Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-07-29
FACT AND GOSSIP
IN MONEY MARTS
How New Express Rates Will
Help Farmers and the
City Folk.
BY 3. c. FORBES.

NEW YORK, July 29.-The day of fresh
vegetables, of butter straight from the
churn. of eggs really newly laid, is-or
ought to beat hand. The new express
rate will enable city families to make ar
raneements with farmers for regular
shipments of supplies. A package weigh.
ing not more than ten pounds will be
carried short distances for 20 cents This
amount could be saved several times, for
the grower will be willing to name prices
very much below those charged at city
stores
The public has not yet awakened to the
extraordinary value of the reform Just
evolved by the interstate commerce COM
mission No governmental body has done
better piece of work in decade This
fact will gradually sink into the citizens
mind.
Co-operation, ] believe, will hereafter
he the watchword of the express com
panies Nor do they stand to be losers
nv tire apparently drastic rate reductions
propounded by the commission. Just as
the lowering of postage, of telegraph and
of cable rates has invariably been fol-
lowed by a growth of business, so the
fixing of equitable, fair to- all tolls for
carrying express packages can not fail to
multiply the receipts of the companies
A great many people have avoided pa
tronizing these carriers simply because
they have felt they were being deceived
and robbed. The new scale of chargs
promises to be as lucid as the alphabet.
The sender of a parcel will be able to
tell in advance what it will cost. just as
he can now reckon the charge for sending
letter tO anV FOREIGN oOI1ptr,,
More, the express service will become
a truly express service. 1t will not profit
the companies to contrive to send pack
ages by crcuitous routes; the law calls
for the very shortest and swiftest route.
Here is another invaluable gain
The heads of the principal express com
panies have voiced their readiness to obey
the recommendations of the commission.
This is well. These companies must live
or die; if they fail to supply proper serv-
ice, il they still persist in thwarting the
public will, then they will be doomed as
sure as a rotten branch falls to the
ground soon or late. Two possible sources
of competition are within sight First, a
parcels post system; second. the lnaugu-
ration Of express services by the railroads
bestr themselves, if they enthusiastically
enter into the spirit of the reform out
lined then they can build up a patronage
far more lucrative than any they have
heretofore enjoyed
VIII they rise to the occasion? l believe
they will
The railroads, however may find the
struggle for existence becoming so keen
that they will decide to earn an honest
penny by doing their own express carry
ing. Competition would probably prove
healthy
The bringing of the producer on the
farm and the consumer in the city into
direct touch should be extremely benef-
cial for both. Market gardening on a
large scale can be made handsomely
profitable when the produce can be sold
at good prices all the year round, l know
Of one agriculturist who. from modest
beginnings has established a wonderfully
desirable trade in market baskets for city
jewellers. He has customers for every
ounce of produce he can grow There is
no reason why similar success should not
attend other efforts of the same kind
once cheap. rapid and regular transporta
''0n facilities have been provided
Less hard times appear to be in store
Tor those of us who live between walls
Of masonry and steel. The United States
Is in fair way to being blessed by
bumper crops of grain and other agri-
cultural products-note how prices have
neen tumbing on the exchanges last
Week Furthermore, a world wide survey
Gf agricultural conditions and prospects
leads our excelently posted special finan-
Glal correspondent in London to cable
last evening that all indications point to
a more plentiful supply of food being
raised during the coming twelve months
man in Years past.
Is this not cause for joy?