Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1912-12-13

direct from the producer without the
intervention Of tho middleman, or the
country merchant. It is claimed that
the parcel post will provide q remedy
for the high cost Of living SO far as
necessities of the table are concerned
as it will enable the consumer to re-.
ceive the necessities direct from the
producer at something like the cost
at which they are produced.
The effect Of the postal system of
transportation on table necessities is
indicated by statement Of the post
office department. It shows the price
Of two dozen eggs, a dressed fowl,
three pounds Of butter, a like amount
of country sausage, country cured
ham and a half bushel of apples at
the farm. They sold at farm near
Washington at $3.50, but when they
got to the consumer the cost was
1856.
With the perfection Of the system
the housewife can order her entire
market list from the farmer at the
price at which he sold the articles, the
postman collecting the price on de-
livery and -remitting it to the farmer.
The G. O. D. feature Of the system is
one of the problems now before the
postoffice department.. It may not
be made effective at the beginning,
| but in time it will be permanent
part Of the parcels post delivery. An
other problem now under consider
alton involves the shipment Of ber-
| ries, butter, eggs and other perishable
products.
The inference from the foregoing is
that the government expects in due
course Of time, through the medium
of the parcel post, to handle very
large amount at least Of the business
between the producer and the con-
sumer, and to that extent take away
from tf,aA business of leeaI%a5 mer-
chant.
Just ,ow it will all work out under
actual .lial is an interesting question.
The postoffice department is a tre-
mendei,s business affair at present,
ana * n IL. addition Of the parcel
post may become unwieldy and the
new feature prove big money loser.
On the other hand, under wise busi-
ness mana cement, the parcel post may
prove great blessing to the public
and a source Of net profit to the de-
partment.
In order to determine the extent to
which this service will be used and to
enable the department to make prep
aration for prompt and efficient
handling Of the parcels, the postmast-
ers of the country have been instruct
ed to get answers to the following
questions from local business men:
What is the average number Of
fourth class parcels now mailed by
you dailyS
What will be the average mailed by
you daily when this law goes into
effecte Their average weight Their
average sizea
What proportion Of the entire
number will be for local deliverye
Will your parcels be mailed in large
quantities at stated intervals or will
there be regular daily mailings
What percentage Of parcels will be
insureds
Registered Perishable3 Fragile!
When the G. O. D. feature is placed
in operation, what percentage of your
parcels will be sent G. o. d.
Intelligent answers to the forego-
ing are not easy and in fact are to a
certain extent impossible. It is new
problem to the merchant; he has not
had an opportunity to study it and
post himself as to it's possible or
probable workins; he does not fully
understand what the government pro.
poses to do, and he is by no means
sure of what he will attempt to do
himself under the changed condition.
It will take time and experience to
enable users Of the parcel post to de.
tprnine to what extent they will use
it to their own advantage.
Table Of all zones follows:
1st Each II
lb. Add1 lbs.
Rural route and city