Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
Author Of Present Law Would Cut
Of the Middleman's Profit
on Farm Products.
BY HUGH S. MILLER.


parcel post system is based. win
the exception OF minor changes, thS
plan he originally drew up is the one
now in effect.
Mr.. Lewis has submitted his plar
ia Postmaster General Burleson and
10 Congress, and an effort VIII be
made to get action on It at this ses-
sion OF Congress.
Would Raise Weight.
These are a few Of the reforms he
Raising the weight limit to 100
pounds.
shipments delivered to the rail-
way terminal by the oonsignor
and collected from II by the con-
4 zone system Of 100 miles TO
each zone, including the local
zone.
A rate Of 10 cent per pound
for each such zone, plus the in
itial charge Of 3 cents, arbitrary
for the first pound.
An Improvement OF classified
tions 10 include books and other
articles now prohibited.
The effect Of this. according 10 MT
Lewis, would be to allow farm and
standardized products to be marketed
direct TO the consumer at the follow
ing rates;
One half cent a pound in tho
first zone, which would mean
anywhere in an area Of 20, 106,240
acres.
One cent a pound in the second
zone, embracing an additional
arsa Of 60,318720.
One and one-half cents a pound
In the third zone, embracing an
additional area Of 1OO,531 200
acres.
Receive Supplies by Post.
In other words. "A person living In
the city could write a postcard TO a
farmer 100 miles away and order
from him consignment OF butter,
eggs lettuce or any other farm prod
uct. The farmer could collect the
fresh laid eggs, the freshly made but
ter and the freshly gathered lettuce.
and take them 70 the postohiCe In the
early evening.
The next morning the man in the
city would wake 90 the postman's
whistle and receive as fresh as when
they were packed. the articles he had
ordered a day or So before Accord
by Mr. Lewis he would pay cents
for the first pound. and an additional
charge Of - cent a pound for the
shipment For a siN-pound shipment,
therefore. he would pay the magnih-
cent total Of cents.
This stands interesting comparison
with prcies actually paid under the
present system for food products
brought from the country Mr.. Lewis
made an Investigation recently to
find out how much the consumer paid
over and above the price received by
the producer.
He found for instance. that for n
package Of three pounds Of butter the
farmer received 70 cents. The whole
saler charged the retailer 81 cents for
the butter, Along came the consumer.
who I'm this case was Mr. Lewis, and
he paid Sl.05 for the three pounds OF
butter.
BIC Saving Apparent
If the new parcel post had been in
effect az the time-the system that Is
proposed by Mr. Lewis-he would
have paid u cents for the butter plus
q trans portati0n charge Of q cents,
or a total OF 1912 cents on this
sma. order alone the customer would
have saved 2S1-2 cents.
Farm products are usually pro
duCcd On retail form" SAYS Mr Lewis
but there is now no direct system
of transportation 20 carry them IL
rect fran the producer 10 the con
Eumer-from the farm 10 the kitchen
They must 60 through the round
about processes Of commerce. which
double the price TO the consumer.
The railway is engaged only In the
wholesale or commercial business. Its
minimum weight Is 100 pounds-t0C
high for retail purchasers. Besides, Il
does not articulate with tho farm
The express company does not articu-
late with the farm. and its rates are
three times normal and prohibitive
Transportation accounting burdens
prevent both railway and express
companies from making rates proper
tional 20 the weight OF diminutiyt
shipments.
Pereel Post Natural Agent.
The parcel post ought to DE the
natural agency 10 carry retail ship
ments. Il does not do so now. be-
cause OF two restrictions on its op-
eF5tion-the prohibitive weight limit
and abnormal pound rates-fTOW
four 20 six times the cost OF service
on short distances"
In this connection a railroad man
has made an important contribution.
Q :. YoakuD. Chairman of the ST
Louis and San Francisco Railroad. re-
Gently had this 10 say on the subject
OF transportation Of food products.
Last years agricultural products
We're wo. n IS, 200 600. 600 10 the farm
ers. The Government used farm
values tn getting figures for this total
Assuming that the farmers kept one
third Of the products for rheir own
use. the consumers paid more than
$4,000. JO0.VtJ for what the producers
received $4,000 600. 600 The cost q
getting the year products from p-1-
dugs~S GO consumers amounted 90 the
enormous sum Of 5000 H19. GOO. TIE
real problem 20 GclI with rs not HiE1
cost Of living 10 Is high cost or -=tl-
ing
Sucn q plan as Nr. Lewis proposes
would be believes. open up an enc
tlrely new industry OF suburban SAP
deuing. The trucker would be able rg
use the parcel pest gg..EE and eff
fa-tIvplv. and would be- relieved from
tHe necessity ~ buying arl mannheim
Ing am n5eqer dent trals4y .,4-i5l
sH.a..s .H aNn f.fe .-u.r