New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-11-03
PARCELS POST LIKELY.
Up TO NEXT CONGRESS-.
Postal League Head Thinks System
You'd Cheaper Farm Produce.

There Is bright outlook for an extension of the
United States postoffice service to include larger
packages and bring the parcels post here to Level
with that IN most European countries according TO
The announcement made yesterday by F. c. Beech
president of the Postal Progress League. Mr.
Reech said TINT he expects some action along this
lire will be taken at the next session of Congress.
and referred TO the hopeful remarks of Postmaster
General Meyer who, following a conference with
President Roosevelt a few weeks ago. said that he
would make recommendations TO raise the present
parcels post weight limit
One Of the most important phases OF such a
chenge would be its eventual bearing on the prices
Of farm products TO the city or suburban dweller
Mr. Beech pointed out that with a fiat rate of
cent pound, and virtually unlimited weight for
articles by parcels. post within certain defined
radH of the rural free delivery. prices of such
articles eggs. butter and fresh vegetables would
be reduced probably 10 per to the consumer
Fully that amount IS added to the cost of provisions
in New York owing to the expense of handling as
4. Is done at present.
IN view Of The fact that farm products of all
Eorts have reached the top of the scale here in
New York at present." said Mr. Beech. at seems
:het the matter of parcels post reform should he
specially pertinent TO those persons who find tho
cost Of living burdensome."
Those who have made a study of the parcels post
system. however, say that in England the city
dweers have made good use of their opportunities
The reformers ask among other changes IN postal
rates for letters and third and fourth class matter
that the limit of parcels post packages in this
country be raised from four pounds. as it is at
present, TO eleven pounds The weight limit for the
foreign parcels post is eleven pounds and the
rate z cents pound. Thus II costs 4S cents to
send four-pound parcel say, from San Francisco
10 Germany. any other place in Europe, while
the same package sent from San Francisco to an
address in New York would 81 cents.
The greatest change that the league and merchants
who are IN favor of an increased parcels post. is
10 provide for free delivery system divided into
an extension Of the present rural free de-
livery system. AS the for delivery OF parcels
from one point TO another within a certain zone
they recommend one cent pound President Beech
and others say that weight limit should either
be much higher than for parcels 10 further points.
else il should be removed altogether
For example said Mr.. Beech, under such con-
0itions New York. at least its suburbs, might
be included in that also included country
districts in Long Island, Westminster County and
New Jersey. Then farmers in those zones could
send by parcels post to their customers eggs butter
and milk. with garden vegetables fresh every day.
The price the consumer would pay the farmer, to-
gether with the advantage OF having the produce
delivered directly from the farm by the postofice
automobiles, would make the charge OF l cent
& pound appear a trife."
Inquiries among produce seemed 10 show
that they are satisfied with the present system OF
delivery by railroads. II appeared. however, that
from the delivery Of produce from the commission
houses IN the downtown section near the railroad
ferry terminals TO stores in Harlem the cost OF
transportation is, the average, - q truckload-
Thus a truckload OF potatoes, valued at $50, had
one-sixteenth added to the cost TO the consumer
besides the retailers profits and the cost of
railroad transportation. \ produce dealer, in
discussing this fact. said. however:
The conditions in New York such that I
think the parcels post delivery Of produce would
never become extensive. The geographical posi-
ton Of the city would interfere with that, and
would probably leave many sections out of zone
OF delivery that included farming districts. II
might work very well In smaller cities, having a
larger which TO draw for farm products.
And In this city, too, most of the produce used
is made by long hauls the railroad for dis
tances that one-cent-a-pound rate could cover
Postmaster Morgan said: 1.-The Postmaster Cen
eral has already announced that he will recon-
mend a raising Of the weight limit for domestic
parcels post perhaps eight or ten pounds.
could not venture opinion on the question or
any future extension OF the free delivery along
the lines followed in Great Britain