The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-11-23
A PARCELS POST
Would Be a General Benefit to the
Country.

Ide G. Sargent of Granville, this
state, writes an excellent letter to the
Randolph Herald and News taking up
the parcels port question. Mr.. Sar-
gents letter is as follows
In your issue of Oct. 10 you seem to
favor a limited parcels post but are
opposed to a general parcels post
saying "The big cities are grow
ing up fast enough now at the ex-
pence OF the country without giving
the great mail order houses the ire
mendous advantage over the small
country merchant that the general
parcels post would hand over TO
them" And in advocating a limited
parcels post you say:-"E Every reason
able need would be served and the
business of the country merchant
would not be struck down at blow"
agree with you that any measure
that tends to build up the city at the
expense OF the country is to be de
plored and fought with every legiti-
mate means, but believe you are en-
tirely mistaken in feeling a general
parcels post will work an injury to
the country. To the contrary it will
be of incalculable benefit to both
country and city. The thing that has
done most to depopulate the country
districts has been the feeling among
our young people that the city offers
greater advantages for enjoyment
and securing wealth; that farming
does not pay. Some imagine that a
system OF agricultural education will
stop this stream of our best blood
from the farms, but much as 1 favor
agricultural schools, it will not do 1t
further than II makes a better bust
ness man OF the farmer and enables
him to make a profit from his farm.
The farmer is essentially manu-
facturer. a producer. Like any other
business man he must make a profit
or go. out OF business. No sane per
son acquainted with the facts will
claim that the price of farm products
paid by the consumer in the city
should be higher, but the price paid
by the consumer does not go to the
farmer. II is largely used up by the
transportation companies and the
middleman. There is absolutely no
way this can be changed except to
adopt the parcels post and make II
possible for the farmer to ship direct
to the consumer to the advantage OF
both With the adoption of the par
cells post the farmer In Granville or
Randolph can mail his eggs and but
ter direct to the consumer In Boston,
New York or even Philadelphia, who
will receive them within twenty-four
hours. This system has been in op-
GRAFTON for years In Europe and has
been of tremendous benefit to both
farmer and city consumer in Ger
many, Denmark and England.
| claim the American farmer and
city consumer are not getting a
square deal when our government
will carry an eleven-pound package
that comes from Berlin or London,
from New York to San Francisco at
postal union rates. but won't carry a
hve.pound box of butter for us to one
OF Our own cities. Adopt the parcels
I post and bring the farmer and city
consumer within hailing distance OF
each other Give portion of the
exorbitant charges of the transporta.
ton companies and middlemen to the
farmers and farming will pay. The
building up OF the country districts
will take care of itself.
SO far as the country merchant is
concerned, he should not be given q
thought IN this connection. There Is
only one thing that can strike a blow
at his prosperity and that Is his own
aslnine stupidity and lack OF progress
siyeness. We farmers are not goine
to be walled in from legitimate OF
portunities to enable some crossroads
blockhead to make profit. He
ought TO so to the wall. The up-to
date country merchant Is perfectly
capable Of taking care OF himself: he
has a place TO oil and IL In no danger