Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1912-02-02
The Parcels Post.

Charles S Hernly, President of the
New Castle, Ind, Industrial Associa-
tion, has just given the Senate POST
office Committee an interesting recit-
al of industrial development. He said
that New Castle was sleepy country
village with a population of 8. 406 in
1900. 1t is now thriving city hav-
ing about twenty-five important,
diversified industries and population
of something more than Is, 900. Tho
ugh huoses have been rapidly built,
last year an automobile. Company. en-
ploying two thousand hands in their
plant, found it necessary to invest
$3.50, 600 to pro, ide homes for their
employees. The success of New Castle
caused many other towns to follow it's
example. Mr.. Hernly's services have
been asked by commercial clubs in
nearly every state. Under his direc-
ton, Brazil, Evansville and other
Indiana cities have succeeded in loca-
ting important industries.
Mr.. Hernley said that one of the
first things they did not do was to
send for n lot of mail-order catalogs.
Lack of public spirit, he said, would
deaden any town. Local merchants had
always been active in such rdevelop.
ment. Amy system which disables
them from helping in such movements
supporting their local newspapers and
extending credits necessary in grow
ing towns. will result in decreased
home markets for farm products,
labor, etc. Lands near a live town are
worth much more than lands near a
dead town. Any rate which would en-
able the government TO operate Par
cells Post otherwise than ut a|great
loss would be so high ms to make it
impracticable for transporting farm
products. Merchants and farmers pre-
fer to sell goods and products through
personal inspection. Where the farm
cr might save few cents upon car
riage of goods bought from some
mail-ordcr house, ho would lose much
more through deadening of the town
and sending its resources to large
mail-ordcr centers.
4 "Parcels POST he said els the
entering wedge of Government owner
ship and Socialism, 1t will necessi-
tate large increase of force and
equipment. Its chief advocates have
introduced bills providing for Govern
ment operation of transportation lines
including public highways, "at lowest
possible rates regardless of distance"
If the limit bo increased to eleven
pounds. why not 100 pounds? 1t has
been said that eleven pounds IL the
weight of II gallon of whiskey, Jug
and containcr.
lie did not believe this to be true
function of the United States Govern
mcnt. Ours differs from those of the
old world in its encouragement to
liberty of thought and action, equal
and exnct justice to all. Local mer-
chants, he said, should likewise be
allowed to retain the advantages
nature and their own efforts and ex-
penditures had given them of their
local markets. For the Government to
deprive them of these, he believed,
would be class Legislation. Agitation.
which it was assumed came from the
farmers, really came from rteail mail
order houses. Though the voice might
be that of Jacob, the hand was that
Of Esau. To be progressive" toward
Socia is not real progress, he
claimed; but we should seek the cold
paths' and oppose further entrance
by the Federal Government into fields
Of private enterprise.