The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-05-06
PARCELS POST

PARCELS POST
The parcels post is a very ingenious
proposition to interest consumers by
persuading them that it provides chea,
transportation on small packages as
against the exorbitant rates charged
by express companies, and thus re
duces the cost of goods to the con-
sumer.
Now who are back of all this?
First, some misguided enthusiasts
who believe they are doing the public
service, and who do not see the
other side of the proposition.
Secondly, the ambition of a public
official who wants to make hit with
the public.
Lastly and really, though not osten-
sibly, the catalog or mail order houses
who are very desirous of using the
government to draw their chestnuts
out of the fire and who want the
government to assume some of the tx-
pnlses which the mail order housse
themselves should assume. It is not
the governments business to do any
thing which will tend to give the mail
order houses an advantage over the re-
taller. !, ~. 'st*tgl
Now what would be the result of the
working of general parcels post?
First, a very heavy deficit in the
rural free delivery routes, for their "a
cilities are utterly inadequate to handle
either satisfactorily or economically
the business with which they would
be flooded. This would only add fur
ther troubles to the complications Of
the postoffice department and they are
unsatisfactory enough as it is.
Secondly, and very seriously, the re-
taller in the small town would be
nrced into an unnatural competition
with the mail order houses, who would
depend upon the government to assume
lot of the expenses which they should
assume themselves.
Thirdly, the farmer, would really be
the greatest loser by parcels post.
He would receive much less for his
products on account OF the changed
conditions and the difficulty of find
ing ready market. and all this would
necessarily and surely be brought about
by parcels post The advocates of
the parcels post are endeavoring to
create an impression in the minds of
the farmer that he would buy his nee
essities at very much less price than
he could possibly can get from local
dealer Now, even if this be true and
open to very serious doubt and argu-
ment, he would find the market for
his products taken away or would have
to dispose of them at less money, and
consequently the value of his farm
would be greatly reduced on account of
these changed conditions.
The real danger is that the parcels
post will bring about the same kind
of system of Capitalization as now
prevails in Europe. and the following
results would obtain.
The town or village would cease to
be the religious, educational and social
center as before. The people
Of country communities would flock to
cities to add to the evils CT an already
congested population. Real estate in
and about the deserted towns and vii
liages would materially depreciate in
value And this would have it's effect |
upon the outlying farm lands as had
been found in several instances where
a like condition came about from diff |
ferent reasons.
Should the small country store dis
appear. the farmer would lose a con-
venient market for his small produce
which may now be exchanged for mer-
chandise at the nearby country store |
Furthermore. with the withdrawal Of
the small country merchants and the
decay Of the towns, the farmer would
find his market for larger products
greatly restricted and he would be con.
PEELED to haul his grain and other Gro q
much greater distance than at the
present time
The farmers in Europe live in vii.
lagos. They go to and return from the
and they farm every day. They do
I've on their farms as we do. The store
n these Villages are very small. They
carry very light and incomplete stocks.
Their assortment is almost entiro of
staple goods. Wellto-do people buy
heir supplies of all kinds direct from
nail or by personal visits. The small
iealer simply has to content himself
With the business he can pick up from I
aboring men and others who are too
lQOc tn iQnoeo nj To hun, xx,o.x i,