The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-10-25
PARCELS POST.
Carroll County Farmers Express
Their Views.

1
"A number OF the residents of Car
toll county are very much interested
I'm the way the parcels post will BE-
put into operation. In the confer
ence between the parcels post COM
m1ttee of the United States Postoffice
Department and some of, the residents
OF this county, which took place i'm
Westminster last week, il was de-
| veloped that general use of the sys-
tenn in the shipment of farm products
will depend largely upon the meth
DDS required in packing One of the
commodities considered. was eggs.
The opinion was advanced by an
would be taken of the system for
their shipment to Baltimore custom
ers direct if the envelopes for pack
ing need not be returned to the ship
per and would not be of such weight
as to preclude profit. The use of cor
rugated paper as packing might obvi-
ate the difficulty, but If Grating should
be required, nothing would be gained
by their adopting the plan instead of
selling the eggs to hucksters, as is
now done.
It was figured that an extra profit
Of 8 cents to 81 cents per dozen
would be realized if they could be
shipped in an envelope not exceeding
pound in weight for 10 pounds of
eggs.
No difficulty would stand in the way
Of carrying butter by the post, it was
said, when the temperature is low,
but IN the heat Of summer it would
be practically impossible, as refriger-
ating could not be employed and 9TH
erwise the butter would melt.
The shipment Of small fruits, such
as strawberries, raspberries and cher
riess would likewise depend largely
upon the character and cost OF pack
ing. No difficulty would stand in the
way Of shipping celery, and even po-
tatoes, beets, beans and other vege-
tables can readily be shipped by the
post, but 1t was not the general opin-
ion il the conference that the system
would be employed to great extent
for that purpose. -
II was generally conceded that the
system would be a valuable conven-
fence to rural residents Ia obtaining
articles from business centers, es-
pecially in cases Of emergency.
For instance, farmer might have
some piece OF farm machinery, not
exceeding II pounds in weight, sent
by the pos. without being compelled
to 60 to business centre, from one
to ten miles, for 1t. IL some part OF
a binder should break when in use, a
phone message to Westminster hard
ware store would supply 1t by post.
Even in such a case, however, the
farmer would have to wait for II I'm
til the following day. as the rural
carriers start on their routes in the
early morning after the arrival OF the
fast Imal from Baltimore.
AL to the advantage Of the system,
especially upon its beginning, for the
shipment to the rural districts Of or
binary merchandise from this city il
was agreed that it would only accrue
TO a limited extent. III has become a
habit with most OF the farmers and
their families to visit Westminster on
a shopping expedition and for the
purpose OF meeting one another So
cially about every Saturday afternoon
I'm the year, including even the busiest
seasons. They come from as far
away as seven to ten miles
I'm relation to the method of supply
Ing the people of Westminster with
vegetables and other products, it was
said that the parcels post would be of
little value, since many nearby truck
farmers carry products to the doors
of customers.
The committee explained that West
minister was selected as the initial
point of their inquiries because of ito
proximity to Baltimore, it having been
the point at which rural delivery was
instituted, and because this county
seems to be ideal territory for testing
Id.