The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1913-09-23
Farmers and the Parcel Post,


elsewhere in the state, in all proba
bility-are not living up to the op
: portunities afforded them by the en-
larged facilities of the parcel post
: Instead of employing it as a selling
agency for the disposition of thei
homegrown products-which would
be as great benefit to the city con
: sumner as to the country producer
they have been largely content tC
use it as purchasing agency
through which to secure what things
they need from the city without hav-
ing to come after them.
1t is easy enough to theorize on
how the farmer could improve his
condition, and in the inability of the
farmer to find his way through the
mass of suggestions offered for his
consideration he usually does moth
ing. But the parcel post is differ
ent. 1t has passed the theoretical
stage. and all that is needed for the
farmer to realize the largest benefits
from it is to exercise a little yam
kee" thrift and get busy.
In some sections of the country,
where the tillers of the soil are alive
to every opportunity that is present
ed and the benefits of cooperation
are recognized, and where they are
not afraid of new ideas and plans,
the farmers have gotten together and
placed an agent in the city to canvass
the situation, ascertain just what
each customer needs and then notify
each farmer what to send each day
and where to send it. The farmer
sends direct to the consumer and not
to the agent, thus saving the expense
incurred in a product going through
a middlemans hands.
But a great deal can be accom-
plished through the parcel post by
the individual effort of the farmer,
and in the absence of a cooperative
scheme in this section the individual
can well afford the undertaking of
marketing his farm produce through
the medium of the parcel post. I'm
der the C. o. d. provision of the par
eel post he does not have to come to
town to collect the money on the
stuff he markets. Uncle Sam will do
his collecting for him on a very small
commission.
Under the provisions of the par
eel post that went into effect August
18th the maximum weight of articles
that can be sent through the mails
was raised to twenty pounds, an
amount sufficient to cover any article
that the farmer will care to sell
through this method. He can send
as many as twelve dozen eggs in one
package under this provision, or sew
eral dressed frying sized chickens, or
ham. The delivery rate into Daw-
son Cor any other town. on produce
originating within fifty miles would
be five cents for the first pound and
one cent for each additional two
pounds. The collection feature will
cost the farmer ten cents and the
money order for the Dawson post
office to remit the money to him
would cost three cents up to $3.50,
making the total cost of the transaez
Ition quite negligible quantity
Fresh meats, fresh vegetables,
fruits and other foodstuffs raised on
the farm can be sent through the
mails, just like eggs, butter and
chickens, the only proviso being that
all produce be sufficiently wrapped
to protect the other mail matter.
There is a chance for some ready
money to be made in this manner, if
the farmers will only make use OF
it. The plan is new, but the one
who gets in on the ground floor and
builds up a first-clasS trade is the
one who will reap the profits.