The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-09-11
Parcels Post.

News:
If things materialize, as it is said and
hoped they will, the next session of
Congress will have presented before it's
Solons for strong consideration 'Par-
cells Post Bill"
This change has been advocated by
Wanamaker, Villas, Bissell and other
Postmaster Generals, and at the next
of Postmaster General Meyer, backed
by the administration of which he is
such a shining light.
During the last decade or so, America
has generally lead the nations of the
world in useful and progressive eco
Monies, but there are two things in
which she is woefully behind-her tele-
graphic and parcels post facilities.
France, little Switzerland, Austro-Hun
gary, and Great Britain can give her
cards and spades, and WIN out on these
two propositions.
We have domestic postal parcels
rate, it is true, but it's cost to the COM
munity is said to be six thousand per
cent. more than that of Germany is
to her people. To little less degree,
it is the same in the other countries
mentioned, and in each country named
the parcels post is self-sustaining and
very profitable enterprise, as we'll as
being a great gain to the people and
a most convenient adjunct to the COM
forts of home life. 1t will, in a meas
ure, do away with the extortionate ex-
press companies charges and bring their
parcels to their doors by the free deliv-
cry route in rural districts.
In very able editorial on this sub
ject, in the ''Cleveland Press" of a
recent date, we are told, AN express
package, weighing three pounds was
sent from an American city to city
of the Argentine Republic. The charges
were $3.50. Under the present English
parcels post rates, the carrying charge
would have been 81 cents. Who gets
this business, England or the United
States? A European merchant ordered
goods from Minneapolis. The goods cost
$3.50. The carrying charge was $l4.35.
How can Europe afford to buy goods in
America? That is foreign business, you
say. Then take domestic comparisons.
Our present rates for domestic postal
parcels are 5000 per cent more than
Germany's are under her parcels post.
Why? A domestic parcels post would
save the consumer-the people-about
$25O,OOO,OO0 every year. Who gets this
$25O,OOO,OO0 now?
''The four big express companies get
most of it. That's the reason they have
fought the idea of a parcels post so
bitterly. Then the government gets
some. More opposition comes from many
small retailers and from country store
keepers. They say that a parcels post
would rob them of their business and
give it all to the big mail-order houses.
Doubtless there is some truth in this
contention; but the small dealer forgets
that under a parcels post system he,
knowing the wants of his trade, could
order small lots of goods at very little
shipping expense; he could anticipate
the demands of his trade and satisfy
it almost as cheaply as the mail-order
house; he could build up, at no financial
risk, a very profitable commission bust
ness. He would lose little; the con-
sumner would gain everything. Millions
of people are not served now by the
express companies. A parcels post
would make every rural free delivery
route self-supporting, and would result
in thousands of additional free deliv-
cries. Think of your express bills, and
then consider what foreign countries
have done. Austria Hungary sends H.
pound parcels 10 miles for 10 cents !;
further distance for IL cents. Great
Britain sends IL pounds for rs cents.
Switzerland sends IL pounds for cents,
and aS much aS ID Mounds for 33 CENTS