New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-30
THE WASTE IN DISCARDED BARRELS.
Correspondent Wants Law Enacted Providing
Package" disable Repeatedly.

Sir: II has been apparent TO many that in the
abstract we are overwhelmed with laws, vet Il is
evident 90 the analytical mind OF the commercial
world that lust one more law must be enacted
by the federal government.
The port OF Boston during 1905 received and dis
tributed nearly million barrels OF -four. The
other and larger cities OF the United States re-
ceived and distributed upward OF million barrels
Of -four each during 1903
These hundreds Of millions o, barrels made from
the best oak and other woods. are used usually
but once by the manufacturer. One oak barrel
often requires the destruction Of tree 10 supply
the stock These barrels paid for by the
in the price Of his necessities Of life and
thereafter usually destroyed.
An old -four sugar barrel in each home is re
gsrded commonly as valueless and useless I'M
pediment
But pause; examine IN. premises One million
barrels Of Boston -four means 100000 estimating
barrels actual cost az Sd lost II means that per
chance one million people paid 81 each for bar
rel useless thereafter. because the government Of
the United States permits The destruction Of
forests for this purpose and makes require
ment Of the manufacturers OF the staples OF life
that their productions shall be shipped TO The
sumner only in packages which are reussbie and
turnable at cost 10 them.
There countless such packages now obtain
able for the purpose and various methods 70 obtain
the result which in this paper need be further
referred 10. but as long this government gives
license 70 manufacturers, nov, 10 destroy The
barrels used but once by the manufacturer Just so
long will this uneconornic. improvident and burden
some legacy Of the past be continued
To the toler a dollar less paid for a barrel IN
which 10 transport -four. sugar and ether necessi-
ties is lost The barrel viii make TO bread II
instead his -four Was shipped TO him without cost
Of package (haTreD by providing him a package
returnsble al cost. the saving thus accomplished
would mean 70 him many loaves Of needed ana
hard-earned bread.
The million dollars paid By Boston consumers in
1905 for one million barrels which made no bread
would have purchased ten losyes % bread each for
q million poor and needy.
Thus the Intelligent mind focused upon the sub
Ject can perceive at glance the fact thai IN.
whole category OF merchandise the staples of Bfe
thus delivered 20 the consumer constitutes ,bs
most priniuiVe' destructive and prohbitfve method
obtaining ia the commercial usage of to-day The
cost the loss is incredible In its exact magnitude
and Is, In fact, commercially discredtabI.
Billions mot only millions) OF barrels are +hus
"aus 10 De pnt once used by the manufactures
PAID for by the sweat OF the brow Of the toinnr
masses, and destroyed-barres without the ror-
OF which millions of struggling men women a,s
children could he fed and nourished from the fona
Inc ineomprehensible destruction o. our forests
IN oroer 10 supply this Unsuitable demand OF COM
nerSe neeo only De referred 70 here 10 be recog-
Enzed ana appreciated by the intelligent
What of it, and how are We 20 stop II - ,,o nav
ASK simple enough great manufacture sais
to the writer: 4 have paid for my barrel OF aour
sugar etc, all my life without it ever occurring
10 me that in SO doing I was moi buvinS 49,,
and sugar-in buying barrels"
mus IL Is that few have as yet eon,nrebendss
thls monumental commercial leak through xuhtcb
unions OF dollars are wasted. yes actually
burned up for kindling wood in this the ,osst.s
r"enne'h century II commercial economy s,5
progress snn
Al Is then oenonstrable and self-eyidsnt ths,
granted package 60 replace this relc-of s,,,,,,
Ivy "arfeD which like the railroad car can Be used
q <nv sr,Z.
not as the barrel used once ana tb.res,,sr =.
stroyeo) the consumer Will thus be snsblea "a
secure his necessities OF life in p.rEsy. rri,h,,
"Seuse returnabls az cost the mann
setufer' hke the railroad car; that then this con-
summation oevoutly to De sought is en- fact rs,b,r
reach; that this saving can he .cco,nn,,
-hd this monstrous leak and actual loss can he
stopped ~ ~ De
Livery commercial organization. every freside
every voter In the land. should take action co.,
NI'eoiy IN one decisive request that a law he
enacted requiring the shipment OF merchand,xs a.
'e'aii package barrel, bag, whatsoever IL NAV
NC tahd or which there are various and numerous
l"eehoosl' sno not In wooden barrels of counties.
ieet OF long lumber. unless said barrels ar. csr
structed upon such lines OF endurance a. 70 y. oor
,nuousiy and repeatedly thereafter disable during
the life OF the same s
Ihus tins burden viii be taken from the shoulders
Mon nave ions borne " unconsciously. and this
unecononic commercially be reIegated SO far 70
the past that cuch epoch IN the world n, .or,
inerce may be forgotten-and 'forgivea-
me passage or such Law viii become = do,bl.
oenefaction TO humanity.
First-In vastly diminishing ,b. $780,. -,
destruction Of forests for this purpose.
eeoono-ln providing actual needed loeyes Of
pread Tor ths hungry. in the exact ratio OF the
lumber OF barrels OF -four consumed per capita
surely oenefsctio1 Of the FIRST gnitude every
citizen The Beneficiary ana which is prac,e.1,v ms.
sios OF accomplishment without injury 70 or ooer-
elon 81 any human being
LINCOLN g. CUMMINGS.
Srpeklins. ALAS, aug. e. lss