mail larger
parcels from persons in foreign countries,
or to them. than for our own people has
been looked upon as an entering wedge.
1t has been suggested that the rural de-
livery mail wagons might to advantage
carry express packages
why not have the Government carry
the parcels. as weil as the letters and
NEWSPAPERS >" is question often asked
of postal officials. It is urged that
postal wagon making daily trip through
the rural regions ought at the same time
to afford facilities for transmitting par
GELS. because the cost OF ordinary ex-
press delivery IS IN many places so great
as to be almost prohibitiye.
Ii is claimed that universal free de-
livery. accompanied b. parcels pGst
addition to the Government service.
would revoIutionize the retail trade OF
the United States. The farmer would
make most of his purchases from the big
shops in the cities That IS already done
to a large extent, particularly IN Chicago.
which IS said to have developed the mall
trade more than any other city in the
country For almost any household aTti-
Gle the easiest mode OF purchase would
probably be 10 write letter TO be taken
up AT the door by the mail wagon or its
daily rounds. and to receive package
a day OF two later in the same way. The
farmers wife would not have to leave
Of he.r-
supplies
Parcels post advocates have long feared
the aEtagenisn of the country sh0pkeeper-
They BOW hope that rural free delivery
will be sufficiently popular, as its advant-
ages become known. 70 override this cp-
position and make the aggregate vote OF
the farming community favorable. com
pilation has been made OF the advantages
of a parcels pest. which viii be incoTpoTat-
ed in a speech in Congress at the coming
session and then be distributed broadcast
as a public document An effort will be
made to consolidate the interests scattered
through the country which are now work
ing in a somewhat spasmoGic way. for the
parcels post United into a national or
ganizdtiou. they viii expect the support Of
the business houses that would be helped
/ by coming into immediate trade relation
with the rural millions.
Mr.. Loud. Chairman CT The House Post
| office Committee. Is much opposed to tn
parcels post He thinks the treaties b!
which We carry 1f-pound parcels for fer
eiEneTs are a mistake. Dir Loud was no
\ originally in favor Of rural delivery AM
| opposed the first $4,000 appropriation 70
| experimental purposes.
It is probable that the transmission 0
! parcels at a low Government rate. and wit
ample means Of collection and delivery
1 would Increase its volume TO such degre
as TO make present estimates OF the bust
/ ness no real test The express eompanie
lose something b. a Supstcation of serv
/ ices. who. OF course. oppose the parcel
plan: often three or four express Office
! will be found in a row, whereas the Gov
ernmeEt would accomplish some Of tn
savings that go with the elimination O
| competition